Game Information
Missouri Tigers (7-0) vs Cleveland State Vikings (3-5)
Time: 1pm CT Friday
How to watch: SEC Network+
DraftKings Odds
Spread: Mizzou -29.5
Total: 170.5
KenPom Projection
Mizzou 98, Cleveland State 72
Tigers Wrap Homestand
The Missouri Tigers close their seven-game homestand when they face the Cleveland State Vikings this afternoon at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers are undefeated at 7-0 overall and are heavily favored to be 8-0 heading into a pair of big games next week against Notre Dame and Kansas.
Mizzou Shooting At An Elite Rate
Offense was the hallmark of last year’s NCAA Tournament team for Mizzou, and it appears to be the case once again this season. The Tigers rank #1 in the country with their 56.8% field goal percentage. They are 4th in two-point field goal percentage (64.1%) and 9th in three-point field goal percentage (41.9%).
The Tigers are averaging 93.9 points per game and have won three of their seven games by 30+ points, which is what they’ll have to do this afternoon in order to cover the spread.
Vikings Terrible Defensively
Mizzou should be able to name its point total against a Cleveland State team that has one of the worst defenses in the nation. KenPom has the Vikings ranked 352nd out of 365 Division One schools in defensive efficiency.
Cleveland State has allowed 100+ points in defeats to Northwestern and Kent State and 90+ points in their three other losses.
My Lean
It’s probably going to be sweaty, but if you’re going to bet this one, I’d actually want to be on Cleveland State.
The Tigers should be able to score at will, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them fail to run it up. Cleveland State is where Dennis Gates coached for three seasons before coming to Missouri, and four members of Gates’ staff coached there as well.
In addition, first-year Vikings head coach Rob Summers was on Missouri’s staff last year, with two members of his staff having worked at Mizzou as well.
There is a lot of love between these two programs, and I think that’ll lead to the Tigers taking their foot off the gas a bit in the second half, which could very well result in a Cleveland State cover.
Lean: Cleveland State +29.5 at -115 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Wednesday night on the STL Sports Central YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Get Eric's picks for all sports by following him in the Action Network app with the username "esontag". Disclaimer