Drake has been the best bet in the country this season at 17-2-1 ATS and is battling Loyola Chicago for the Missouri Valley regular-season title on the final weekend of conference play. So why back a Bradley team that has lost 10 of 12? The Braves are a solid 8-5 at home, sure, but it's more that Drake is down two starters in leading scorer ShanQuan Hemphill, who could be back by the NCAA Tournament, and point guard Roman Penn, who broke his foot last Sunday against Evansville and is done for the year. That's 25.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. This line already has dipped under 9 points at many books, so grab it now as it may drop a bit further. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the past four in this series.

Drake, which has lived a charmed life throughout a 23-2 (straight-up) season, is reeling from a one-two injury punch — in the feet. The leading scorer, F ShanQuan Hemphill (14.1 points per game), is out for awhile. The maestro, PG Roman Penn (11.2 points, 5.5 assists per game), is out for the season. Both have foot ailments. Bradley, by any measure, has underachieved, but the Braves can salvage some respect in the two-game series with the MVC co-leader that closes the regular season schedule.

Bradley was 11-11 when four players got suspended pending a police investigation. (One has been cleared). Senior forward Elijah Childs (14.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) is one of the players still out, and his absence is huge. In the three games since the suspensions, Bradley has lost by 22, 15 and 17. The first two losses were to Missouri State but the most recent came at home against last-place Illinois State. Even without ShanQuan Hemphill and Roman Penn, the Bulldogs have more than enough talent to cover.