Very few things on the sports calendar can match the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament. So why not add betting to the mix via the college basketball odds at FanDuel Sportsbook?

The 2024 edition of the big dance has arrived, and here at FanDuel Research, we'll have you covered with a betting guide for each game.

Drake against Washington State looks to be one of the most intriguing first-round games. Despite being the 10 seed in this 7-10 matchup, the Bulldogs are actually the betting favorite over the 7-seeded Cougars. ESPN's People's Bracket also has about 52% of the picks on Drake. numberFire's ratings have the two teams rather close, with Washington State ranked 40th and the Bulldogs at 48. This should be a tight one by nearly all accounts.

All college basketball odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook, and lines may change after this article is published.

NCAA Tournament Betting Picks

Drake vs. Washington State Betting Odds

Date and Time: Thursday March 21st, 10:05 p.m. ET

Spread: Drake -1.5 (-105)

Total: 138.5

Moneyline:

• Drake: -118
• Washington State: -102

Drake vs. Washington State Statistical Breakdown

Advanced stats from KenPom, Bart Torvik and numberFire.

Drake

• numberFire Ranking: 48th
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 50th
• KenPom Ranking: 51st
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 74th
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 41st
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 151st

Washington State

• numberFire Ranking: 40th
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 41st
• KenPom Ranking: 42nd
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 27th
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 65th
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 314th

Drake vs. Washington State Best Bet

Washington State Moneyline (-102)

While Drake is certainly one of the best teams across mid-major basketball, Washington State should feel disrespected by the public being on the Bulldogs. The Cougars are still a solid team, one that can defend and rebound the ball at a high level. Will Wazzu make a deep tournament run? Probably not, with their odds to make the Sweet 16 at +420. Still, I believe the Cougars have enough to get it done in this game.

An overwhelming amount of Washington State's field goal attempts are two-point looks. They rank in the 82nd percentile in both two-point attempts and two-point makes per game while sitting in the bottom 17% in three-point shots each contest. The Cougars' ability to attack the rim could spell trouble for Drake, a team that is in the bottom 24% nationally in opponent two-point percentage.

Isaac Jones is one player we highlighted in our top prop bets for Thursday's games. Jones takes 61.9% of his shots around the rim while totaling 15.4 points per game (PPG).

Wazzu's weakness has been offense -- as KenPom's efficiency marks suggest. The Bulldogs' susceptible defense is giving the Cougars a chance, and Washington State could have the ability to make this a low-scoring, frustrating game for Drake.

The rebounding battle could be massive in this game.

Both teams are among the top eight in the country for defensive rebounding percentage, but there's an enormous difference in offensive rebounding. The Bulldogs are in the bottom 14% in offensive rebounding percentage while the Cougars are in the 87th percentile in the category. If Washington State can control the pace of this game by winning the rebounding battle, it could determine the result.

The Cougars want to play a slow-paced, defensive contest, and Drake can be more prone to leaning into their offense. A lower-scoring game would likely give an advantage to Wazzu. Along with Washington State winning outright, under 138.5 looks like an enticing bet (-115), as well.

Drake vs. Washington State Prop Bet

Tucker DeVries Over 30.5 Total Points, Rebounds, and Assists (-104)

Tucker DeVries is one of the mid-major stars drawing hype ahead of this year's NCAA Tournament. Drake's 6-foot-7 wing is tied for the sixth-most PPG in college basketball at 21.8, which is also the top PPG among mid-major players in the field of 68. Among his Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) peers, DeVries finished with the 3rd-highest usage rate (30.7%), 8th-highest defensive rebounding percentage (20.9%), and 14th-highest assist percentage (20.7%).

It doesn't take much digging to see that DeVries is an absolute stat-sheet-stuffer, leading the Bulldogs in points, assists, and steals. The two-time MVC Player of the Year folded in last year's NCAA Tournament, recording only three points while shooting a dreadful 1 of 13 from the field (7.7%). I believe DeVries will show up in a big way this time around.

He's the only player in college basketball to average at least 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His averages alone -- 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists -- combine for 32.2 total points, rebounds, and assists. I love the over for DeVries' points, rebounds, and assists at these -104 odds.

Washington State sits in the bottom 23% in two-point shots allowed per contest. DeVries is a sniper from deep, totaling 7.2 three-point attempts per game while converting 36.4% of the looks. But he also has the ability to drain mid-range jumpers as 36.5% of his shots are labeled as "others twos" by Bart Torvik -- which essentially means any two-point look that is not around the rim.

The opportunity for scoring should be there for DeVries, and the Bulldogs sit among the top 50 teams in the nation with a 64.5% shooting percentage on close twos. Drake could have the ability to attack the Cougars' questionable interior defense, providing DeVries with plenty of assist opportunities.

Drake's star has shown no signs of slowing down of late as his combined total of points, rebounds, and assists has been at an average mark of 38.3 over his previous six games. I expect DeVries to put up monster numbers against Washington State.

New to FanDuel Sportsbook? You have a chance to get $200 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins—valid across all sports until April 9th! See the promotions page for more information.

Looking for more NCAA basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.