Missouri at Oklahoma Preview and Betting Pick

Missouri vs Oklahoma match is set to start in the West Region on Saturday. The winner of this game will advance to take on the mighty Gonzaga Bulldogs unless Norfolk State does the unthinkable.

Missouri was a Top 10 team at one point this season, but things really fell apart for them once SEC play began. The Tigers have gone just 3-6 in their last nine games, and they are limping into the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma has picked up some impressive wins this season despite having an overall record of just 15-10. The Sooners have lost five of their last six games, but four of those losses were to teams ranked in the Top 25.

The Oklahoma Sooners are slim one-point favorites over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday from Indianapolis.

Missouri vs Oklahoma Preview and Betting Pick: Missouri Must Defend

If the Missouri Tigers are going to pull off this slight upset on Saturday, then they will have to get it done on the defensive end of the floor. Missouri is holding opponents to 71.9 points per game, but the Tigers want to keep this game in the 60s.

Missouri is capable of putting up some points, scoring close to 74 points per game. The Tigers have plenty of depth and capable scorers, and this is a veteran team that knows how to play together.

Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson are both averaging 14.1 points per game to lead this team, and each player is capable of getting hot from the three-point line. There aren’t a ton of great shooters on this roster, and these two will need to light it up on Saturday.

Forward Jeremiah Tilmon is averaging 12.3 points and seven rebounds per game, and he could be a big key in this game. Tilmon has the size and strength to take over a game, and he will be a tough matchup for the Sooners.

Missouri vs Oklahoma Preview and Betting Pick: Sooners Want to Score

The Oklahoma Sooners are scoring 74.8 points per game this season while holding opponents to just 69 per night. Don’t get it confused though, Oklahoma is a team that wants to win games by playing on the offensive end of the floor.

Guard Austin Reaves leads this team with 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, and he could become one of the biggest stars in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma is shooting just 34 percent from the three-point line, but they shoot enough that they are able to get points from deep.

Oklahoma will be without guard De’Vion Harmon due to COVID-19 protocols, and that is a huge loss. Harmon can really score the basketball and could force the Sooners to slow this game down more than they want to.

Missouri vs Oklahoma Preview and Betting Pick: Sooners Survive Against Former Rival

The loss of De’Vion Harmon is a huge blow for the Sooners, and it is a huge break for Missouri. Before the injury, this game felt like an easy win for Oklahoma, but now it really does feel like a toss-up.

Missouri will have to slow this game down if they want any chance to advance, but that’s just not easy to do against Oklahoma. The Sooners have played a much tougher schedule in the Big 12 Conference, and they should have some confidence coming into this game.

The Tigers hope that having a team full of veterans will play a role in this outcome, even though there isn’t a ton of past NCAA Tournament experience. Oklahoma knows what it takes to win in March Madness, and that will propel them to a win.

This should be a fun game, but it will be Oklahoma that eliminates its former rival on Saturday.

Final Score:
Oklahoma 74
Missouri 67

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