Missouri vs. Princeton Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round Second Round

March 17, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 7 seed from the South Region bracket, the Missouri Tigers (25-9), play the No. 15 seed Princeton Tigers (22-8) on Saturday with a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on the line. Missouri has been installed as a 6.5-point favorite to win this second round matchup, which begins at 6:10 PM on TNT. The point total is 146 for the matchup.

Missouri vs. Princeton Odds

Missouri odds to win: -280
Princeton odds to win: +230
Spread: Missouri (-6.5)
Total: 146

Missouri vs. Princeton Promo Codes

DRAFTKINGS
Bet $5, Win $150 BONUS BETS
CLAIM NOW!
CAESARS CBB Promo
Get Up To $1,500 in Bet Credits
CLAIM NOW!
FANDUEL CBB Promo
$1000 No Sweat First Bet
CLAIM NOW!
BETMGM CBB Promo
$1K First Bet Offer
CLAIM NOW!

Game Time and Information

Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Time: 6:10 PM ET
TV: TNT
Where: Sacramento, California
Venue: Golden 1 Center

Who Will Win Missouri vs. Princeton?

Missouri and Princeton Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Missouri has a 4-6-1 record against the spread when favored by 6.5 points or more this season.

In games it has played as at least a 6.5-point underdog this year, Princeton is 2-0 against the spread.

Between them, these two teams average 8.8 more points per game (154.8) than this game’s total (146).

Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 142.4 points per game, 3.6 fewer than the point total for this game.

The average total Missouri has had set in games this season is 7.7 more points than this outing’s point total.

The average total in Princeton Tigers games this season is 2.5 fewer points than the point total of 146 for this outing.

So far this season, the Missouri Tigers have compiled a 17-15-1 record against the spread.

So far this season, the Princeton Tigers have compiled a 16-12-0 record against the spread.

Missouri Stats & Insights

Missouri’s +173 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 5.1 points per game) is a result of scoring 79.4 points per game (22nd in college basketball) while giving up 74.3 per outing (298th in college basketball).

Missouri ranks 355th in the country at 27.6 rebounds per game. That’s 6.5 fewer than the 34.1 its opponents average.

The Missouri Tigers hit 9.4 three-pointers per game (22nd in college basketball), while their opponents have made 8.7 on average.

Missouri ranks 28th in college basketball with 100.2 points scored per 100 possessions, and 250th in college basketball defensively with 93.8 points conceded per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Missouri Tigers have performed better when playing at home this year, posting 83.6 points per game, compared to 73.3 per game when playing on the road.

Princeton Stats & Insights

Princeton puts up 75.4 points per game (88th in college basketball) while giving up 68.1 per outing (121st in college basketball). It has a +220 scoring differential and outscores opponents by 7.3 points per game.

The 35.8 rebounds per game Princeton accumulates rank 15th in the nation, 5.6 more than the 30.2 its opponents record.

Princeton knocks down 8.4 three-pointers per game (65th in college basketball), 2.1 more than its opponents. It shoots 33.8% from beyond the arc (199th in college basketball), and its opponents are shooting 32.2%.

Princeton averages 97.3 points per 100 possessions (86th in college basketball), while allowing 87.8 points per 100 possessions (78th in college basketball).

At home the Princeton Tigers are scoring 81.4 points per game, nine more than they are averaging on the road (72.4).

Missouri Key Players to Watch

The scoring and rebounding leader for the Missouri Tigers is Kobe Brown, who averages 15.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Missouri’s best passer is Nick Honor, who averages 2.8 assists per game to go with his 7.9 PPG scoring average.

The Missouri Tigers get the most three-point shooting production out of D’Moi Hodge, who makes 2.9 threes per game.

Hodge and Brown lead Missouri on the defensive end, with Hodge leading the team in steals averaging 2.6 per game and Brown in blocks averaging 0.5 per contest.

Princeton Key Players to Watch

The Princeton Tigers’ Tosan Evbuomwan averages enough points (15 per game) and assists (4.7 per game) to sit atop the squad’s leaderboards.

Caden Pierce’s stat line of 7.1 rebounds, 8.3 points and 1.2 assists per game helps him grab the top spot on the Princeton rebounding leaderboard.

Ryan Langborg is reliable from deep and leads the Princeton Tigers with 1.9 made threes per game.

Princeton’s leader in steals is Matt Allocco (0.8 per game), and its leader in blocks is Keeshawn Kellman (0.8 per game).