Belmont Bruins vs Drake Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/29/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bruins and Bulldogs. The game is starting at 3:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Bulldogs at The Knapp Center in Des Moines, IA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 143.5 points, with Drake being favored by -8.5 at home against Belmont.

BELMONT BRUINS VS DRAKE BULLDOGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Belmont Bruins +8.5

This game will be played at The Knapp Center at 3:00 ET on Sunday, December 29th.

WHY BET THE BELMONT BRUINS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Even though we have Drake winning straight-up, we like Belmont at +8.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Does Belmont Have A Chance at The Knapp Center?

Belmont fell to 8-3 on the season after a 92-84 loss to UC Irvine on Thursday. The Bruins, who were +2.5 point underdogs, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 176 exceeded the over/under line of 154.5.

Belmont seemed in control early, leading 39-25 at halftime. However, they allowed 67 points in the 2nd half while scoring 45 of their own, leading to the loss.

Belmont’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 84 points with a 46.4% field goal percentage. They hit 15 threes at a 39.5% clip, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 58%. Carter Whitt led the way with 25 points and 9 assists, shooting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Bent Leuchten added 23 points and dominated the boards with 15 rebounds. Justin Hohn also connected on 4 of 6 from deep, finishing with 19 points. The Bruins dished out 25 assists as a team, with 8 offensive rebounds.

Belmont’s defense struggled, allowing 92 points on 46% shooting from the field. The Bruins gave up 17 two-pointers on 31 attempts, a 54% success rate for their opponent.

From beyond the arc, Belmont’s opponent hit 15 threes on 38 attempts, shooting 39%. They also went 5/8 from the free-throw line. Belmont allowed 8 offensive rebounds.

Will Drake Find a Way to Win at Home?

Drake moved to 9-0 on the season with a 72-62 win over Green Bay on Saturday. The Bulldogs were heavy favorites at -23.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 134 fell just under the 136.5 O/U line.

Drake led 40-32 at halftime and maintained their lead in the second half, outscoring Green Bay 32-30.

Drake’s offense put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field. They were dominant inside, hitting 67.6% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 3 of 20 threes (15%). Their effective field goal percentage was 52.6%, and they shot 59.1% from the free-throw line, connecting on 13 of 22 attempts.

Isaiah Jackson led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 75% from the field. Mac Wrecke and Tavion Banks each added 19 points, with Wrecke hitting 2 of 3 from three-point range. Cam Manyawu contributed 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Preston Ruedinger added 14 points, shooting 75% from the floor.

Even though Drake allowed 62 points, their defense struggled inside, giving up 67% shooting on two-pointers, with the opposing team hitting 25 of 37 shots. However, they managed to limit damage from beyond the arc, holding the other team to just 3 made threes on 20 attempts, for 15% shooting.

Drake sent the other team to the free-throw line 22 times, where they converted 13 shots, shooting 59%. The Bulldogs also gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the game.