Jacksonville Dolphins vs Bellarmine Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25
Planning on watching today’s Dolphins and Knights game? Catch the action at Knights Hall in Louisville, KY, as the Knights hosts this showdown at 6:30 ET on ESPN+. In this Atlantic Sun matchup, Jacksonville is favored bt -5.5 vs. Bellarmine. The over/under for the game is 142.5 points.
JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS VS BELLARMINE KNIGHTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Jacksonville Dolphins -5.5
This game will be played at Knights Hall at 6:30 ET on Thursday, January 9th.
WHY BET THE JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 84-66 in favor of the Dolphins.
- Not only will Jacksonville pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 150 points.
Taking a Look at the Dolphins Chances in Louisville
Jacksonville Dolphins Recent Game/Games
Jacksonville improved to 5-7 on the season with a 68-44 win over Austin Peay on Saturday. The Dolphins were -6 favorites at home and covered the spread.
Jacksonville led 27-19 at halftime and dominated the 2nd half, outscoring the Governors 41-25. The game’s total points were 112, falling short of the 130.5 O/U line.
In their latest game, the Dolphins put up 68 points, shooting 46.2% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 11 threes. Their effective field goal percentage stood at 50%, and they connected on 75% of their free throws, going 15 for 20.
Offensively, Jacksonville grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and dished out 9 assists. Robert McCray led the team with 15 points and 4 assists, while Zach Bell, LJ Thomas, and Tate McCubbin each added 12 points, with McCubbin hitting 2 of 9 from deep.
Jacksonville’s defense gave up 44 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 46% from the field with 24 made baskets on 52 attempts. Inside the arc, they hit 19 of 41 shots, also at a 46% clip.
From three-point range, Jacksonville’s opponent connected on 5 of 11 attempts, shooting 45%. They also went to the free-throw line 20 times, making 15 of those for 75%. Jacksonville allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Knights Pull Through as the Home Underdog?
Bellarmine’s season struggles continued with a 71-65 loss to Central Arkansas on Saturday, dropping their record to 1-12. The Knights entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 136, falling short of the 144.5 O/U line.
Despite leading 31-30 at halftime, Bellarmine couldn’t hold on, allowing 41 points in the second half while scoring 34. The Knights will need to find a way to close out games as they look to turn their season around.
Bellarmine put up 65 points in their latest game, shooting 43.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.6%. They connected on 55.6% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc, making 10 of 30 three-point shots.
Layne Taylor led the way with 29 points, shooting 5 of 14 from three, while Elias Cato and Billy Smith each added 21 points. Cato was nearly perfect, hitting 7 of 8 shots, including 2 of 3 from deep, and Smith knocked down 5 threes on 12 attempts.
Bellarmine’s defense gave up 71 points in their last game, with their opponent shooting 40% from the field on 22 of 55 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 12 made shots on 21 attempts, a 57% shooting rate.
From three-point range, Bellarmine’s opponent went 10 for 34, shooting 29%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 27 times, where they made 17, a 63% success rate. Bellarmine allowed 12 offensive rebounds.