Southern Illinois Salukis vs Belmont Bruins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25
Looking to win big? The Salukis and Bruins face off at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The Bruins are hosting the game at Curb Event Center in Nashville, TN. The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 155.5 points, with Belmont being favored by -11.5 at home against Southern Illinois.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS VS BELMONT BRUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Southern Illinois Salukis +11.5
This game will be played at Curb Event Center at 7:30 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.
WHY BET THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Bruins.
- Even though we have Belmont winning straight-up, we like Southern Illinois at +11.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 155.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Do the Salukis Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?
Southern Illinois Salukis Recent Game/Games
Southern Illinois dropped to 3-10 on the season after a tough 85-54 road loss to Illinois State on Sunday. The Salukis entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread, losing by 31 points.
They trailed 44-23 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, scoring 31 points while allowing 41. The game’s total points of 139 fell just under the 140.5-point O/U line.
Southern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 54 points on 36.8% shooting from the field. Their three-point shooting was a major issue, as they hit only 23.8% (5/21) from beyond the arc, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 42.1%. Free-throw shooting was also a problem, with the Salukis making just 43.5% of their attempts (10/23).
Johnny Kinziger and Jack Daugherty each scored 17 points, with Kinziger shooting 85.7% overall and 75.0% from three-point range. Daugherty hit 5 threes, shooting 55.6% from deep. Jordan Davis added 13 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 50.0% of his three-point attempts.
Southern Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 85 points on 60% shooting from the field. Their opponents were highly efficient inside, converting 78% of their two-point attempts (18/23).
The Salukis also allowed 13 threes on 28 attempts, a 46% success rate. From the free-throw line, their opponents went 10/13, hitting 76% of their shots. Southern Illinois limited them to 6 offensive rebounds.
Are the Bruins Ready for a Home Win?
Belmont Bruins Recent Game/Games
Belmont improved to 9-5 on the season with a 92-87 home win over UIC on Saturday, January 4th. The Bruins were -6 favorites going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 179, surpassing the O/U line of 159.5.
Belmont led 46-43 at halftime and scored another 46 points in the 2nd half while allowing 44 points to UIC.
Belmont’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 92 points with a field goal percentage of 47.8%. They connected on 12 of 29 three-point attempts, shooting 41.4% from deep, and were nearly perfect from the free-throw line, hitting 16 of 18 for an 88.9% rate.
Jonathan Pierre led the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Carter Whitt added 20 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. The Bruins also got 18 points each from Isaiah Walker and Ahmad Henderson, who knocked down 4 threes at a 50% clip.
Belmont’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 87 points on 47% shooting from the field. Opponents hit 52% of their two-point attempts, going 20/38.
From beyond the arc, Belmont allowed 12 threes on 29 attempts, a 41% success rate. They also sent the other team to the line 18 times, where they converted 16 free throws, an 88% clip. Belmont gave up 11 offensive rebounds.