Belmont Bruins Expected to Dominate as Underdogs Against Struggling Illinois State Redbirds in MVC Matchup
The Belmont Bruins will be facing off against the Illinois State Redbirds in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the CEFCU Arena on Tuesday night. The Bruins, currently
Game outlook
The Belmont Bruins will be facing off against the Illinois State Redbirds in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the CEFCU Arena on Tuesday night. The Bruins, currently standing at 11-8 overall and 4-4 in the MVC, are currently on a three-game losing streak after suffering a 95-72 defeat against the Bradley Braves in their recent road game. On the other hand, the Redbirds, with a record of 9-10 overall and 3-5 in the conference, are coming off a 69-60 road victory against the Missouri State Bears. In terms of betting odds, Illinois State is considered the favorite with an opening line of -1.5, with no significant movements observed thus far.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Bruins +105 | Redbirds -125
Spread: Bruins +1.5 (-110) | Redbirds -1.5 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 144.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Illinois St. will win straight-up is 56%.
Belmont Bruins
The Belmont Bruins are looking to recover from a recent loss against the Bradley Braves, where they allowed 51 points in the second half. Despite shooting well themselves, the defense struggled, allowing the Braves to shoot 61% overall and 58.1% from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Cade Tyson led the team in scoring with 23 points. Overall, the Bruins have been strong offensively, averaging 77.8 points per game, but their defense has been lacking, allowing 78.9 points per game. There is an injury report that lists guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie as out with a wrist injury. In terms of power rankings, Belmont ranks 88th in offense, scoring an average of 78.17 points per game, and 325th in defense, allowing an average of 78.00 points per game. They currently have a record of 11-8 (6-12 ATS) this season. The Bruins have been efficient in shooting, ranking 34th in field goal percentage and 38th in three-point percentage. They also average 33.39 rebounds per game, 14.78 offensive assists, and 13.39 turnovers. Defensively, they allow opponents to shoot 45.94% from the field and 71.91% from the free-throw line. They also allow 32.31% shooting from beyond the arc and average 35.72 defensive rebounds. In terms of assists and turnovers, they average 16.06 defensive assists and 12.72 turnovers per game.