Belmont Bruins vs Northern Iowa Panthers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Belmont vs Northern Iowa NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Cedar Falls.

Belmont vs Northern Iowa Prediction

Looking to win big? The Bruins and Panthers face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Panthers are hosting the game at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, IA. This Missouri Valley conference matchup has an over/under of 153.5 points, and Northern Iowa is favored to win by -6.5 at home vs. Belmont.

Belmont vs. Northern Iowa Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Belmont Bruins at Northern Iowa Panthers
Where: Cedar Falls at McLeod Center
Date: Wednesday, January 1st
Betting Odds NIOWA -6.5, BELM +217 | NIOWA -283 O/U 153.5

Bruins Preview: Does Belmont Have A Chance at McLeod Center?

Belmont fell to 8-4 on the season after a 65-46 road loss to Drake on Sunday. The Bruins entered the game as +8.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 111, well below the pre-game O/U line of 140.5.

Belmont struggled early, trailing 39-21 at halftime. They managed to score 25 points in the 2nd half while allowing 26, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.

Bruins Offense Breakdown

Belmont's offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 46 points with a field goal percentage of 37.5% (15/40). Their effective field goal percentage was 45%, and they hit 5 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 38.5% from three-point range.

Bennett Stirtz led the way with 20 points and 4 assists, shooting 50% from the field, though he missed all 3 of his three-point attempts. Daniel Abreu added 15 points and 5 rebounds, connecting on 3 of 9 from deep.

Bruins Team Defense

Belmont’s defense gave up 65 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 47% from the field. Inside the arc, the Bruins allowed 18 two-point baskets on 32 attempts, which is 56% shooting.

From three-point range, the opposing team hit 6 of 19 shots, good for 31%. Belmont also sent them to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 11, shooting 73%. The Bruins gave up 9 offensive rebounds.

Panthers Preview: Will the Panthers Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

Northern Iowa improved to 7-5 on the season with a 78-67 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday. Playing at home, the Panthers were -10.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.

Northern Iowa led 38-34 at halftime and outscored the Salukis 40-33 in the second half. The game’s total points of 145 fell just under the O/U line of 147.5.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Northern Iowa's offense was clicking in their last game, as they put up 78 points on 55.8% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 61.5%, thanks in part to 62.9% shooting on two-pointers and 41.2% from beyond the arc.

Jacob Hutson and Jarrett Hensley both scored 20 points, with Hutson hitting 7 of 10 shots and Hensley connecting on 4 threes. Tytan Anderson added 15 points, shooting 6 of 7 from the field, and also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.

Panthers Team Defense

Despite Northern Iowa's defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 67 points. The Panthers allowed a 55% shooting performance, with 29 made field goals on 52 attempts.

Inside the arc, Northern Iowa gave up 22 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 62% shooting rate. From three-point range, their opponent hit 7 of 17 shots, good for 41%. The Panthers also sent their opponent to the line 17 times, where they made 13 free throws, shooting 76%. Northern Iowa allowed 8 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bruins vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past three road matchups, Belmont has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 72 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
Across their last three home contests, Northern Iowa has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-2, while averaging 76 points per game.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Belmont has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.
Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Northern Iowa has an ATS mark of 7-3 while going 8-2 straight up.