Belmont Bruins vs Valparaiso Beacons Matchup

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

Valparaiso vs Belmont Prediction

Looking to win big? The Beacons 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 game is set at 158.5 points, and Belmont is favored by -6.5 vs. Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley conference matchup.

Valparaiso vs. Belmont Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Valparaiso Beacons at Belmont Bruins
Where: Nashville at Curb Event Center
Date: Tuesday, January 14th
Betting Odds BELM -6.5, VALP +227 | BELM -281 O/U 158.5

Beacons Preview: Can the Beacons Lock in a Win at Nashville?

Valparaiso fell to 8-7 on the season after a 58-47 road loss to Murray State on Saturday. The Beacons entered the game as +8 underdogs and failed to cover the spread.

Trailing 26-21 at halftime, Valparaiso couldn’t close the gap, as they were outscored 32-26 in the second half. The game’s total points of 105 were well under the O/U line of 144.5.

Beacons Offense Breakdown

Valparaiso's offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 47 points on 33.9% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.3%, with a two-point shooting percentage of 37.5% and a three-point percentage of 29.2% (7/24).

Nick Ellington led the way with 15 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 55.6% from the field. Cooper Schwieger added 12 points and 7 rebounds, hitting 54.5% of his shots. Terence Harcum and Darius DeAveiro each contributed 11 points, with DeAveiro hitting 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Beacons Team Defense

Valparaiso's defense was on point, holding their opponent to just 58 points on 34% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 14 of 37 shots for 37%.

From beyond the arc, Valparaiso's defense was strong, allowing just 4 threes on 16 attempts (25%). They sent their opponent to the line 24 times, where they hit 18 free throws (75%).

Bruins Preview: Can the Bruins Please their Home Crowd?

Belmont improved to 11-5 on the season with an 84-79 win over Indiana State on Saturday. The Bruins were +3 underdogs heading into the game but managed to cover the spread with the victory.

Belmont led 42-32 at halftime and scored another 42 points in the 2nd half, though they allowed 47 points to Indiana State after the break. The game’s total points of 163 fell short of the O/U line of 171.5.

Bruins Offense Breakdown

Belmont's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 84 points with a field goal percentage of 51.7%. They were especially effective from beyond the arc, hitting 46.2% of their threes, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 61.7%.

Carter Whitt led the way with 25 points and 6 assists, while Jaden Daughtry was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 90.9% and adding 23 points in just 22 minutes. Samage Teel also contributed 20 points and 6 assists.

Bruins Team Defense

Belmont's defense gave up 79 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 17 two-point baskets on 26 attempts, a 65% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the Bruins' defense held the other team to 27% shooting, as they made 10 of their 37 three-point attempts. Belmont also sent them to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 15 shots, or 62%. The Bruins gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Beacons vs Bruins Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last five road games, Valparaiso has averaged 68 points per game while allowing 75. The team's record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 3-2.
Across the Bruins last three home games, the team averaged 66 points per game while allowing 73. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
Valparaiso has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Bruins have gone 4-5-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 8-2.