Expert prediction
MVC Tournament: Drake vs Belmont Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 6)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Bulldogs got past the first round after beating Southern Illinois.
- The Bruins have the top seed as the MVC regular-season champs.
- This marks the 10th all-time matchup between the two MVC squads.
A big showdown will commence in the Missouri Valley Conference between the Drake Bulldogs and the Belmont Bruins. The latter stands out as the dominant favorite, paving the way for an intriguing matchup that will happen in the quarterfinal round of the MVC Tournament.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 6, 1 pm ET
- Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake | -111 | +13.5 | O151.5 |
| Belmont | -109 | -13.5 | U151.5 |
Game Preview
The Bulldogs (13-19, 6-14 MVC) are coming off a first-round win over Southern Illinois on March 5, advancing to the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament as the ninth seed. It allowed them to end a nine-game losing streak throughout the second half of conference play. Jalen Quinn shines as the undisputed leading scorer, producing 19.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and three assists per game. On another note, Eli Shetlar leads the perimeter attack with 70 made 3-pointer and counting on a 40% clip.
The Bruins (26-5, 16-4 MVC) are enjoying their campaign as the MVC regular-season champions, getting a smooth bye to the quarterfinals. They boasted four consecutive wins before losing to Illinois State on the road in the season finale. Belmont ranks inside the top 50 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including first nationally in effective field goal percentage, fourth in field goal percentage, and 26th in field goal percentage defense. Tyler Lundblade has a team-high 28 double figure scoring games this season, also ranking among MVC and NCAA leaders in 3-point field goals per game and free throw percentage. Meanwhile, Drew Scharnowski was named First Team All-MVC, All-MVC Defensive Team, and MVC Most-Improved Team earlier this week.
Drake vs Belmont Head-to-Head
The two programs have had nine meetings in their history, and the result is 5-4 for the Bulldogs. The last matchup was in February this year when Belmont won 103-90 at home.
Drake vs Belmont Predictions
It will be intriguing to see if Drake can get a burst of offense from their supporting cast aside from Jalen Quinn. He will be pivotal in keeping the Bulldogs competitive, but having his teammates step up with bigger scoring displays could make the difference. However, if that doesn’t happen, Belmont will make sure to earn its place in the MVC Semifinals. Our betting pick here is the Bruins to defend a 13.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Belmont Bruins -13.5
NCAAB
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