The Jacksonville State Gamecocks will be at Curb Event Center to take on the Belmont Bruins in an Ohio Valley matchup. The game begins at 8:30 pm ET on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The Bruins are hoping for a better outcome after their 88-78 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. Craig Bradshaw was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 68-58 loss against Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Jared Hamilton had a team-high 16 points.
Over the last five games, Jeremy Watson has been hot for the Gamecocks. During that stretch, he has averaged 14.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 three-pointers.
When considering eFG%, the Bruins figure to have a significant advantage on the offensive end. They rank fifth in the nation in that category at 58.0%, whereas the porous defense of Jacksonville State ranks 268th in eFG% with opponents connecting at a clip of 51.3%.
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Bruins winning the first matchup 72-63. Evan Bradds finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bruins are looking to build on their records of 17-8 Straight Up (SU) and 10-13-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The Bruins have one of the most prolific offenses in the entire nation, averaging 81.9 points per game.
On the other side, the Gamecocks have records of 11-9 ATS and 8-18 SU. Jacksonville State has been playing better lately, averaging 81.4 PPG, significantly more than their season average of 68.7. Jacksonville State is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, converting 7.0 shots from three-point range per game. The Jacksonville State defense has been a problem for competitors, allowing only .310 shooting from three-point range. Don’t expect Jacksonville State to give away the ball much on offense, where its 10.8 turnovers per game ranks 26th in the country.
Following the Bruins’ latest win over Jacksonville State, their SU record is now 7-3 over Jacksonville State in their most recent games. The Gamecocks lead the matchup ATS with a record of 4-3. Belmont held the edge in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers one time, while Jacksonville State was never able to do so in their most recent five games.
Predictions: SU Winner – JacSt, ATS Winner – JacSt
Notes
Belmont is one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, averaging 81.9 points per game (ranked 18th). Jacksonville State, on the other hand, allows 71.6 points per game (ranked 144th).
Ranked 49th, the Belmont Bruins have an offensive rating of 112.7. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks rank 294th with a defensive rating of just 108.8.
Belmont has an average field goal percentage of 49.1% (ranked 11th). Jacksonville State is a subpar 3-7 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Belmont Bruins and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. Belmont is 11th and fifth in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Jacksonville State is 300th and 266th in these categories.
Ranked 18th in the nation, Belmont has an average of 17.0 assists per game. Jacksonville State ranks lower at 240th with 12.5.
Jacksonville State ranks 207th in offensive rebounds, while Belmont ranks at 76th in defensive rebounds.
Belmont has forced an average turnover percentage of 16.5% this season. Jacksonville State has a subpar 3-10 record when its TO% is 16.5% or higher.
