Belmont Bruins vs. Drake Bulldogs: MVC Showdown Preview

The Belmont Bruins will be facing off against the Drake Bulldogs in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday at 6 p.m. EST. The Bruins are favored by 6.5 points according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, with an over/under of 150.5 points. Sam Orme leads Belmont against Jalen Quinn and the Bulldogs in what promises to be an exciting game.

Drake has a 4-5 record at home and has been competitive in close games, going 2-2 in contests decided by less than 4 points. On the other hand, Belmont has a 4-2 record against MVC opponents and excels in rebounding, averaging 35.1 rebounds per game, with Orme leading the way with 6.5 rebounds per game.

The Bulldogs are known for their 3-point shooting, averaging 9.4 made shots per game this season, just shy of Belmont's 9.8 allowed per game. Belmont, however, boasts a higher shooting percentage at 51.9% compared to Drake's opponents' 42.6% shooting average. This clash of styles will be interesting to watch as the two teams meet for the first time in conference play this season.

Key players to watch include Jalen Quinn, who averages 16.9 points per game for Drake, and Tyler Lundblade, who leads Belmont with 16.5 points per game. Both teams have players who have been performing well in recent games, such as Jaehshon Thomas for the Bulldogs and Drew Scharnowski for the Bruins.

In their last 10 games, Drake has a 4-6 record, averaging 75.1 points per game, while Belmont has a 7-3 record, averaging 82.2 points per game. The Bruins have been shooting at an impressive 52.4% from the field, while their opponents have averaged 73.1 points per game.

It will be an exciting matchup between the Bulldogs and the Bruins, with both teams looking to secure a crucial conference win. Fans can expect a competitive game with high-scoring action and standout performances from key players on both sides.