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Southern Illinois Salukis vs Belmont Bruins Picks and Predictions – January 4th 2026
Belmont returns to the Curb Event Center for a key Missouri Valley clash against Southern Illinois on Sunday, January 4. Tipoff time has not been listed, but the Bruins come in as 7-point home favorites. Southern Illinois will look to slow things down and keep the tempo in check, while Belmont tries to speed it up and lean into their offensive depth.
The total is set high at 159.5, signaling clear expectations of a fast-paced, shot-heavy game. The Bruins are 7–1 at home and have been especially tough to handle on their own floor. But Southern Illinois brings a gritty defense and enough shot creation to keep things interesting.
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Southern Illinois Salukis vs Belmont Bruins Odds
These are the latest betting lines available. Always double-check current prices with the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois Salukis | +245 | +7.0 (-110) | O 159.5 (-110) |
| Belmont Bruins | -301 | -7.0 (-110) | U 159.5 (-110) |
Southern Illinois Salukis Betting Form
Southern Illinois continues to play one of the slowest tempos in the Missouri Valley. They grind out possessions, limit transition, and force teams to shoot over the top. Offensively, they rely on patient ball movement and half-court creation, often taking late-clock shots and aiming to control flow.
But when they fall behind early, their lack of pace makes it hard to mount a comeback. Their three-point shooting has improved lately, but they’re still not built to keep up in a shootout — which is exactly what Belmont may try to turn this into.
Before betting, check the Southern Illinois injury report for availability news. And get the full picture from the Southern Illinois Salukis stats and results.
Belmont Bruins Betting Form
Belmont is tough at home and explosive when allowed to dictate pace. They average 83+ points per game in the Curb Center and have won five of their last six there by double digits. The Bruins are guard-heavy, fast in transition, and elite in assist rate. They push tempo at every opportunity and are deadly from three when their rhythm settles in.
Defensively, they’re not elite — and that’s what gives underdog bettors some hope. Belmont gives up looks at the rim and doesn’t always rotate cleanly. But their offensive firepower usually outweighs it, especially against slower teams that can’t trade buckets.
Monitor the Belmont Bruins injury report in case of late rotation news. Check Belmont Bruins schedule and stats for more performance trends.
Southern Illinois Salukis vs Belmont Bruins Matchup Breakdown
This is all about pace. Belmont wants 75+ possessions. Southern Illinois wants 62. If Belmont can speed the game up early and get easy buckets in transition, it puts SIU in an uncomfortable position trying to catch up — something they’re not built to do.
Matchup insights:
- Belmont has a major tempo edge at home.
- Southern Illinois struggles when forced to play from behind.
- Bruins are a high-variance shooting team — big upside, but some risk.
- Foul rate and free-throw edge could tilt Belmont’s way late.
This one could get tight if Southern Illinois slows it down and shoots efficiently, but they’ll need to play nearly perfect for 40 minutes to stay inside the number.
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Southern Illinois Salukis vs Belmont Bruins Predictions and Best Bets
Belmont -7 is a fair number, but I lean slightly toward the Bruins covering — especially at home. Their pace and scoring depth create too many problems for slow-tempo teams. If they get even a short second-half burst, this could turn into a 10–12 point gap quickly.
The total at 159.5 is high, but it’s not inflated for no reason. If Belmont dictates pace — and they usually do at home — this could go Over even if SIU contributes moderately. That said, it’s risky with how methodical the Salukis play.
Secondary lean: Belmont -3.5 first half. They tend to start hot in their own gym.
Best Bet: Belmont Bruins -7.0 (-110).
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