Bellarmine Knights (4-11) vs Austin Peay Governors (7-8)
2024-01-04 18:30:00 EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Bellarmine Knights -2.5 -- Over/Under: 130.5
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The Austin Peay Governors and the Bellarmine Knights meet Thursday in college basketball action from Freedom Hall. Austin Peay enters this one at 7-8 overall following a loss to Memphis on Saturday. As for Bellarmine, they’re 4-11 so far and coming off a loss to High Point. Let’s get into our Austin Peay vs. Bellarmine prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Austin Peay Governors
The Governors were only able to win three of their first nine games this year. Those victories came courtesy of Life University, Fisk and Sacramento State. Austin Peay has since gone 4-2 with wins over Midway University, Murray State, Southern Illinois and Ohio alongside losses to Western Kentucky and Memphis.
In the Memphis matchup back on Saturday, the Governors were within three points at halftime. Austin Peay didn’t get any closer than that on a 44-36 second-half run and lost 81-70. Leading the way was Dezi Jones with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in the losing effort.
Bellarmine Knights
Over on the Knights’ side, they won just two of their first nine games this year over Bowling Green and Midway University. Bellarmine would then take out Boyce and Berea in consecutive games before losses to Evansville, Utah, BYU and High Point in succession over the next quartet.
In their game versus High Point over the weekend, Bellarmine similarly had a three-point deficit at halftime. The Knights were outscored 40-38 the rest of the way in a 90-85 loss, though. Ben Johnson was tops on 32 points and seven boards, while Peter Suder chipped in 18 points and six rebounds.
ANDREW’S FREE AUSTIN PEAY VERSUS BELLARMINE PREDICTION
I’ll probably just stay with Austin Peay. Both these teams could use a good showing, though. The Governors didn’t play terribly against Memphis in their last outing despite shooting a tepid 36 percent from the field with a 48-39 rebounding deficit. Austin Peay has been scoring pretty well lately with 70 or more points in four of their last six games.
As for Bellarmine, they’ve been below 62 points in three of their last four games, which have all been losses. The Knights can score pretty well when the matchup is right, but I don’t think they’ll stay ahead enough to cover here.
