Bellarmine vs Eastern Kentucky Prediction 1/17/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Bellarmine Knights and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels meet Saturday in college basketball action from Alumni Coliseum Arena in Richmond. Here’s a Bellarmine vs Eastern Kentucky prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Bellarmine vs Eastern Kentucky pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.

Bellarmine Knights Betting Preview

This year the Knights opened the season on a 4-4 run with losses to Georgia, Kansas State, Wofford and Notre Dame. Bellarmine would then lose six of the next eight games, taking losses to Murray State, Northern Kentucky, Kentucky, West Georgia, Queens U and North Alabama during that time. Over their first 16 games, Bellarmine could only manage a 6-10 record in the books.

In game 17 versus Lipscomb on Thursday, the Knights were in major trouble at halftime with a 49-27 deficit. Bellarmine came back a bit with a 44-32 run from there but it wasn’t nearly enough in an 81-77 loss. Jack Karasinski led the charge on 16 points with six rebounds and Brian Waddell added 13 points with five rebounds in 26 minutes of work during the losing effort for the Knights.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels Betting Preview

Over on the Eastern Kentucky side, they were able to win their opener this year before hitting a seven-game skid afterward. The Colonels would improve over the next four games with three more victories, but then fell to Wichita State, Queens U and West Georgia in the next three. After wins over North Alabama and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky got through the first 17 games with a 6-11 record in tow.

Matched up against Austin Peay this week, the Colonels were up by a slim 38-37 margin at halftime. Eastern Kentucky faded a bit in the second half though, enough for a 37-34 deficit and an eventual 74-72 loss on the road. Montavious Myrick led the team on 15 points with 12 boards and Turner Buttry put up 14 points with two rebounds and two assists. Austin Ball added 12 points and three rebounds.

Bellarmine Knights @ Eastern Kentucky Colonels Betting Trends: January 17, 2026

Why the Eastern Kentucky Colonels will win

• Bellarmine has lost each of its last 16 road games against the ASUN Conference.
• Eastern Kentucky has won each of its last seven home games against the ASUN Conference.
• Eastern Kentucky has won the first half in 12 of its last 14 home night games against Conference opponents.

Why the Bellarmine Knights will win

• Eastern Kentucky has lost three of its last four night games against the ASUN Conference.

Bellarmine vs Eastern Kentucky Prediction

I’ll lean toward Eastern Kentucky but this one’s a coin flip. The Colonels couldn’t topple Austin Peay in a road matchup this week, thanks mostly to 16 turnovers and just nine trips to the line (with five made free throws). EKU shot 57.1 percent from the field and 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from 3-point range though, alongside a 30-29 rebounding advantage. The Colonels are still 2-1 in the last three games and they’ve scored 72 or more points in five straight (a 2-3 run).

As for Bellarmine, they shot just 37.1 percent from the field, 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from outside and 66.7 percent (20-of-30) from the line in their loss to Lipscomb, along with a 40-32 deficit on the boards. The Knights are just 1-5 in their last six games but they’ve got 71 or more points in all of those.

Andrew Jett's Pick: Eastern Kentucky Colonels -4.5