Saint Louis will be running into a red-hot team when it hosts Loyola Chicago tonight.
The Ramblers (19-9, 10-5) have been playing some of the best basketball in the Atlantic 10, winning their last five games and seven of their last eight. That run has thrust Loyola up to third place in the conference standings, trailing VCU and George Mason.
One of those victories was a win over SLU on Valentine’s Day. The Ramblers outscored the Billikens 14-4 in the final four minutes of that contest to pull away for the 78-69 victory. SLU (16-12, 9-6) has won its two games since then and is tied for fourth in the conference standings with Dayton and Saint Joseph’s.
Loyola Chicago at Saint Louis Odds
Saint Louis is a 3-point college basketball odds favorite on BetMGM against Loyola Chicago while the Over/Under is at 139.5.
The Moneyline for Saint Louis is at -155 and +125 for Loyola Chicago.
Loyola Chicago at Saint Louis On TV
The matchup between Loyola Chicago and Saint Louis will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Today’s game tips off at 4 p.m. ET.
Loyola Chicago at Saint Louis Prediction
I predict Loyola covers the three-point spread as a road underdog. I also predict for this game to go under 139.5 points.
The last time these teams met, the Ramblers shot 50% from the 3-point line and attempted 21 free throws, knocking down 16 of them. Per KenPom, SLU’s defense is the best in the conference in these two categories. The Billikens allow conference opponents to shoot 30.1% from the arc and allow the lowest defensive free-throw rate (24.1%) in the league.
I don’t anticipate the Ramblers to score 78 points again or shoot as well as they did in the previous meeting, but it’s hard to count them out with the way they’ve been playing. They’re allowing 66 points per game over their last four wins and are getting contributions from everybody. Loyola is a more balanced, consistent group compared to SLU, whose primary options aren’t as consistent.
Six-foot-10 sophomore Miles Rubin is the best rim protector in the conference and caused a lot of problems for the Billikens in the first matchup. He finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. He’s scored in double-figures in six of the last seven and is averaging 3.8 blocks during that stretch. His defensive presence could, again, be the difference against a Billikens team that shoots 47% from the field and 60.3% from inside the arc — both the best in the A-10.
The Ramblers are also led by a trio of electric guards in Jayden Dawson (13.2 PPG), Des Watson (12.8 PPG), and Sheldon Edwards Jr. (12.2 PPG).
SLU is led by junior center Robbie Avila, who is averaging 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Gibson Jimerson adds 17 PPG while Isaiah Swope averages 16.1 PPG and 4.6 APG. The Billikens rarely get any scoring production from their bench, so if one of these three has an off night, or the opponent shuts them down, that could be bad news for SLU’s offense.
I think the lack of depth has really hurt the Billikens this season and will continue to do so going forward.
Loyola is 6-3 against the spread as an underdog and SLU is 7-10 as a favorite. The over is 6-3 when Loyola is an underdog and 3-14 when SLU is a favorite.
