We are midway through February, and No. 19 Saint Louis has hardly been tested in Atlantic 10 play. The Billikens (23-1 overall, 11-0 A-10) have comfortably won all but two of their conference games, and only three of their wins this season have been decided by less than nine points.
SLU’s 17-game win streak is the second-longest in the country and trails only Miami (OH), who is playing Ohio tonight. There’s a very strong chance that the Billikens don’t lose for the rest of the season and earn a respectable seed in the NCAA tournament.
Loyola Chicago’s season has gone in the complete opposite direction as SLU’s. The Ramblers (6-19, 2-10) have only won one game since Jan. 1, but knocked off La Salle last week to end a nine-game losing streak.
Injuries have riddled Loyola for most of the season, and they only have two players who have appeared in all 25 games.
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Saint Louis at Loyola Chicago Odds
As of this writing, Saint Louis is an 18.5-point college basketball betting odds favorite on BetMGM against Loyola Chicago, while the Over/Under is 155.5 points.
The Moneyline for SLU is -3000 and +1400 for Loyola.
Saint Louis at Loyola Chicago on TV
The matchup between Saint Louis and Loyola Chicago will be televised on ESPN2.
Tonight’s game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Saint Louis at Loyola Chicago Prediction
I predict Saint Louis covers the 18.5-point spread. I also predict this game goes over 155.5 points.
There aren’t many players in mid-major basketball — or maybe in the country — who do more damage from the middle of the floor than Billikens center Robbie Avila. The 6-foot-10 senior can carve up defenses with his vision and his touch and feel around the rim. He can also step outside and knock down 3s.
SLU likes to play through Avila and try to get him the ball in those areas where he can do the most damage. He’s one of the primary reasons the Billikens are one of the most efficient teams in the country. Per KenPom, their effective field-goal percentage of 61.1% is the best in Division I, and their 41.4% from the outside is second-best.
The Billikens want to play fast, move the ball up the floor, and they pass the ball as well as anybody in the country. In conference play, nearly 64% of their makes come off an assist.
I expect Loyola will put its athletic big man, Miles Rubin, on Avila to try to disrupt his flow. However, Rubin is also an excellent rim protector and is averaging a league-best 2.4 blocks per game. Avila should be able to suck Rubin out of the paint, which will only create more quality looks inside for the Billikens.
SLU also has one of the most balanced attacks in the country, with seven guys averaging 9.5+ points per game. Avila leads the team with 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game, while sophomore guard Trey Green adds 12.0 PPG. Saint Louis is averaging 91 PPG.
I think the Billikens’ depth will also create issues for a Loyola squad that hasn’t had a ton of opportunities to build continuity and chemistry this year because of the injuries. It has had an effect on both sides of the floor.
The Ramblers’ adjusted offensive efficiency of 97.3 in league games ranks the worst in the A-10. Their ADE of 116.3 is second-worst, and they are allowing 78.4 PPG.
Loyola also wants to get the ball inside to Rubin as often as possible, but rather on the low block. However, I expect SLU’s defense to be disruptive and not allow anything easy inside and to force the Ramblers into 3s, where they’re shooting south of 30%.
The Billikens are only allowing conference foes to shoot 37.1% from the field and 26.7% from deep. They’re allowing 68.9 PPG.
SLU has dominated opponents all season long, and I don’t know why tonight’s matchup would be any different. I think it gets another lopsided victory on its way to an A-10 regular-season title.
