18 Saint Louis Billikens vs Loyola Chicago Ramblers

This NCAAB matchup features No. 18 Saint Louis Billikens (24-1 (16-0)) traveling to take on Loyola Chicago Ramblers (6-20 (4-10)) at Gentile Arena, Chicago, IL. The Saint Louis hold a clear statistical edge this season, outperforming the Loyola Chicago by 25.5 points per game in scoring margin. That differential will be a key factor in this matchup. On offense, Loyola Chicago averages 69.6 points per game, which exceeds what the Saint Louis defense typically allows (65.6 PPG). That mismatch could give the home side opportunities to exploit. The Saint Louis offense puts up 84.2 PPG and faces a Loyola Chicago defense allowing 76.5 PPG. The visitors have the offensive firepower to stay in this one. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Loyola Chicago will look to leverage their home crowd. The Saint Louis are heavy favorites in this one, with our model projecting a 13.9-point advantage. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Loyola Chicago losing by 1 to losing by 26. Our model aligns closely with the market on this one, suggesting the oddsmakers have priced this game efficiently. Look for small edges in the total and moneyline markets to capitalize on any remaining value.

Loyola Chicago has struggled this season at 6-20 (4-10). The wins have been hard to come by, and the team is looking for answers on both ends of the floor. Home court advantage will be critical for any chance at pulling off an upset. Saint Louis comes in with an impressive 24-1 (16-0) record. They've been among the best teams in their conference and are playing with the confidence of a squad that expects to win. Road games can be tricky, but this team has the poise to handle hostile environments. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.