Cleveland State vs Loyola Chicago Prediction 11/3/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Cleveland State Vikings and the Loyola Chicago Ramblers meet Monday in college basketball action from the Gentile Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cleveland State Vikings vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers prediction.

Cleveland State Vikings Recap

The Cleveland State Vikings come into this game looking to build on the success that was found in 2024-25, finishing 23-13 overall including 14-6 in Horizon League play. The Vikings knocked off Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League tournament before falling to Youngstown State in the semifinals. The Vikings would be invited to the CBI, taking down Queens and Florida Gulf Coast before dropping to Illinois State in the CBI championship game. The Vikings are a completely new team, losing pretty much everyone from last year’s team so Rob Summers has his work cut out for him. Summers has Tre Beard (19.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.9 APG at NAIA level) as well as Lucas Burton (14.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG) and Manny Hill (10.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 4.7 APG) at the D-II level last season. Only time will tell if Cleveland State can replicate any sort of success with this new look team in 2025-26. 

Loyola Chicago Ramblers Recap

The Loyola Chicago Ramblers come into the 2025-26 season looking to build on another solid campaign, finishing the year 25-12 overall including 12-6 in A-10 conference play. Loyola Chicago took out Saint Louis in the A-10 tournament quarterfinals before falling to VCU in the semifinals. The Ramblers would go to the NIT where they would take out San Jose Staet, San Francisco and Kent State before falling to Chattanooga in the semifinals. Just like Cleveland State, Loyola Chicago has a lot of turnover as well, but they do have Miles Rubin back in the front court after logging 9.6 PPG and 5.5 RPG last season and Justin Moore is back as well after posting 7.7 PPG and 5.3 APG. Deywilk Tavarez had 12.9 PPG with 3.6 RPG and 2.5 APG at Charleston last year as well. Loyola Chicago’s well coached and even with turnover, I think Loyola is a live team to finish in the top tier of the A-10 this season.

Cleveland State Vikings @ Loyola Ramblers Betting Trends: November 3, 2025

Why the Loyola Ramblers will win

• Loyola (IL) has won each of its last 17 night games at Joseph J. Gentile Arena.
• Cleveland State has lost each of its last seven games against the Atlantic 10 Conference.
• Loyola (IL) has won the first half in each of its last 10 home games against the Horizon League.

Why the Cleveland State Vikings will win

• The road team has won three of the last four games between Cleveland State and Loyola (IL).
• Cleveland State has won the first half in five of its last six night games.

Total Points Facts

• Nine of Cleveland State’s last 10 games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 147 or fewer points.
• Eight of Loyola (IL)’s last nine games against the Horizon League Conference have produced a total of 147 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Loyola (IL) ranked 33rd among Division 1 teams for blocks per game last season (4.6).
• Loyola (IL) ranked 40th among Division 1 teams for assists per game last season (16.0).
• Cleveland State ranked 13th among Division 1 teams for opponent turnovers per game last season (15.2).
• Cleveland State ranked 15th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game last season (52.7).

Cleveland State Vikings vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers Prediction

I’m on the Ramblers here. It’s an interesting matchup, but I still think that Loyola-Chicago has the more trustworthy returning pieces, which doesn’t say much considering Cleveland State has none, but I also think that Loyola-Chicago’s transfers are more proven and I don’t know if the likes of Bears, Burton and Hill for the Vikings will be able to translate that success in 2025-26 or at least out of the gate. I’m on Loyola-Chicago here.