Loyola-Chicago (9-4) vs VCU (10-4)
Game Info: Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 2:00 pm (Gentile Arena)
The Line: Betting Odds: Loyola-Chicago +5.5 / VCU -5.5 — Over/Under: 139
The VCU Rams and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers meet Saturday 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 VCU vs. Loyola-Chicago prediction.
VCU Recap
The VCU Rams come into this game looking to bounce back after a 77-75 loss to St. Bonaventure last time out to drop their record to 10-4 on the year. After this game, VCU will head home for a matchup with Fordham.
Rams Looking For Rebound
Joe Bamisile leads the Rams in scoring with 16.7 PPG along with 5.6 RPG and 2.3 APG while Phillip Russell has 11.8 PPG and Max Shulga has 16.1 PPG with 5.9 RPG and a team-high 3.6 APG to lead the Rams in assists while also posting a team-high 1.9 SPG. Zeb Jackson has 10.7 PPG with 3 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for VCU while Jack Clark’s added 6.7 PPG and 6.7 RPG to lead VCU on the glass so far this season. As a team, VCU is averaging 77.4 PPG on 44.9% shooting from the field, 32% from three and 70.6% from the foul line this season.
Why the VCU Rams will win
- VCU has won 13 of its last 14 Saturday day games.
- Loyola (IL) has lost four of its last five games.
Loyola-Chicago Recap
The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers come into this game looking to rebound from a 71-68 loss to the Murray State Racers last time out, finishing the Diamond Head Classic tournament at 0-3, with a 9-4 overall record this season. After this game, Loyola-Chicago will head on the road to take on La Salle.
Ramblers Lose Three In A Row On The Island
Sheldon Edwards Jr. leads the Ramblers in scoring with 12.1 PPG while Des Watson has 11.6 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 3.9 APG so far this season. Miles Rubin has 9.5 PPG with 5.3 RPG and Jalen Quinn’s added 8.5 PPG while Francis Nwokorie has a team-high 6.4 RPG to lead Loyola-Chicago on the glass. As a team, Loyola-Chicago is averaging 77.2 PPG on 47.7% shooting from the field, 34.7% from three and 65% from the foul line this season.
Why the Loyola Ramblers will win
- Loyola (IL) has won each of its last 15 games at Joseph J. Gentile Arena.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Loyola (IL)’s last six day games against Conference opponents at Joseph J. Gentile Arena have produced a total of 139 or fewer points.
- Seven of VCU’s last eight games have produced a total of 143+ points.
VCU vs. Loyola-Chicago Prediction
I’m on the under here. I think I like VCU to cover, but I just have this weird feeling that Loyola-Chicago competes here and makes life a little bit tough for VCU in this game. This feels to me like a defensive slugfest, and who knows what kind of rust Loyola-Chicago has. It’s tough enough coming back from Hawaii and playing your first game back and having to get reacclimated to home court, but to also have not played a game in almost two weeks is next level. I think this ends somewhere in the ballpark of 69-61 VCU so give me the under here with a lean towards the Rams as well.