Loyola Chicago vs. Vanderbilt Odds
| Loyola Chicago Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 132 -115o / -105u | -195 |
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 132 -115o / -105u | +165 |
Loyola Chicago will look to keep its four-game win streak alive against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Friday night. On the other hand, Vanderbilt would be happy to just win a game as they are currently on a two-game skid after taking losses to SMU and Temple.
Against the Ramblers, a win could be pretty far-fetched. The Commodores, for one, have had severe issues scoring. Since their first loss on November 17th, Vanderbilt has averaged only 0.85 points per possession. The Commodores have gotten opportunities, but they just can't seem to make shots. Against Temple, Vanderbilt made just 18 of 41 shots inside the paint and just four of 26 shots outside the arc.
On the other hand, Sister Jean's favorite team has reached new heights on the offensive end. The Rambler currently rank 21st in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and fourth in Effective Field Goal Percentage. For reference, during their 2018 final four run, they finished the season 63rd in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and seventh in eFG%.
Vanderbilt has the talent on the roster to be a good team, but will they end their losing streak against one of the most historically successful and potentially best mid major team this year?
Loyola Chicago Ramblers
Loyola has started the season strong, but they've done what most expected so far: winning against teams they rank ahead of and losing to teams ahead of them. They had a chance to knock off 20th ranked Michigan State but fell short, losing 63-61.
The Ramblers also have yet to play an actual road game. The closest thing to a road game so far was at DePaul, which is just six miles away. They also lost both games they played on a neutral court. So Vanderbilt should serve as a decent test to see how this team does on the road before conference play begins.
Offensively, Loyola has been one of the best teams in the country. They have averaged 79 points per game and currently rank fourth nationally in Effective Field Goal percentage at 59.2%. The Ramblers have three players averaging 10 points per contest: Lucas Williamson (11.7 points per game), Ryan Schwieger (11.2 ppg), and Aher Uguak (10 ppg).
while they are currently performing miles ahead of Vanderbilt on offense, they edge just ahead of them on defense as well. They rank 51st in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency to Vandy's 65th. So the only true question is, will they be able to maintain the production they've displayed this season in their first challenging environment?
Vanderbilt Commodores
Friday will mark one whole month since the college basketball season began. With the return of Scottie Pippen Jr. and Jordan Wright, this team was projected to finish among the top 10 of the SEC. However, they're just 5-3 with losses at home to VCU and Temple and also 4-4 ATS.
Defensively, the Commodores have shown promise. They rank 23rd in the nation in opponents' Effective Field Goal percentage while also top 50 in opponents' three and two-point shooting. They limited VCU to just 48 points, but they still lost that game with only 37 points.
The Commodores depend on Pippen Jr. and Wright for more than half of their scoring as no one else on the roster averages more than eight points a game this season. They don't have depth, and the starters themselves haven't been able to score consistently.
The Commodores average just 70.9 points per game, ranking outside the top 150. In eFG% and shooting percentage, they rank outside the top 200. Even from the charity stripe, they only hit at 71.2%.
The only thing this team does better than Loyola Chicago is rebound, and I'm not sure that will be enough against one of the best mid majors in the country right now.
Loyola Chicago vs. Vanderbilt Betting Pick
The Ramblers opened as 2.5 point favorites, a number that has nearly doubled currently at 4.5 as of writing, and I expect it to go even higher. Loyola Chicago played an excellent defensive team with a struggling offense once already this year in Arizona State, and they went on to win that game by 18.
Given that that was on a neutral court, I expect them to have some issues in their first road game but not enough to deter me from rolling with the Ramblers. Loyola Chicago is a team that could very well be playing into March this year. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, will have a tough fight against Georgia to get out of the SEC's basement.
