The Loyola Chicago Ramblers take on the Murray State Racers in Honolulu, HI, as part of the Diamond Head Classic. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Loyola Chicago is favored by 2 points on the spread with a moneyline of -125. The total is set at 139 points.
Here are my Loyola Chicago vs. Murray State predictions and college basketball picks for December 25, 2024.
Loyola Chicago vs Murray State Prediction
My Pick: Loyola Chicago -2 (Play to -4)
My Loyola Chicago vs Murray State best bet is on the Ramblers spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Loyola Chicago vs Murray State Odds
| Loyola Chicago Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -105 | 139 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Murray State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -115 | 139 -110o / -110u | +105 |
- Loyola Chicago vs Murray State spread: Loyola Chicago -2
- Loyola Chicago vs Murray State over/under: 139 points
- Loyola Chicago vs Murray State moneyline: Loyola Chicago -125, Murray State +105
- Loyola Chicago vs Murray State best bet: Loyola Chicago -2 (Play to -4)
Spread
I'm taking the Ramblers on the spread up to 4.
Moneyline
The Ramblers should win this game.
Over/Under
I'm avoiding the total.
My Pick: Loyola Chicago -2 (Play to -4)
Loyola Chicago vs Murray State College Basketball Betting Preview
In the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic, two teams with very little depth square off in their third game in four days.
Loyola Chicago is dealing with a plethora of injuries, while Murray State had four players play 40+ minutes in a double-overtime loss to Charlotte in its second game of this event.
Ultimately, the Ramblers are the fresher squad and I'm backing Drew Valentine's club mainly because I believe they are a better team than Murray State and are undervalued at the current spread.
Loyola won't have Jayden Dawson or Justin Moore, but will still have its leading scorer, Sheldon Edwards Jr., and senior guard Des Watson. The Ramblers also have a key rim protector in Miles Rubin, who has also shown some offensive promise in this event, scoring 21 points against Oakland.
The interior will be the difference in this handicap.
Murray State's tallest starter stands at 6-foot-8, and the Racers have had difficulty defending and operating in the paint.
That isn't good news against Rubin, a 6-foot-10 big averaging 2.3 blocks per game.
Because of Rubin's paint presence, the Racers will need a big game from beyond the arc in order to knock off Loyola. The problem is Murray State has shot the ball incredibly poorly from deep in Hawaii — 13-of-53 (25%).
While the Racers will eventually revert more toward their mean shooting percentage (37.2% from downtown this season), I don't count on that happening off a double-overtime game and in their third matchup in four days on a five-hour time change.
Back Valentine and company to get the win — and the cover — and leave the islands with one victory in three outings.
