The Loyola Chicago Ramblers take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in Honolulu, HI, as part of the Diamond Head Classic. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Loyola Chicago is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -300. The total is set at 136.5 points.
Here are my Loyola Chicago vs. Oakland predictions and college basketball picks for December 22, 2024.
Loyola Chicago vs Oakland Prediction
My Pick: Loyola Chicago -6 (Play to -8.5)
My Loyola Chicago vs Oakland best bet is on the Ramblers spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Loyola Chicago vs Oakland Odds
| Loyola Chicago Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -102 | 136.5 -110 / -110 | -300 |
| Oakland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -120 | 136.5 -110 / -110 | +240 |
- Loyola Chicago vs Oakland spread: Loyola Chicago -6
- Loyola Chicago vs Oakland over/under: 136.5 points
- Loyola Chicago vs Oakland moneyline: Loyola Chicago -300, Oakland +240
- Loyola Chicago vs Oakland best bet: Loyola Chicago -6 (Play to -8.5)
Spread
I like the Ramblers here up to 8.5.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
There is no value on the total.
My Pick: Loyola Chicago -6 (Play to -8.5)
Loyola Chicago vs Oakland College Basketball Betting Preview
Loyola Chicago Basketball
What a tremendous matchup this is from a storyline perspective. It's mentor against mentee, as Loyola Chicago head coach Drew Valentine played four seasons for Oakland head coach Greg Kampe.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of the sport, but Loyola Chicago has been dealt a terrible hand. Three of the Ramblers' starters are hurt, including leading scorer Jayden Dawson and point guard Justin Moore. Dawson was the go-to scoring option, while Moore settled things down for the offense.
The good news is Loyola Chicago has a ton of backcourt depth that is now put to the test. Also, three of the Ramblers' top four scorers remain healthy — Des Watson, Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Jalen Quinn.
The key is replacing Moore's playmaking, but Quinn was up to the task against Canisius, tossing six dimes to zero turnovers
It's not as if Loyola Chicago was dominant prior to the injuries. The Ramblers were fairly lucky to win their first eight games, as they took some close calls from Southern Utah, Chicago State and South Florida.
The Ramblers have a solid edge on the glass in this game. Loyola Chicago sparingly allows offensive rebounds (22nd nationally in defensive rebound rate), while collecting offensive boards on 32% of its misses.
The interior is the one part of the roster that injuries haven't affected. Athletic center Miles Rubin is arguably the best interior defender in the A-10, but it would benefit the Ramblers if he could score a bit.
Defensively, Loyola Chicago doesn't let teams score on the interior, limiting teams to 1.00 PPP on shots at the rim, which puts it in the 91st percentile.
Rubin is a key piece to limiting interior scoring, but Francis Nwaokorie and Jalen DeLoach also hold their own.
Oakland Basketball
Don't get it twisted — just because Oakland won an NCAA Tournament game last year doesn’t mean it can compete in the Horizon League this year.
The Golden Grizzlies went from shooting the lights out in the Big Dance to being amongst the worst shooting teams in America.
Oakland is learning a tough lesson — Jack Gohlke-level shooters don't grow on trees. The Grizzlies are shooting just 28% from 3, and the lone shooter above 29% is Malcolm Christie at 32%.
One of the main concerns for Oakland is guard play as a whole. The only true guard in the starting lineup is leading scorer DQ Cole, who has an overfilling plate, as he is relied on to facilitate and score.
Three of Oakland's starters — forwards Allen Mukeba and Buru Naivalurua and glue-guy wing Isaiah Jones — are total non-shooters. The only one who has made a 3 this year is Jones, and teams will gladly let him shoot it.
I greatly respect Coach Kampe. He's an absolute legend, but there is only so much a coach can do if a roster lacks talent.
And that's the unfortunate reality for the Golden Grizzlies.
I doubt Kampe expected Jayson Woodrich to shoot 17% from 3 and provide zero value and for Christie to shoot only 32%, but not every portal swing is a hit.
The key to the Golden Grizzlies winning games is hoping Naivalurua and Mukeba can effectively execute bully ball.
However, trying to pound the Ramblers down low is a quick way to get blown out. Oakland shooting the ball more consistently from 3 is the key here, so Cole, Christie and Woodrich need to show up.
Loyola Chicago vs. Oakland Betting Analysis
I don't have much faith in Oakland turning things around, so Loyola Chicago is a solid pick.
I imagine the Ramblers shut off the interior, forcing Oakland to hit 3s, which it hasn't done all year.
I don't see that changing, so the Ramblers could have a double-digit win on their radar.
