Game Information
Saint Louis Billikens (19-13) vs Loyola Chicago Ramblers (21-10) - Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals
Time: 1pm CST Friday
How to watch: USA Network
DraftKings Odds
Spread: Loyola -1.5
Total: 142.5
KenPom projection: SLU 72, Loyola 71
Billikens, ‘Blers Battle In Quarterfinals
The Saint Louis University Billikens meet the Loyola Chicago Ramblers in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Friday afternoon.
SLU advanced with an 83-75 win over Davidson on Thursday, while Loyola received a double-bye to the quarterfinals. The team to emerge victorious in this one will move on to face the winner of the VCU/St. Bonaventure game in the semifinals on Saturday.
Teams Appear Equal
These teams are eerily similar when you look at their season-long numbers.
Points per game: SLU 74.5, Loyola 74.2
Points allowed per game: SLU 70.3, Loyola 69.0
Offensive field goal percentage: SLU 47.8%, Loyola 46.4%
Defensive field goal percentage: SLU 41.6%, Loyola 42.0%
3-point percentage: SLU 35.5%, Loyola 35.9%
Free throw percentage: SLU 68.8%, Loyola 66.4%
Rebounds per game: SLU 35.4, Loyola 35.2
Steals per game: SLU 6.44, Loyola 6.42
The Billikens (103rd) and Ramblers (113th) are separated by just ten spots in the KenPom rankings, and they split their two meetings this season.
Loyola knocked off SLU 78-69 on February 14th in Chicago. The game was tied at the under-4 timeout in the second half, but the Ramblers hit a couple 3’s to open up a 6-point lead on their way to victory.
Then SLU destroyed Loyola 98-67 on March 1st at Chaifetz Arena with an all-world shooting performance, but that’s the Ramblers’ only loss over their last eight games.
My Pick
These teams are about as even as you’ll get, and that’s reflected in the line.
I do think SLU’s upside is higher. The Bills were only blown out one time in A10 play at VCU, so I expect them to either win or keep it close throughout. The Ramblers were blown out a few times - including at the hands of the Billikens. So if Gibson Jimerson and Isaiah Swope stay hot from 3, it should be lights out for Loyola.
But with a thin bench and playing for the second time in two days, it’s hard to trust the Billikens to have a dominant shooting performance.
I'll be playing the total in this one. I have a conference tournament betting system that has been quite profitable over the last several years, and one of those trends is:
Team off a bye + Opponent covered last game + Opponent playing on back-to-back days + third meeting this season = the under cashes 56% of the time
That trend is in play here. SLU under’s are 21-8 this season, so let’s go to the well one more time.
Pick: Under 142.5 at -115 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Friday on the Sports Hub STL YouTube channel. Click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Disclaimer