The Illinois-Chicago Flames will hit the floor running against the visiting Valparaiso Crusaders Saturday, looking to improve their record and boost wagering bankrolls in the process.

Illinois-Chicago battles the Crusaders, currently sitting with a 13-7 mark (9-8 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals bettors, are 9-7 for the Flames and 8-9 for the Crusaders.



View Valparaiso vs Illinois-Chicago Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with Illinois-Chicago in this one will find them as 5.5-point underdogs.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 228-ranked Flames and the No. 180-rated Crusaders in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 72-62 win for the Crusaders on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Crusaders rank No. 194 in NCAA Division 1 with 34.4 per game. That compares with Illinois-Chicago’s No. 76 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Illinois-Chicago is college basketball's No. 172-ranked team at 6.2 per game, while the Crusaders rate No. 163 with 6.4 per game.

Defensively, Valparaiso features the nation's No. 225-rated defense on the road, allowing 72.7 points per game. Illinois-Chicago, meanwhile, comes in at No. 321 nationally in scoring at home.

Valparaiso was a 69-48 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Loyola of Chicago. They covered the 6-point spread as favorites. The battle between the Crusaders and Ramblers didn’t turn out to be much of a battle at all as Loyola of Chicago was handed a 69-48 defeat on Thursday at Joseph J. Gentile Center.

Illinois-Chicago lost its last outing, a 57-49 result against Butler on January 19. They failed to cover in that game as a 7.5-point underdog. Gary Talton scored 11 points in a futile effort to lead the Flames to a win (they lost 57-49 to Butler at UIC Pavilion on Thursday).


Valparaiso Crusaders Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Wisc-Green Bay are 5-5
After playing Loyola of Chicago are 3-7
After a win are 5-5

Illinois-Chicago Flames Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Wright State are 5-5
After playing Butler are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5

A few Crusaders at Flames trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Valparaiso's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois-Chicago's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Illinois-Chicago's last 8 games
Illinois-Chicago is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Illinois-Chicago's last 6 games when playing Valparaiso


Next up:
Valparaiso at Wisc-Green Bay, Thursday, January 26
Illinois-Chicago at Wright State, Wednesday, January 25