The Loyola of Chicago Ramblers will try to cover the spread at Joseph J. Gentile Center on Saturday when they get a visit from the Illinois-Chicago Flames in NCAA basketball action.

The Ramblers are 13-12 so far on the season, and 11-12 ATS vs. the number. The Flames, meanwhile, are 15-10 and 15-9 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Loyola of Chicago go 13-6 and the Flames go 9-10-1 on the totals.



View Illinois-Chicago vs Loyola of Chicago Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to go with the Ramblers in this one found them listed as 4-point favorites earlier on the NCAA basketball betting menu for Monday's contest. Check for updates as money coming in on the Flames was expected to move the line.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Ramblers, most recently No. 221 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Flames, who rate No. 133 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 64-62 victory for the Ramblers.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Loyola of Chicago has the nation's No. 283-rated offensive output, at 62.6 PPG. The visiting Flames defense ranks No. 75 allowing on average 62 PPG. The Ramblers FG% has averaged 43.5% so far, more than the Flames marksmen have achieved on the year, 39.1% per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Illinois-Chicago owns the country's No. 94-rated mark, allowing 66.3 points per game on the highway. Loyola of Chicago, on the other hand, rates No. 253 in scoring at home.

Last time out for Illinois-Chicago, they were an 88-83 Sportsbook as they battled Youngstown State on the road. They covered in the match as a 7-point underdog. The Flames grabbed an 88-83 win over the Penguins on Sunday, behind a 23-point effort from Gary Talton at Beeghly Center.

In their last action, Loyola of Chicago was a 71-53 loser on the road against Wisc-Milwaukee. They failed to cover the 5-point spread as favorites. Jordan Hicks scored 12 points in a futile effort to lead the Ramblers to a win (they lost 71-53 to Wisc-Milwaukee at U.S. Cellular Arena on Tuesday).


Illinois-Chicago Flames Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Wisc-Milwaukee are 2-8
After playing Youngstown State are 2-8
After a win are 6-4

Loyola of Chicago Ramblers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Valparaiso are 3-7
After playing Wisc-Milwaukee are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6

A few Flames at Ramblers trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Illinois-Chicago's last 8 games when playing on the road against Loyola of Chicago
Illinois-Chicago is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Illinois-Chicago is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Loyola of Chicago
Illinois-Chicago is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Loyola of Chicago's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Loyola of Chicago's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Loyola of Chicago's last 8 games when playing at home against Illinois-Chicago
Loyola of Chicago is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Illinois-Chicago


Next up:
Illinois-Chicago at Wisc-Milwaukee, Wednesday, February 20
Loyola of Chicago home to Valparaiso, Tuesday, February 19