Both the Illinois Fighting Ilini (24-6 SU, 20-10 ATS) and Loyola Chicago Ramblers (25-4 SU, 17-9-1 ATS) are coming off strong performances in the first round of Midwest Region action. The No. 1 Fighting Illini are 7-point favorites heading into their Sunday afternoon matchup with the No. 8 Ramblers.
- Date/Time: March 21, 12:10 p.m. ET
- Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
- TV Coverage: CBS
- Sportsbook Odds: Illinois -6.5 | O/U 133.5 (Line History)
- Loyola Chicago vs Illinois Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Top-seeded Illinois, which has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games, opened as a 6.5-point favorite and the line has since moved to -7. The total has remained at 133.5 since Sportsbook.
Loyola Chicago News & Notes
The Ramblers got 21 points from Lucas Williamson and 16 from Braden Norris to handle the No. 9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 71-60 in their opener Friday. Center Cameron Krutwig, a holdover from the 11th-seeded Loyola Chicago team that made a miraculous run to the Final Four in 2018, added 10 points and five rebounds.
The team runs its offense through Krutwig, a senior who has tremendous court vision and touch for a big man, and has averaged double figures in all four of his seasons with the Ramblers.
Loyola Chicago relies heavily on its shutdown abilities. The Ramblers lead the country in scoring defense, giving up an average of just 55.7 points per game.
Illinois News & Notes
In Brad Underwood’s first NCAA Tournament with the Illini, this team is poised to make a deep run. Illinois finished the regular season with its highest scoring average since 1994 and dominated the Big Ten, arguably the best conference in college basketball.
Illinois is led by potential NBA draft picks Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, who combine to average 38.2 points per game, representing 47 percent of the team’s total scoring.
Cockburn had 18 points and Dosunmu 17 to pace the Fighting Illini to a 78-49 blowout of No. 16 Drexel on Friday. Illinois shot over 57 percent from the field.
Betting Pick: UNDER 133.5
Illinois’ offense was dominant in the fast-paced Big Ten but Loyola Chicago is the nation’s best defensive team, limiting opponents to just under 56 points a game. If the Ramblers hold Illinois to below 70 points, the UNDER should cash here.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Illinois is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games.
- Loyola Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games.
- These teams have combined to win 15 in a row.
