Loyola-Chicago entered the NCAA Tournament as a trendy pick to pull off a first-round upset but the Ramblers have surpassed all expectations and have fought their way to the Final Four. In doing so, Loyola-Chicago has tied the record for the lowest seed to make the Final Four (1986 LSU, 2006 George Mason, 2011 VCU) but none of the three previous No. 11 seeds to make it to the final weekend won its semifinal game. The Ramblers will look to become the lowest seed ever to play for a national championship but first they must defeat a white-hot Michigan Wolverines team.
- Loyola-Chicago is 8-0 ATS in its last 8 games as underdog.
- Michigan is 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games as a favorite of 5.0 or less.
- Michigan G Charles Matthews is averaging 16.5 points while shooting 52% during the tournament.
Loyola-Chicago has proven that its style of play can lift the team over absolutely any opponent, no matter the conference. The Ramblers pass the ball well, shoot with incredible efficiency and slow the pace of the game – limiting the opposing offense. The Ramblers are shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep during the tourney while holding opponents to 42.5 percent shooting and 29.9 percent from three-point land. Loyola-Chicago still has a major hole with its lack of big men – only one player on the active roster stands over six-foot-five and that is freshman Cameron Krutwig. No team in the tournament has been able to exploit this thanks to some brilliant coaching from Peter Moser but it still looms large.
Michigan has made it to the Final Four on the back of a suffocating defense. The Wolverines contest nearly every shot opponents put up, which has been a big reason why Michigan’s defense is allowing opposing teams to shoot just 37.7 percent during the tournament. On the season as a whole, Michigan has held opponents under 70 points 28 times. Offensively, the team is up and down. John Beilein’s team put up 99 points while shooting nearly 62 percent against Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 but has not scored more than 64 points in any other game this tournament.
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs Michigan Wolverines Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Michigan Wolverines battle the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, currently sitting with a 32-5 mark (25-10 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals betting, are 18-19-1 for the Wolverines and 13-22 for the Ramblers.
The Power Rankings at OddsShark show No. 14-rated Loyola-Chicago taking on No. 70-rated Michigan in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Rebounding is always a key handicapping betting consideration and Loyola-Chicago is ranked No. 244 in NCAA basketball at 32.14 per game. Contrast that with Michigan's No. 208 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Michigan is the No. 53-ranked team in the country at 9 treys per game, while Loyola-Chicago rates No. 147 at 7.46 per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Loyola-Chicago got 23 points from Ben Richardson en route to a 78-62 victory over Kansas State on Saturday at Philips Arena.
The Wolverines got 17 points from Charles Matthews as Michigan got past Florida State 58-54 on Saturday at Staples Center.
