The Youngstown State Penguins will try to cover the spread at Beeghly Center on Thursday when they get a visit from the Loyola of Chicago Ramblers in NCAA basketball action.

The Ramblers will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 10-11 ATS against the number this season, while the Penguins are 7-10-1 ATS. Loyola of Chicago is 12-5 on the totals; Youngstown State is 8-6-1.



View Loyola of Chicago vs Youngstown State Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Youngstown State opened as 4-point favorites in this college basketball tilt over at Sportsbook but the number may be on the move. Watch for the Sportsbook total as well at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 83-ranked Penguins and the No. 208-rated Ramblers in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 70-68 win for the Penguins on Thursday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Youngstown State's No. 88 nationally ranked offense (71.2 points per game) against a Ramblers defense that sits as the No. 42 at 60.4 PPG. The Penguins have been averaging 42.8% from the field, less than the Ramblers have managed so far this season (44.1% on average).

Defensively, Loyola of Chicago features the nation's No. 16-rated defense on the road, allowing 59.1 points per game. Youngstown State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 74 nationally in scoring at home.

Loyola of Chicago lost its last outing, a 62-59 result against Wright State on February 4. They covered in that game as a 4.5-point underdog. Loyola of Chicago got 13 points from Christian Thomas but lost anyway, 62-59, to Wright State on Monday at Nutter Center.

Last time out for Youngstown State, they were a 66-60 loser as they battled Cleveland State on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 2.5-point favorite. Bobby Hain scored 15 points in a futile effort to lead the Penguins to a win (they lost 66-60 to Cleveland State at Wolstein Center on Tuesday).


Loyola of Chicago Ramblers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 1-9
Before playing Wisc-Milwaukee are 3-7
After playing Wright State are 2-8
After a loss are 4-6

Youngstown State Penguins Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Illinois-Chicago are 4-6
After playing Cleveland State are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

A few Ramblers at Penguins trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Loyola of Chicago's last 8 games when playing on the road against Youngstown State
Loyola of Chicago is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Youngstown State
Youngstown State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Youngstown State's last 7 games when playing Loyola of Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Youngstown State's last 8 games when playing at home against Loyola of Chicago
Youngstown State is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Loyola of Chicago


Next up:
Loyola of Chicago at Wisc-Milwaukee, Tuesday, February 12
Youngstown State home to Illinois-Chicago, Sunday, February 10