Loyola-Chicago vs. Ohio St Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The No. 10 Ramblers captured the imagination of sports fans with their unlikely run to the Final Four in 2018, and followed up with a drive to the Sweet Sixteen last year. The Buckeyes closed out a disappointing campaign on a 1-4 straight up run, and a second round exit from the Big Ten Tournament. OSU has also going 1-4 in their past five overall March Madness contests, and is 3-2 in their past five tournament openers.
With the Ramblers returning to the Big Dance as sports betting darlings, Friday’s clash is pegged as a pick’em, with both squads sporting -110 odds, and the total is listed at 132.5.
Loyola-Chicago vs. Ohio St NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Friday afternoon’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is set for 12:15pm ET, and marks the first meeting between these teams since November 2006
The slumping Buckeyes have compiled a middling 6-7 record over their past 13 contests, with each of their recent losses coming as betting favourites. Not surprisingly, the Buckeyes have also covered just once in five outings. And even if they ultimately emerge as betting chalk, the team’s brutal 4-8 run while favoured by three or fewer points provides sports bettors with little comfort. In addition, OSU shooters have mustered just 69.4 points per game during their 1-4 run, but has still managed to hold on to the No. 13 spot in adjusted offensive efficiency at Kenpom.
The Ramblers fell just short of repeating as Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions, compiling a 13-5 record. However, they leveraged a smothering defence in their three-game march to a second straight MVC Tournament title, limiting opponents to just 35.2% from the floor, and to 50.3 points per game. The challenge for the Ramblers now is to boost their offensive production after shooting just 39.2% while averaging 65 points over their past two contests.
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
The Ramblers will once again enjoy the backing of Sister Jean, who became a household name during the team’s 2018 run to the Final Four. The 102-year-old nun and superfan predicted the team’s drive to the Sweet Sixteen last year, and has been a massive source of inspiration for Loyola players and fans. On the court, senior guard Lucas Williamson is coming off his first double-double of the season, and has recorded 16.8 points over his past four outings. And in addition to leading the team in scoring, Williamson is also tops in rebounds and steals this season.
Ohio St Buckeyes
The Buckeyes have consistently squandered fast starts during their recent slide. The squad has taken halftime leads into the room in two of their four most recent defeats, and averaged just 33.7 second-half points over their past five contests. Despite those struggles, EJ Liddell has remained a consistent offensive force. The junior big man leads the team with 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, has averaged 21.8 points over his past four while recording a pair of double-doubles over that stretch.
