Loyola Maryland Greyhounds vs DePaul Blue Demons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/28/24

Betting on today’s Greyhounds and Blue Demons game? Catch the action at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL, as the Blue Demons hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on FS1. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 146.5 points, and DePaul is favored by -16.5 vs. Loyola Maryland.

LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS VS DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Loyola Maryland Greyhounds +16.5

This game will be played at Wintrust Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, December 28th.

WHY BET THE LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Blue Demons.
• Even though we have DePaul winning straight-up, we like Loyola Maryland at +16.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Taking a Look at the Greyhounds Chances on the Road

Loyola Maryland fell to 4-5 on the season after a 76-68 home loss to Hampton on Saturday. The Greyhounds were -2 favorites but failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 32-26 at halftime, Loyola Maryland scored 42 points in the 2nd half but allowed 44. The game’s total points of 144 went over the pre-game O/U line of 137.5.

Loyola Maryland put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 46.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 51.9%. They connected on 52.6% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 31.2% (5/16) of their threes.

At the free-throw line, the Greyhounds shot 61.9% (13/21), and they grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. Milos Ilic led the way with 22 points on 9/14 shooting, adding 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Wayne Bristol Jr. contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 50% from the field.

Even with Loyola Maryland giving up 76 points, they managed to limit their opponent’s three-point shooting to just 5 made threes on 16 attempts, a 31% success rate. However, they struggled more inside the arc, allowing 20 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, with their opponent shooting 52% from two-point range.

From the free-throw line, Loyola Maryland’s opponent went 13/21, shooting 61%. The Greyhounds also allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Can the Blue Demons Secure a Win at Home?

The Blue Demons dropped to 8-4 on the season after an 84-64 road loss to Northwestern on Saturday. DePaul entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 148, surpassing the O/U line of 136.5.

DePaul trailed 37-27 at halftime and struggled defensively in the second half, allowing 47 points while scoring 37 of their own.

DePaul’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 37% from the field, but they hit 44.4% from three-point range, making 12 of 27 attempts. Their two-point shooting was a major issue, as they connected on only 29.6% of their shots inside the arc.

Nick Martinelli led the way with 23 points, shooting 52.6% overall, while Brooks Barnhizer added 21 points and 12 rebounds, hitting 60% of his shots. Jacob Meyer contributed 18 points, hitting 4 of 7 from three-point range.

DePaul’s defense struggled, allowing 84 points on 53% shooting. The Blue Demons gave up 29 two-point field goals on 52 attempts, a 55% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, DePaul allowed 5 threes on 12 attempts, a 41% rate. They also sent the opposing team to the line 16 times, where they hit 11 free throws (68%).