Loyola Chicago Ramblers vs Charleston Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Ramblers and Cougars. The game is starting at 5:30 ET on ESPNU, and it’s hosted by the Cougars at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI. Get ready to place your bets! Loyola Chicago is favored by -4.5 in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 147.5 points.
LOYOLA CHICAGO RAMBLERS VS CHARLESTON COUGARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Charleston Cougars +4.5
This game will be played at Stan Sheriff Center at 5:30 ET on Monday, December 23rd.
WHY BET THE CHARLESTON COUGARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Cougars.
- Not only will Charleston pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Do the Ramblers Have What it Takes in Honolulu?
Loyola Chicago dropped to 8-2 on the season following a narrow 72-71 road loss to Oakland on Sunday. The Ramblers entered the game as -7 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 143, surpassing the over/under line of 133.5.
Loyola Chicago trailed 33-27 at halftime but rallied in the second half, scoring 44 points while allowing 39. Despite the strong second-half effort, they couldn’t complete the comeback.
Loyola Chicago put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.5%. They hit 60.6% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 31.8% of their threes (7/22).
Miles Rubin was a force inside, going 9/11 from the field and finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Allen Mukeba and Malcolm Christie each added 20 points, with Christie hitting 6 threes at a 40% clip.
Despite Loyola Chicago’s defensive efforts, they gave up 72 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 42% from the field. Inside the arc, the Ramblers allowed 50% shooting, as their opponents hit 18 of 36 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, Loyola Chicago’s defense held their opponents to 33% shooting, with 9 made threes on 27 attempts. The Ramblers also sent their opponents to the line 10 times, where they converted 9 free throws for 90%. Loyola Chicago allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.
Are the Cougars Ready for a Home Win?
Charleston Cougars Recent Game/Games
Charleston dropped to 7-3 on the season after a 74-65 loss to Oregon State on Sunday. The Cougars were +7 point underdogs at home and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 139 fell just short of the 140.5 O/U line.
Charleston trailed 35-26 at halftime but couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, as both teams scored 39 points after the break.
Charleston managed just 65 points in their latest game, shooting 36.2% from the field and 25% from three-point range (6/24). Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, and they hit 17 of 25 free throws (68%).
Michael Rataj and Damarco Minor led the Cougars with 16 points each, with Rataj adding 12 rebounds. Parsa Fallah was efficient, shooting 6/7 from the field for 14 points and contributing 4 assists.
Charleston’s defense held their opponent to 74 points on 36% shooting from the field, including 44% from two-point range, where they allowed 15 made baskets on 34 attempts.
From beyond the arc, the Cougars limited their opponent to 6 threes on 24 attempts, a 25% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 25 times, where they made 17, shooting 68%.