Loyola Chicago Ramblers vs La Salle Explorers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25
Looking to win big? The Ramblers and Explorers face off at 6:30 ET on ESPN+. The Explorers are hosting the game at John Glaser Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Loyola Chicago is favored by -1.5 in this Atlantic 10 conference matchup the against La Salle. The over/under for the game is set at 148 points.
LOYOLA CHICAGO RAMBLERS VS LA SALLE EXPLORERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: La Salle Explorers +1.5
This game will be played at John Glaser Arena at 6:30 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.
WHY BET THE LA SALLE EXPLORERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-67 in favor of the Explorers.
- Not only will La Salle pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 148 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Will the Ramblers Defense Show Up in Philadelphia?
Loyola Chicago Ramblers Recent Game/Games
Loyola Chicago dropped to 8-5 on the season after an 84-65 home loss to VCU on Saturday. The Ramblers entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 149, surpassing the O/U line of 139.5.
After leading 40-37 at halftime, Loyola Chicago struggled in the second half, scoring just 25 points while allowing 47.
Loyola Chicago managed just 65 points in their last game, shooting 38.2% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.5%. They hit 33.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 24 attempts, and went 15 for 23 from the free-throw line, good for 65.2%.
Phillip Russell led the way with 25 points, hitting 5 of 8 from three-point range and shooting 63.6% overall. Des Watson added 20 points, shooting 53.3% from the field and 44.4% from deep, while Jack Clark contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, despite missing all 3 of his three-point attempts.
Even though Loyola Chicago held their opponent to 38% shooting, they still gave up 84 points. The Ramblers allowed 21 field goals, including 13 two-pointers at a 41% clip.
From beyond the arc, their opponent hit 8 threes on 24 attempts, shooting 33%. Loyola also sent them to the line 23 times, where they converted 15 free throws, shooting 65%.
Will the La Salle Defense Show Up at Home?
La Salle’s record dropped to 7-6 after an 84-70 loss to Dayton on Tuesday. The Explorers were +16.5 point underdogs going into the game, and while they didn’t pull off the upset, they did manage to cover the spread.
After falling behind 36-21 in the first half, La Salle put up 49 points in the second half but also allowed 48 points. The total points for the game ended at 154, going over the pre-game O/U line of 146.5.
La Salle put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 41% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.9%, and they hit 68.4% of their free throws, going 13-for-19 from the line.
Malachi Smith led the way with 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, shooting 61.5% overall and 50% from deep. Daeshon Shepherd also had a strong performance, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots.
La Salle’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points on 47% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to connect on 60% of their two-point attempts, with 24 made shots from inside the arc.
From three-point range, La Salle’s defense held their opponent to 28% shooting, with 7 made threes. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 15 free throws for 71%.