Many thought the No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago Rambles could pull off an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and they followed through. Loyola-Chicago defeated the Miami Hurricanes last time out on buzzer beater and is now just one win away from a Sweet Sixteen appearance.
It’s not going to be easy to get there as the Ramblers have to face off against the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols cruised into the second round and now will face a second straight double digit seed. Tennessee is going to be the favorite but Loyola-Chicago is a good enough team to make this one interesting in NCAA basketball betting lines.
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Odds Analysis
Tennessee has been listed as a six-point favorite in this matchup, so while the Volunteers are projected to win, the oddsmakers are certainly giving Loyola-Chicago a shot. The scoring total is listed at 130 points as this one could be a bit of a defensive battle.
Tennessee is 26-8 straight up and 19-13 against the spread. The Volunteers have covered in four of seven attempts on a neutral site this season, including a cover in the first round. Tennessee is 14-10 against the spread as the favorite this season, covering easily last time out.
Loyola-Chicago is 29-5 straight up and 22-10 against the spread. The Ramblers have covered in five of six attempts on a neutral court this year. Loyola-Chicago is 5-1 against the spread as the underdog this year. It not only covered but also won as the underdog last time out.
Last Time Out
Tennessee rolled past Wright State in the first round by a score of 73-47. The Volunteers jumped out to an 11-point lead at the half and then really poured it on after intermission. Admiral Schofield led the way, scoring 15 points while adding 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks. The Volunteers’ leading scorer in the game was Lamonte Turner, who had 19 points off the bench.
Tennessee held Wright State to just 31.7 percent shooting and 19.0 percent from three-point range. If it can lock down once again, the Ramblers will be in all sorts of trouble.
Loyola-Chicago knocked off Miami when guard Donte Ingram hit a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining for the 64-62 victory. The Ramblers hadn’t been to March Madness in decades and now will be able to stay for at least a couple more days. Ingram finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in the contest, finishing as one of four players in double figures.
Key Stat
62.2. That’s the number of points Loyola-Chicago allowed during the regular season, and that was basically what Miami scored in the first round. The Ramblers were ranked fifth nationally in points per game allowed and that will be the key to a possible upset bid in this one.
Tennessee only allowed a couple more points per game during the season so points are going to be at a premium in this contest. The scoring total is pretty low for a college basketball game but it actually might be a little bit too high in NCAA basketball betting odds.
Free NCAA ATS Picks
March Madness is all about the upsets and the Cinderellas. Loyola-Chicago wowed the nation by winning on a last-second shot in the first round, and look for the magic to continue against Tennessee. Even though the Ramblers are the underdog, they are playing confidently and have the type of style that may be able to give the Volunteers some issues.
Choose Loyola-Chicago on the moneyline and a win in this one would pay off quite nicely. The Ramblers are a great story, and look for their run to continue into the Sweet Sixteen.
NCAA Odds: Loyola-Chicago 65, Tennessee 63
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