Loyola Chicago vs. Illinois Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 21, 2021

David Schwab
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

Loyola-Chicago vs. Illinois Predictions

Illinois gets the nod in Sunday’s in-state clash as a seven-point favorite. Tip-off on CBS is set for 12:10 p.m. (ET) and the total line has been set at 133.5 points.

Friday’s opening round went chalk for each team closing as a favorite. The rubber meets the road in Sunday’s matchup with Loyola Chicago trying the recreate the same magic that led to a Final Four appearance a few years back. Unfortunately, the Ramblers are playing the second- favorite to win it all this year. I am still going with Sister Jean and taking the dogs plus the points.

I'm also taking the OVER in what should remain a hard-fought battle with a slightly higher total score than expected.

• Score Prediction: Illinois 71 Loyola-Chicago 67
• Best Bets - Side: Loyola-Chicago +7
• Best Bets - Total: OVER 133.5

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Loyola-Chicago vs. Illinois Betting Odds

• Spread: Loyola-Chicago +7
• Total:133.5
• Money-Line: Illinois -280 Loyola-Chicago

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• Loyola-Chicago 40/1
• Illinois 5/1

Odds to Win Midwest Region

• Loyola-Chicago 9/1
• Illinois 3/2

Odds Subject to Change

Second Round Predictions

Sunday's Previews - Mar. 21, 2021 1 vs. 8 1 vs. 9 3 vs. 11 3 vs. 6 2 vs. 10 7 vs. 15 5 vs. 13 4 vs. 12

Handicapping Loyola-Chicago vs. Illinois

• Region: Midwest
• Matchup: 1 vs. 8
• Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 21, 2021
• TV-Time: 12:10 p.m. (ET) - CBS

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

Loyola Chicago gets quite the fanfare as a mid-major but this team does live up to expectations. It also plays a very competitive non-conference schedule against the majors to help prepare the team for big-time tests such as Sunday’s game.

Illinois has a legitimate shot at playing for this year’s national title coming out of the right side of the bracket. It also knows that it cannot look past games like this. After winning the Big Ten Tournament last Sunday in overtime, look for another winning effort this Sunday in a game that will test this team

Seed: 8
Conference: MVC
Bid: Auto

• SU: 25-4
• ATS: 17-9-1
• O/U: 13-14

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS, 3-2 O/U
• Notable Wins: Drake, Georgia Tech

• PS/G: 71.5 (169th)
• PA/G: 55.7 (1st)
• Off Rtg: 111.2 (26th)
• Def Rtg: 86.6 (3rd)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in its last eight games. It has a 4-1 record ATS in its last five games played at a neutral site. Its overall record ATS this season is 20-10.

The total has stayed UNDER in four of the Fighting Illini’s previous six contests. However, it has gone OVER in five of their last seven games closing as favorites. It has gone OVER in three of their last five neutral-site games.

Seed: 1
Conference: Big Ten
Bid: Auto

• SU: 24-6
• ATS: 20-10
• O/U: 16-13-1

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS, 2-3 O/U
• Notable Wins: Purdue, Iowa (x2), Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State (x2), Rutgers

• PS/G: 81.3 (14th)
• PA/G: 68.6 (124th)
• Off Rtg: 112.5 (16th)
• Def Rtg: 94.9 (54th)

Key Players to Watch

Guard Lucas Williamson led all scorers in Friday’s win against Georgia Tech with 21 points. He shot 4-for-7 from three-point range while leading the way in rebounds with six. Guard Braden Norris added 16 points and a team-high eight assists.

The Fighting Illini made short work of Drexel on Friday with center Kofi Cockburn topping the list of four starters in double figures with 18 points. Guard Ayo Dosunmu was a close second with 17 points while going 8-for-14 from the field. He also led the team win rebounds with 11.

• LOYC - Cameron Krutwig (14.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG)
• LOYC - Lucas Williamson (8.6 PPG)

• ILL - Ayo Dosunmu (20.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.4 APG)
• ILL - Kofi Cockburn (17.6 PPG, 9.5 RPG)

2021 March Madness Tournament Team Results

The No. 8 Ramblers closed as 5.5-point favorites in their 71-60 victory against No. 9 Georgia Tech. The total went OVER 124.5 points in that opening round matchup in the Midwest Region.

The top seed in the Midwest Region cruised to a 78-49 win against No. 16 Drexel to cover the hefty 22.5-point spread in that game. The total stayed UNDER the closing 143-point line.

March Madness Records & Trends

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

• All-Time Record: 14-5
• Last Appearance: 2018
• Deepest Run: Champion (1963)

-- Loyola-Chicago has reached the Sweet 16 in two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Loyola-Chicago has failed to allow 70 points or more in eight straight NCAA Tournament games.
-- Loyola-Chicago has won six of its last eight NCAA Tournament games.
-- Loyola-Chicago has been eliminated by a school seeded. No. 3 or lower in two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, losing by 12 points in both games.
-- Loyola-Chicago has covered the spread in three of its last four games when playing on a neutral court.
-- Loyola-Chicago has gone UNDER the point total in five of its last seven games.

Illinois Fighting Illini

• All-Time Record: 41-31
• Last Appearance: 2013
• Deepest Run: Final Runner-up (2005)

-- Illinois has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Illinois has been eliminated by a school seeded No. 5 or lower in 11 of its last 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Illinois has lost five of its last seven NCAA Tournament games.
-- Illinois has failed to score 60 points or more in four of its last six NCAA Tournament games.
-- Illinois has covered the spread in six of its last seven games.

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