Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dave Schwab Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Friday’s betting action in the 2022 NCAA Tournament gets underway with the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, out of the MVC taking on the Big Ten’s Ohio State Buckeyes at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. This opening match in the South Region tips-off at 12:15 p.m. (ET) on CBS.

Score Prediction

Loyola Chicago 66, Ohio State 63

Best Bet

Loyola Chicago ML (-115)

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MARCH MADNESS BETTING RESOURCES

LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES PREDICTIONS

Loyola Chicago is no stranger to breaking up brackets during March Madness. The Ramblers come into this very winnable matchup fresh off a three-game run to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. They beat Drake by six points in the championship game to cover as 5.5-point favorites. Loyola Chicago was 25-7 straight-up this season and 13-5 in conference play.

At one point in this season Ohio State looked like the team to beat in the Big Ten. More recently, the Buckeyes have simply been beat with a SU 1-4 record in their last five games. They bowed out of the conference tournament with a three-point loss to Penn State closing as 5.5-point favorites. Ohio State has closed as a favorite in each of its last six SU losses.

Picking upsets in the NCAA Tournament is all about backing a hot team against one that is backing into this competition. The Ramblers have already proven they deserve a spot in this field while Ohio State is relying heavily on past accomplishments. This all points to another Buckeyes’ loss this Friday in a game that is currently a PICK.

LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING ODDS

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LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Friday, March 18, 2022
Matchup: No. 10 vs. No. 7
Region: South
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV-Time: CBS - 12:15 p.m. ET

LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 25-7
ATS: 13-17-1
O/U: 17-14

The Ramblers have not been a very attractive betting team this season at 13-17-1 against the spread. They were equally as costly playing at home as they were playing on the road. However, Loyola Chicago has been able to cover in four of its last five games to build some betting momentum for the Big Dance.

The total has stayed UNDER in five of the team’s last six games behind a very strong effort on defense. The Ramblers did not score more than 66 points in four of those five games and they did not allow more than 58 points. Dialing up the defense against an Ohio State team that has been struggling to score is a major key to success.

The hot hand for the Ramblers this season has been guard Lucas Williamson. He leads the team in points (14), rebounds (5) and steals (1.3). He has shot 45.3% from the field and 39.6% from three-point range while averaging 32 minutes of playing time in every one of the team’s 32 games.

Loyola Chicago is averaging 73.8 points per game and shooting 48.3% from the field. The Ramblers have connected on 38.3% of their shots from outside the three-point line and they are 71.9% from the free throw line. Defensively, they have been able to hold opposing teams to 61.7 PPG.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 19-11
ATS: 15-15
O/U: 18-12

Things started to go south for Ohio State with a two-point loss to Rutgers on Feb. 9 as a three-point road favorite. Including that loss, the Buckeyes are 5-6 both SU and ATS in their last 11 games. One glaring loss during this same span came against Nebraska in an eight-point setback as 15-point home favorites on March 1. They also lost to Maryland and Michigan in March as favorites.

Ohio State is 19-11 SU overall with a even 15-15 record ATS. It went 1-2 ATS in three previous games play at a neutral site. The total went OVER in 17 of 31 games overall. It has now gone OVER in five of the team’s last seven contests.

The Buckeyes still have the talent to turn things around but they are facing the wrong team to outlast another slow start. Their chances to advance to Sunday’s round hinge on the play of forward EJ Liddell. He is at the top of the team’s list in points (19.6) and rebounds (7.9) Ohio State comes into this game averaging 73.8 PPG and shooting 47.4% from the field. That number drops to 37.3% from three-point range. The Buckeyes have allowed an average of 68.5 points a game this season.

**Ohio State has seen 135 or more total points in nine straight games on a neutral court. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS

Record: 25-7
PS/G: 73.8 (104th)
PA/G: 61.7 (17th)

INSIDE THE STATS - OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Record: 19-11
PS/G: 73.8 (105th)
PA/G: 68.5 (159th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

LOYC: Lucas Williamson - G (14 ppg, 5 rpg)
LOYC: Braden Norris - G (10.3 ppg)
OHST: E.J. Liddell - F (19.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
OHST: Malaki Branham - G (13.3 ppg)

LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING CONCLUSION

The fact that this game is currently a PICK at most online books points more towards the solid playing form of Chicago Loyola and the team’s past success in postseason play. The fact that Ohio State’s current form is suspect as best just makes this game easier to handicap.

MARCH MADNESS PICK RESOURCES

LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES BETTING TRENDS

Ohio State has lost three of its last four NCAA Tournament games.
Ohio State has gone into overtime in two of its last four NCAA Tournament opening round games.
Ohio State has won three of its last four NCAA Tournament opening round games.
Loyola-Chicago has reach the Sweet 16 in three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Loyola-Chicago has won six of its last nine NCAA Tournament games.
Loyola-Chicago has seen the losing team scored 58 points or less in three of its last four NCAA Tournament games.
Loyola-Chicago has covered the spread in six of its last seven games when playing on a neutral court.

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Dave Schwab

Dave Schwab has been covering the sports betting industry for the past 12 years as the main focus of his specialty marketing company for online content. This endeavor followed a previous career in the field of sales and marketing in the wholesaling sector.Most of his weekly pieces focus on the rapidly expanding legal US sports betting industry. However, he still does extensive work covering betting angles that can provide a competitive edge to avid players. Dave believes that it is always a challenge to take past results and current form to try and correctly determine a future result. Sports brings out the unpredictability in what should be a fairly predictable outcome based on the stats, facts and recent trends in a particular matchup. More from Dave Schwab