Time:<\/strong> 7:00 PM ET \/ 4:00 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> ESPN2
Location:<\/strong> Gentile Arena, Chicago, IL
Spread:<\/strong> Loyola Chicago -2.5 | Total: 140.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Louis vs Loyola Chicago Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Saint Louis has already surpassed last year’s win total, so this has already been a successful season for first-year head coach Josh Schertz. We are concerned, however, that the wheels may come off a little bit down the stretch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Billikens are coming off a 76-74 home loss in overtime to George Mason on Tuesday, where all five starters played more than 40 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior guard Gibson Jimerson returned to the lineup against the Patriots after suffering an ankle injury against Saint Joe’s the previous week, but Jimerson shot 3-for-14 from the field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Billikens’ bench did not score a single point in that home loss to George Mason. Coach Schertz and the transfer duo of Robbie Avila and Isaiah Swope are doing everything they can to replicate the success they had at Indiana State last season, but Saint Louis simply doesn’t have enough pieces right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Billikens\u00a0 are last in the entire country in bench usage. Jimerson played all 45 minutes on Tuesday. Swope has played 120 out of a possible 125 minutes over Saint Louis’ last three games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel in the A-10 also looks quite a bit different than it does in the Missouri Valley. At Indiana State, nearly every opponent was a bus ride away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the A-10, the Billikens are traveling to New York, Richmond, Philadelphia, Massachusetts, Washington DC and Rhode Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These body blows add up over the course of a long season, and it looks like the Billikens are starting to feel the effects. Loyola won-and-covered both meetings last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Louis vs Loyola Chicago Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Ramblers have only lost one home game all season, and that was against league-best VCU. Loyola is essentially the polar opposite of Saint Louis when it comes to point distribution and load management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ramblers have three players – Des Watson, Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Jayden Dawson – that each average between 12 and 13 points per game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loyola has eight players that average at least 20 minutes per game. The Ramblers are also coming off an overtime contest on Tuesday (win at Richmond), but Loyola is better-equipped to handle the grind of the A-10 through its bench and balanced scoring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Louis is No. 294 in turnover rate this season, and that is a major concern against the Ramblers’ aggressive defense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loyola has covered the spread in four of its last five games, and we expect the Ramblers to add to that streak on Friday night on ESPN2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Louis vs Loyola Chicago Prediction: Loyola Chicago -2.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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