The San Jose State Spartans are embarrassed through a rough losing stretch, but will face a highly energized Loyola Chicago Ramblers team eager to capitalize on every chance to clinch an NIT victory.
Who Wins Loyola Chicago vs San Jose State?
There is no doubting that Loyola Chicago is favored to win. San Jose State has struggled tremendously winning only 3 out of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Ramblers ended the season on a high note. Stronger team stats, record, and more than enough resources fully support Loyola to dominate San Jose State’s 15-19 record.
Prediction: Loyola Chicago – 3 (-110 at bet365)
Loyola Chicago clearly is the favored matched up team, so it is puzzling why the spread only sits at three points. Most likely a big contributor would be the San Jose State’s formidable spread record. Their shocking 22-9-1 spread record this season is a classic case of the oddsmakers misjudging the Spartans.
While the spread makes a little more sense, it still should come off as troubling considering San Jose State’s ability to succeed in the postseason as well. Surprisingly after February 1, San Jose State sits 128 spots below Loyola ranking 190th in BartTorvik’s rankings. The Ramblers boast an incredible efficient defense sitting 39th while San Jose State’s offense remains lacking in ranking 240th in adjusted efficiency.
Though the Spartans have been good at home (10-4 ATS), Loyola has also been successful on the road, covering in seven of their last ten away games. The Ramblers have been scorching hot, going 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games, which makes them one of the hottest teams in the country, and are ranked 29 in Haslametrics’ momentum ranking.
Loyola Chicago isn’t elite on offense, but they do shoot a respectable 35.4% from three and are effective shooting mid-range. With San Jose State’s defensive skills being subpar, it puts Loyola in the driver’s seat to achieve good offensive numbers.
Final Take
Loyola Chicago has the momentum, a better defense, and more consistency. On the other hand, San Jose State has not been scoring and has been lifeless. I predict that the Ramblers will handle business and cover the spread.
