Oregon State vs Loyola Chicago Odds and Picks
- Loyola Chicago brings an eight-game winning streak into its Sweet 16 game against Oregon State at 2:40 pm ET on Saturday, March 27th
- Oregon State has won five games in a row and is a line-bullying 12-1 ATS since a Feb. 8 loss at Colorado
- Check out the odds, analysis, and betting predictions, below
Loyola Chicago (26-4) has won eight games in a row entering an NCAA Midwest Region Sweet 16 game against Oregon State at 2:40 pm ET on Saturday. After a pregame prayer that resembled a game plan from 101-year old team chaplain Sister Jean Schmidt, the Ramblers never trailed in their 71-58 victory over Midwest No. 1 seed Illinois last Sunday.
Oregon State (19-12) has won five games in a row and eight of its last nine after a 80-70 victory over No. 4 seed Oklahoma State in the second round. The Beavers have won their last four games by double figures despite being at least a six-point underdog in each.
Oregon State vs Loyola Chicago Odds (Updated)
| Team | Moneyline at DraftKings | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State Beavers | +240 | +6.5 (-109) | 125 (Ov-110) |
| Loyola Chicago Ramblers | -295 | -6.5 (-112) | 125 (Un-110) |
Odds updated on March 27th. The point spread opened at Loyola Chicago -7. The game total opened at 126.
No. 9 seed Loyola Chicago advanced with double-digit victories over Atlantic Coast tournament champion Georgia Tech and Big Ten tournament champion Illinois in the first two rounds. The Ramblers are in the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last three tournaments after making the 2018 Final Four.
No. 12 seed Oregon State has been the best ATS team in the land since suffering a 34-point home loss to Arizona on Jan. 14. The Beavers are 17-3-1 ATS in that stretch despite being favored only three times.
Ramblin’ On Their Mind
To call Loyola Chicago a Cinderella is to misunderstand its m.o.
In midseason, several analysts called this Loyola team better than the one that reached the Final Four in 2018, and that was before the Ramblers’ overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Georgia Tech in the first round and outplayed Illinois from the start last Sunday.
Loyola is ranked seventh in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin — ahead of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State and Kansas — and first in in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Ramblers play at a deliberate tempo and execute their offense with precision, which shortens the game and lessens opponents’ margin for error. With that pace, they are holding opponents to an NCAA Division I-best 55.8 points per game.
Loyola Chicago’s 6’9, 255-pound center Cameron Krutwig may be the most undervalued player in the tournament. Not only does he lead the Ramblers in scoring (14.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.7 per), he is shooting 57.6% from the field and averaging 3.0 assist per game.
Krutwig’s foul-line screens create open shots, and his instinctive feel for the game is hard to teach. His tip-pass to set up an easy basket against Illinois was a thing of beauty. He had 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Illinois.
Oregon State’s Formula
The Beavers found another path to victory in their second-round victory over Oklahoma State by making free throws and controlling the paint.
After building an 18-point lead in the first half, the Beavers survived turnovers created by the athletic Cowboys’ full-court pressing defense by going 32-of-35 from the free throw line. Senior guard Ethan Thompson had 26 points and made 15-of-16 foul shots and sophomore backcourt mate Jarod Lucas was 7-for-7 at the line.
Oregon State had a whopping 52-32 rebounding edge, with 6’7 forward Warith Alatishe and 7’1 center Roman Silva getting 12 rebounds apiece. The Beavers had 11 blocked shots.
The Beavers recognize it is a team game. Six different players have led them in scoring in the last eight games and four different players have led or tied in rebounding in the last five games. Senior Silva had career highs with 16 points and three blocked shots against Tennessee.
Family Ties
Loyola Chicago is not the only team bringing an emotional charge in to the game.
Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle grew up in Chicago, where his father served as vice president and dean of students at Loyola in the 1970s. He became choked up in an interview following the Oklahoma State game when asked about Beavers’ upcoming opponent.
Among Tinkle’s memories of that time were shooting around in the small Loyola school gym and attending Cubs’ games.
By the Numbers
Loyola Chicago is No. 10 in the NCAA net rankings, ahead of Kansas and Arkansas. The Ramblers are 2-2 in Quad 1 games. Oregon State is 91st in the net rankings and are 5-5 in Quad 1 games.
Oregon State’s two victories prior to the NCAA tournament also were against tournament teams, at-large invitees UCLA and Oregon. The Beavers are attempting to become the first No. 12 seed to make a Final Four. At lead one team seeded from 1-11 has been there.
It is difficult to disregard the way Loyola Chicago systematically dismantled Illinois, which was the No. 2 betting favorite behind Gonzaga to win the NCAA Tournament coming in. At the same time, it is impossible to understate the value Oregon State creates as a seven-point underdog.
The Beavers have covered their last eight straight games, all as an underdog of at least 5.5 points.
The pick: Oregon State +7 (106)
Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.
