Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (22-9) vs. Bradley Braves (22-11)
March 20, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Bradley Braves -4.5; Over/Under: +137
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The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers and the Bradley Braves meet Wednesday in the college basketball NIT First Round at the Carver Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Loyola-Chicago vs. Bradley Prediction.
Loyola-Chicago Team Preview
The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers come into the NIT on behalf of the A-10, finishing the year with an overall record of 23-9. Desmond Watson leads the Ramblers in scoring with 13 PPG along with 4.6 RPG and 2.5 APG while Philip Alston has 12.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG as the only other double-digit scorer for Loyola-Chicago up to this point in the year. Braden Norris has 9.1 PPG with 3.3 RPG and a team-high 4.9 APG to lead the Ramblers in assists this season. Miles Rubin has a team-high 4.6 RPG to lead the Ramblers on the glass. As a team, Loyola-Chicago is averaging 73.4 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the field, 36% from three and 68.4% from the foul line this season.
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Bradley Braves Team Preview
The Bradley Braves come into the NIT repping the Missouri Valley Conference after ending the year with an overall record of 22-11. Connor Hickman leads the Braves in scoring with 14.5 PPG along with 3.3 RPG and 3 APG while Duke Deen has 14.1 PPG with 3.1 RPG and a team-high 3.9 APG to lead the Braves in the assist department this season. Malevy Leons has 13.7 PPG with a team-high 7 RPG to lead the Braves in rebounding while Darius Hannah has 11.6 PPG with 6.3 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Bradley so far this season. As a team, Bradley is averaging 74.6 PPG on 47.4% shooting from the field, 37.3% from three and 72.2% from the foul line this season.
Loyola-Chicago vs. Bradley Prediction
It’ll be interesting to see how pleasantries are renewed between these two former MVC foes, but I’m looking at the Ramblers and the points. Bradley over the last couple of years has been a really strong ATS team at home, but the Ramblers are no joke. Loyola-Chicago has a defense that travels and have an offense that can put up points on any defense. Bradley’s defense is rock solid as well, but I think this ends up being a game that comes down to the wire and one where I’ll be happy to have points in my back pocket.
