The DePaul Blue Demons and the Loyola Ramblers meet Saturday in college basketball action from Gentile Arena. DePaul comes into this one at 4-3 overall. The Demons beat Samford in their last game. As for Loyola, they’re 3-4 and fresh off a win over Central Arkansas. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
DePaul won their first three games this year over Loyola MD, Western Illinois and Minnesota. After losing to Santa Clara, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, the Blue Demons finally got another win over Samford.
In the Samford matchup on Wednesday. DePaul had a close game the whole way. The Blue Demons needed overtime to do it, but ultimately came away with a 103-98 win. Top scorer Javan Johnson posted 28 points with four rebounds.
Over on the Loyola side, they won their first two games of the season over Fairleigh Dickinson and UIC. The Ramblers would then fall to Tulsa, Boise State, Texas A&M and Harvard in succession over the next four games.
On Wednesday, the Ramblers faced Central Arkansas. Loyola posted 35 points in the first half and 50 more after the break in an 85-70 win. Ben Schwieger led the team on 26 points, and Braden Norris added 19 points with four assists.
PICK: I’m probably going to stay with DePaul. This should be a reasonably good matchup, though; both teams have been struggling and both are coming off skid-stopping victories. DePaul can score pretty well when the matchup is right, but they’ve also been below 70 points in three of their seven games. Loyola is much the same way; they’ve been above 70 points in only two of their seven. I like this one to be fairly competitive, but DePaul should take the cover/win if they’re playing well.