FAU vs. Loyola Chicago odds, picks and predictions
The FAU Owls and the Loyola Chicago meet Wednesday for their regular-season openers at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the FAU vs. Loyola Chicago odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
FAU looks to run it back this season after a stunning Final Four appearance last season, just the 2nd overall NCAA Tournament bid in the school's history. Coach Dusty Lee had opportunities to go elsewhere, but the Bobby Knight disciple stuck around in Boca Raton, and he was able to keep his roster together despite the specter of the transfer portal, losing only senior Michael Forrest to graduation.
Loyola Chicago welcomes back its top 3 scorers from a team which ended up in the basement of the Atlantic 10 conference in its league debut in 2022-23 after moving from the Missouri Valley Conference. The Ramblers added 2 key transfers from Ivy League teams, G Greg Dolan from Cornell, and F Dame Adelekun from Dartmouth.
FAU is No. 10 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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FAU vs. Loyola Chicago odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:59 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): FAU -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Loyola Chicago +230 (bet $100 to win $230)
- Against the spread (ATS): FAU -6.5 (-110) | Loyola Chicago +6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 142.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
FAU vs. Loyola Chicago picks and predictions
Prediction
FAU 78, Loyola-Chicago 69
Moneyline
FAU (-300) will cost you 3 times your potential return, and that's a bit much for the regular-season opener.
The Owls led the nation last season with 35 victories, while Loyola-Chicago lost 21 games a season ago. But this is a new season, and FAU has tremendous expectations heaped upon it for the 1st time in school history. It will be interesting to see how the Owls respond.
PASS.
Against the spread
FAU -6.5 (-110) not only won the most games in the country in 2022-23, but the Owls were 6-2 ATS in the postseason, and 25-11-1 ATS overall. The Owls are worth playing lightly in this opener, as the team gets situated against the Ramblers in Chicago.
The Ramblers not only dropped 21 games last season, but it was a dismal 9-22 ATS in 31 outings overall.
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Over/Under
OVER 142.5 (-110) is, again, worth playing lightly.
The Owls were one of the higher-scoring teams in the nation last regular season, going for 79.3 PPG, ranking 26th in the nation. It was pretty decent on the defensive end, although teams were able to get loose at the arc for 33.3% of triples against FAU.
The Ramblers struggled offensively, and it was even worse defensively a year ago. It allowed 72.5 PPG, while teams hit 45.2% from the field. Both marks were 250th in the nation or worse.
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