Depaul Blue Demons vs Loyola Maryland Greyhounds Picks and Predictions December 28th 2024

DePaul Blue Demons vs Loyola Maryland Greyhounds December 28th 2024

The Greyhounds and Blue Demons are set to face off at 2:00 ET on FS1. The Blue Demons will host the game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 146.5 points, and DePaul is favored by -16.5 at home against Loyola Maryland.

Greyhounds vs. Blue Demons Key Information

Loyola Maryland dropped to 4-5 on the season after a 76-68 home loss to Hampton on Saturday. The Greyhounds, who were -2 favorites going into the game, failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 32-26 at halftime, Loyola Maryland scored 42 points in the 2nd half but allowed 44 points. The total points for the game ended at 144, surpassing the O/U line of 137.5.

Milos Ilic and Wayne Bristol Jr. were key for Loyola Maryland, each logging 31 minutes and contributing 22 and 21 points, respectively, in their last game. Ilic shot 64.3% from the field and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Bristol added 10 boards and shot 50% overall.

The Greyhounds shot 46.3% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 51.9%. They hit 31.2% from three-point range, making 5 of 16 attempts, and connected on 61.9% of their free throws, going 13 for 21. Loyola also recorded 11 offensive rebounds and 11 assists in the game.

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Loyola Maryland’s defense gave up 76 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 46% from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 20 of 38 shots to fall, a 52% success rate.

From three-point range, Loyola held the opposition to 5 made threes on 16 attempts, a 31% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 21 times, where they made 13, shooting 61%. Loyola gave up 11 offensive rebounds.

DePaul dropped to 8-4 on the season after an 84-64 road loss to Northwestern on Saturday. The Blue Demons entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 148, surpassing the over/under line of 136.5.

DePaul trailed 37-27 at halftime and allowed 47 points in the 2nd half while scoring 37 of their own.

DePaul’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 37% from the field and hitting only 29.6% of their two-point attempts. However, they found success from beyond the arc, connecting on 44.4% of their threes, making 12 of 27 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they shot 80% from the free-throw line, hitting 12 of 15.

Nick Martinelli led the way with 23 points, shooting 52.6% from the field, while Brooks Barnhizer added 21 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 60% overall. Jacob Meyer contributed 18 points, hitting 4 of 7 threes at a 57.1% rate, and Conor Enright was perfect from deep, going 2 for 2, finishing with 12 points and 6 assists.

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DePaul’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points on 53% shooting. Their opponents were particularly effective inside, hitting 55% of their two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, DePaul allowed 5 threes on 12 attempts, a 41% clip. They also sent their opponents to the line 16 times, where they converted 11 free throws.

In this Blue Demons vs. Blue Demons matchup, our point-spread bet is on the Blue Demons at -16.5. While we project the Blue Demons to win 79-68, our recommendation is to bet on the Greyhounds for the point-spread.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 146.5 and given that our model is projecting 147 points between the teams, we like the over.

DePaul Looking to Halt Downturn vs. Loyola Maryland

DePaul will aim to end a two-game losing streak on Saturday when it hosts Loyola Maryland in Chicago. The Blue Demons hope that facing a struggling mid-major opponent will help them rebound after consecutive tough losses.

DePaul’s Recent Struggles

After starting the season 7-0 under first-year coach Chris Holtmann, DePaul (8-4) has dropped four of its last five games. Following a dominant 91-72 home victory over Wichita State on Dec. 14, the Blue Demons have struggled offensively, shooting just 38.1 percent across back-to-back losses to St. John’s and Northwestern. They also committed 38 turnovers during those two games, which they lost by a combined 48 points.

“We obviously got to do some things better,” Holtmann said. “It starts with turnovers right now. (And), we’ve got to play with more defensive force.”

One bright spot for DePaul has been its proficiency from beyond the arc, ranking among the national leaders with a 40.1 percent shooting rate from 3-point range. However, guard Isaiah Rivera, who averages 11.4 points per game, has struggled in recent outings. After going 5-of-8 from deep and scoring 17 points against Wichita State, Rivera is just 1-of-5 from 3-point range and has totaled five points in the past two games.

Loyola Maryland’s Challenge

Loyola Maryland (5-5) faces a significant uphill battle against DePaul. The Greyhounds have a long history of futility against major conference opponents, going just 1-66 since February 1982. Their lone win in that stretch was a 72-67 upset at Indiana on Dec. 22, 2009.

Under first-year head coach Josh Loeffler, the Greyhounds have shown flashes of promise but remain inconsistent. They are coming off a 76-68 loss to Hampton on Dec. 21, a game in which they shot 46.3 percent but were undone by 14 turnovers and a 14-attempt deficit at the free-throw line.

“We want to continue getting better,” Loeffler said. “Put them in a position to be successful.”

Loyola has split its six road games this season but was blown out by 21 points at Boston College in its lone matchup against a major conference team. The Greyhounds struggle from beyond the arc, shooting just 29.1 percent, but have been solid defensively, holding opponents to 28.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.

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Key Players to Watch

• DePaul: Isaiah Rivera leads a strong 3-point shooting team but will look to bounce back from recent struggles. The Blue Demons need to cut down on turnovers and improve their defensive intensity to get back on track.
• Loyola Maryland: Milos Ilic has been a standout for the Greyhounds, averaging 14.8 points on 55.1 percent shooting and 9.2 rebounds per game. Ilic has recorded four double-doubles this season and will be a focal point against DePaul.

Historical Context

DePaul is heavily favored in this matchup, especially given Loyola’s long history of struggles against major conference foes. However, Holtmann’s squad cannot afford to overlook the Greyhounds as it seeks to regain its early-season form.

The Blue Demons’ ability to capitalize on their 3-point shooting advantage and limit turnovers will likely determine whether they can snap their skid and build momentum heading into the remainder of their schedule.