Personal Play: January 27th

New week. Time to dial in!

PERSONAL PLAY:

CBB:

St Joseph’s @ Loyola Chicago 9:00pm EST

Loyola Chicago is well positioned to cover +3.5 against Saint Joseph’s because their style of play naturally keeps games close, especially when they can control tempo and force opponents into half-court possessions. The Ramblers’ defense is more disciplined than the raw numbers suggest, and when they limit transition opportunities they do a solid job of contesting shots and shrinking margins late in games. St. Joseph’s has been inconsistent offensively away from its comfort spots, and if their perimeter shooting cools even slightly, this matchup tightens quickly. Loyola’s guards are capable of creating their own looks late in the shot clock, which is critical for an underdog trying to protect points and potentially flip the game in crunch time. The +3.5 spread also reflects how evenly matched these teams are on a possession-by-possession basis, not a true talent gap that warrants separation. If Loyola Chicago can stay composed early, win the rebounding battle, and turn this into a grind, they not only have a strong chance to cover but also a realistic path to winning outright.

1 Unit Play: Loyola Chicago +4