2018 Sweet 16: Nevada vs. Loyola-Chicago March Madness Lines

We have a 7-seed and an 11-seed clashing in the Sweet 16 when the Nevada Wolfpack and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers meet at Philips Arena on Thursday night. Loyola-Chicago took down the 3-seed Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, 63-62, after allowing a ten-point lead to evaporate, while Nevada put together an epic comeback, erasing a 22-point deficit in the last 11:34 of regulation with 16-0 and 7-0 runs over the Cincinnati Bearcats. Let’s take a look at your best March Madness lines pick for this matchup.

2018 Sweet 16: Nevada vs. Loyola-Chicago March Madness Lines

The Hunt continues. Next stop, Atlanta, Georgia. #BattleBorn #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8DwWT6wpbg

— Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) March 20, 2018

When: Saturday, March 17, 2018, 7:07pm ET Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta TV: CBS Radio: None Live Stream: March Madness Live March Madness Lines: Nevada -2, O/U 143.5

Why should you bet on the Wolfpack?

Nevada took down a Texas team that probably didn’t deserve a spot in the tournament in the first round, but their comeback over Cincinnati was monumental. Nevada did a solid job with ball security, turning the ball over just two times, and they got 25 points, six boards, seven assists and a steal from Cody Martin. The team shot 49.2% from the floor on the day, and given that the team averages almost 10 three-pointers per game, shooting almost 40% from downtown, this is a team that can score inside and out. The team’s leading scorer this season has been Caleb Martin (18.8 points per game), with Jordan Caroline (17.7), Martin (13.9), and Kendal Stephens (13.4) also averaging in double figures. The defense permits an average of 73.2 points per game, so this team needs to fill the basket up to win. Nevada has covered the spread in 11 of their last 15 non-conference games and in 18 of their last 26 games coming after a game in which they also covered the spread. The way in which Nevada was able to lock down a Cincinnati team that has played well for most of the season, keeping them from scoring inside on a day when the Bearcats’ jump-shooting went ice cold, was most impressive. If you like Nevada, you see their high-scoring attack solving the Loyola-Chicago defense.

Why should you put your money on the Ramblers?

Loyola-Chicago continued their surprising run in the NCAA tournament thanks to their stingy defense. They had limited Tennessee to just 48 points with four minutes left in the second half, before the Volunteers came back to take the lead in the waning minutes. It took a clutch jumper from Clayton Custer to put the Ramblers back on top with five seconds left. The Ramblers shot well, knocking down 50 percent of their shots overall and 40 percent from downtown. Aundre Jackson led the team with 16 points, four boards, and an assist and a steal. The team has shot 50.6% from the field on the season, so this wasn’t an aberration with hot shooting. On defense, Loyola-Chicago only permits 62.2 points per game, and if they can lock down the Wolfpack like they have their first two tournament opponents, you could see this 11-seed in the Elite Eight. Loyola-Chicago has covered the spread in each of their last four neutral-site games and in 21 of their last 30 games overall. They rank #3 in field goal percentage, and #5 in scoring defense in the nation. If you like the Ramblers, you think they can keep the Wolfpack in check for 40 minutes, thanks to their 16th-ranked scoring offense.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I’m more impressed by the win that Nevada secured over Cincinnati than either of Loyola-Chicago’s wins. The Ramblers have a great story, but Nevada has a more dynamic offense than anything that they have seen so far this season. I predict a final score of Nevada 72, Loyola-Chicago 66 — and given the grinding pace that Loyola-Chicago likes to bring on offense and try to force on defense, I’d give the “under” a serious look too.