Loyola-Chicago is a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the Ramblers will face Georgia Tech in the Round of 64.
And, if they advance, Loyola will very likely have a date with in-state juggernaut Illinois in the Round of 32.
But the Yellow Jackets will present a tough opening test, as they are fresh off an ACC Tournament victory.
Below, you’ll see the Loyola-Chicago odds at some prominent sportsbooks.
Though a fair warning, Illinoisans can’t bet on the Ramblers within state lines.
Due to state law, betting on Illinois college teams in the Land of Lincoln is prohibited.
Loyola-Chicago March Madness odds
Here are the Ramblers’ odds at familiar legal sportsbooks out of state:
What we know about Georgia Tech
Loyola-Chicago vs. Georgia Tech is a fascinating matchup.
One could argue that the Ramblers should actually be much higher than their seed. At KenPom, for instance, they are ranked ninth in the entire country.
That would equate to being on the 3-seed line.
But due to a weak schedule, Loyola-Chicago is an 8-seed.
The Ramblers have the best defense in college basketball, per KenPom, and are ranked 49th on offense.
The 2021 squad features mostly different faces than the 2018 Final Four group, but casual fans may remember Cameron Krutwig.
A freshman in 2018, Krutwig has blossomed into a superstar as a senior. He’s averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
At 24-4, Loyola has only lost once since Jan. 10.
With that said, Georgia Tech will likely be the best team Loyola-Chicago has seen in some time.
The Yellow Jackets are playing outstanding under head coach Josh Pastner (and his face shield).
The oddsmakers appear to think the Ramblers are better, though, considering the opening lines.
Georgia Tech is ranked 32nd at KenPom and ranks 27th in offense and 52nd in defense. The Yellow Jackets have ripped off eight straight wins.
So obviously, Loyola-Chicago can’t overlook Georgia Tech. But if it advances, it sets up a wildly entertaining Round of 32 matchup.
Loyola-Chicago could see Illinois next
Illinois is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region, setting the stage for a possible Illini vs. Ramblers matchup.
As previously mentioned, Illinoisans wouldn’t be able to legally bet on that game — despite being able to bet on every other NCAA Tournament game that day.
Perhaps by next March, the in-state college betting ban will no longer be in effect. But this is especially unfortunate, because we have no idea the next time two Illinois schools could square off in the big dance.
Illinois is favored by more than 20 over first round opponent Drexel, and the Illini would almost certainly be clear favorites over Loyola-Chicago.
With that said, if Illinoisans were to attend an Illinois vs. Loyola-Chicago showdown in person, they could bet on it. The game will take place in Indiana.
But they can’t bet on it from the comfort of their own couch.
