Welcome in and welcome to another night of college basketball drama. We head into the weekend with a matchup that feels built for fireworks, as Loyola Maryland steps into the storm that is Lexington. Kentucky is searching for a response after another emotional setback, and this game offers a chance to reset the tone of its season. The Greyhounds enter as massive underdogs, carrying the weight of early struggles and a long road trip. The Wildcats enter with pressure, urgency, and a roster that must show life. It is a perfect stage for a bounce back, and we are diving straight into it.
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Early season woes. Auto fade me? You won't.
Loyola Maryland vs. #12 Kentucky Odds
Will Mark Pope have his boys ready for tonight?
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Spread
Loyola MD: +35.5 (-105)
Kentucky: -35.5 (-115)
Total
Over: 156.5 (-110)
Under: 156.5 (-110)
Moneyline
Loyola MD: N/A
Kentucky: N/A
Loyola Maryland vs. #12 Kentucky Best Bet
WE DID IT. FRIDAY.
Welcome in and welcome to the weekend. Tonight, the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds head to Lexington to take on the number 12 Kentucky Wildcats. The Greyhounds enter as 35.5-point underdogs and find themselves facing a team coming off an emotional loss. Can they keep it within 35 and take advantage of the Wildcats early struggles? Let us get into it.
Get Right Cats
The Wildcats are coming off another tough loss against a top ranked opponent. This time, it was a complete disaster, as Tom Izzo and No. 17 Michigan State destroyed them 83-66. After the game, head coach Mark Pope looked defeated. Reports noted that Pope remained in the locker room longer than usual after that loss to speak with his team, then emerged with his head down while talking to Jeff Goodman. That loss clearly did a number on him.
I fully expect the Loyola Maryland basketball team to not exist after tonight. This is and should be the get right of all get right spots for Pope and his boys. Even with the injuries surrounding the team, these losses are unacceptable. The team payroll is $22 Million.
Luckily for those who will be all over the Wildcats bandwagon tonight, Kentucky looks ahead to a team worse than the Greyhounds. This is the tune up of all tune up games.
Bart Torvik has Loyola ranked 307th in the country. Their offense and defense are both north of 280. They struggle with rebounding on both ends, especially on offense, where they are ranked 333rd. The Greyhounds are terrible at the free throw line, currently 317th in the country. They do shoot the three at a decent rate, ranked 148th, but they sit at 281st in percentage.
The Wildcats should easily take advantage of the Greyhounds flaws. Defensively, Kentucky is 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency, 37th in two-point defense, and 14th in defensive rebounding. Kentucky also likes to run, while Loyola does not. The Wildcats are top 25 in pace, while the Greyhounds sit at 238th. I do not see the hounds keeping up if they are forced to run.
The Trends
Despite their losing ways against the nations best, Kentucky has dominated every mid-major team they have faced this season, beating those teams by an average of 40 points. They have yet to allow a team outside the top 100 to score 60 points. The advanced metrics project them to win this game by around 32, but they do not account for emotional damage.
Kentucky needs a dominant win, and this matchup gives them every chance to deliver it. Loyola Maryland struggles in every area where the Wildcats excel, and the pace alone should overwhelm the Greyhounds. Kentucky has handled every mid major with ease, and tonight should be no different. The Wildcats need a response, the crowd needs a spark, and this game sets up to deliver both in a big way.
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