Saint Louis Billikens vs Loyola Chicago Ramblers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Friday February 13 2026
Use Code WWWC Saint Louis vs Loyola Chicago picks are all about one question tonight: can Loyola Chicago keep this game close enough to matter, or are we looking at a clean Saint Louis blowout script from the opening tip? I am breaking down this A-10 matchup the same way I do for my daily college basketball predictions, because the offensive gap between these teams is as wide as anything you will see on a conference slate.
Quick Picks and Prediction
- Spread Pick: Saint Louis -18.5
- Total Pick: Under 155.5
- Projected Final Score: Saint Louis 87, Loyola Chicago 64
Odds and Line Movement
Opening Odds
| Market | Saint Louis | Loyola Chicago | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | -18.5 (-108) | +18.5 (-112) | |
| Total | Over 154.5 (-110) | Under 154.5 (-110) |
Current Odds
| Market | Saint Louis | Loyola Chicago | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | -18.5 (-118) | +18.5 (-104) | |
| Total | Over 155.5 (-110) | Under 155.5 (-110) |
Line Movement - Spread
| Date | Time | Saint Louis | Loyola Chicago | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/12 | 02:25:55PM | -18.5 (-108) | +18.5 (-112) | |
| 02/12 | 06:04:02PM | -18.5 (-118) | +18.5 (-104) |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Time | Over | Under | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/12 | 02:25:55PM | Over 154.5 (-110) | Under 154.5 (-110) | |
| 02/12 | 10:33:07PM | Over 155.5 (-110) | Under 155.5 (-110) |
Saint Louis vs Loyola Chicago Key Matchups and Handicap
Saint Louis
Saint Louis is one of the most explosive offenses in the country, and this matchup is almost a worst-case scenario for Loyola Chicago. The Billikens are averaging 91 points per game, which ranks 5th nationally, and they do it in a way that travels.
Saint Louis is shooting 52% from the floor and 40.8% from three, and both numbers rank 3rd nationally. That is not a team that needs hot shooting luck to score. That is a team that creates high-quality looks every night.
The reason I am comfortable laying a big number here is the depth. Saint Louis has seven players averaging in double figures, and most starters only play 22 to 25 minutes per game. That matters in a blowout handicap because it means the second unit can still score, still defend, and still extend leads.
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The face of the offense is 6-foot-10 Robbie Avila, who hits 43% of his threes. When your 6-foot-10 player is spacing the floor like that, it changes everything about how the defense has to guard you.
Saint Louis is now a Big Dance lock, so the focus shifts to seeding. This is the type of game where you want to win clean, win comfortably, and move on.
Loyola Chicago
Loyola Chicago’s season has been rough, and it has not improved as the winter has gone on. The Ramblers are buried in the A-10 basement, and the portal work under Drew Valentine has not paid off.
The biggest issue is the offense. Loyola Chicago is averaging just 67.6 points per game, which ranks 335th. They are also shooting only 31.1% from three, which ranks 312th. Those numbers are a problem on their own, but they become a disaster when you are facing an offense like Saint Louis.
The other key issue is that Loyola Chicago does not have a reliable go-to scorer right now. Top scorer Justin Moore has been held to six points or fewer in four of the last five games. When your best scorer cannot get going, the entire offense collapses, and the team ends up grinding out possessions with low-percentage looks.
This is why the blowout narrative makes sense. Saint Louis can score quickly and in bunches. Loyola Chicago struggles to score at all. That combination is how you get a 15-point game turning into a 25-point game before you can blink.
Betting Trends (SLU vs LUC)
- Saint Louis is averaging 91 points per game, which ranks 5th nationally.
- Saint Louis is shooting 52% from the floor and 40.8% from three, both ranking 3rd nationally.
- Loyola Chicago is averaging just 67.6 points per game, ranking 335th.
- Loyola Chicago is shooting only 31.1% from three, ranking 312th.
- Loyola Chicago’s top scorer Justin Moore has been held to six points or fewer in four of the last five games.
- Saint Louis has seven players averaging in double figures.
- The total moved from 154.5 to 155.5.
Key Injuries and Notes (SLU vs LUC)
- Saint Louis has seven players averaging in double digits, with starters typically playing only 22 to 25 minutes.
- Robbie Avila is a 6-foot-10 centerpiece who hits 43% of his three-point attempts.
- Loyola Chicago’s offense is struggling badly with only 67.6 points per game.
- Justin Moore has been held to six points or fewer in four of the last five games.
- This matchup is a major contrast in offensive efficiency, with Saint Louis elite and Loyola Chicago near the bottom nationally.
ATS and Total Picks
- ATS Pick: Saint Louis -18.5
- Total Pick: Under 155.5
Final Score Prediction
- Projected Final Score: Saint Louis 87, Loyola Chicago 64
How to Bet
This is a game where I want to bet it with the story the numbers are telling. Saint Louis scores at an elite level, Loyola Chicago cannot score consistently, and the spread is large for a reason. I am laying the points because I do not see Loyola having the offensive tools to keep up for 40 minutes.
As always, the smartest move is shopping for the best number. Having multiple accounts at the best sportsbooks matters, especially when a spread is sitting in the 18 range where every half point is important.
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