Prediction: Loyola (Chi) Ramblers VS Wichita St Shockers 2025-11-13

Wichita State Shockers vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers: A Tale of Three-Point Woes and Bench Brilliance

Parse the Odds: The Numbers Don’t Lie (Mostly)
Wichita State (-5.5) is the clear favorite here, with implied probabilities hovering around 70% across bookmakers. Their decimal odds of ~1.44 suggest bettors expect a comfortable win, while Loyola’s 2.85 odds (roughly 26% implied) reflect skepticism about their road prowess. The total is set at 151.5 points, a number that feels about as likely as a snowstorm in July given both teams’ offensive struggles. Last season, Wichita State ranked 167th in scoring (74.0 PPG) and Loyola 189th (73.5 PPG), while their combined three-point percentages (30.5% for Wichita, 34.6% for Loyola) make this game feel like a pickup game at the local YMCA where everyone’s shooting with their eyes closed.

Digest the News: Injuries, Bench Wars, and a Former Yale Coach
Wichita State comes in hot after a 105-62 drubbing of Prairie View A&M, where Dre Kindell led the way with 15 points. Their offense isn’t pretty—hello, 5.2 threes made per game (third-worst in D1)—but they’re efficient at home, averaging 75.2 PPG. Loyola, meanwhile, is a rollercoaster. They’ve got a 1-2 record, including a heartbreaker loss to North Texas (64-62) where Chuck Love III dropped 12 points but couldn’t save the day. Their bench? A wild card: 24 of 46 points in a recent loss, but also a 69.0 PPG allowed defensively. Head coach Allison Guth, a Yale alum with a 99-74 career record, brings Ivy League smarts to Loyola, but can her “Big East hustle” fix a team that shoots like a toddler in a toy archery contest?

Humorous Spin: Three-Pointers, Benchwarmers, and the Circle of Basketball Life
Wichita’s three-point shooting is so abysmal, their attempts probably come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous combustion in the opposing defense.” Loyola’s bench, on the other hand, is like that friend who surprises you with a $20 bill out of their pocket but then spills coffee on your shirt. They’ll contribute points, sure, but don’t expect a clean game. As for Loyola’s road struggles? They average 77.4 PPG away from home, which is charming until you realize Wichita’s defense allows 73.1 PPG. It’s a math problem no one wants to solve: How many missed threes does it take to lose by double digits?

Prediction: The Shockers Shock… Slightly
Wichita State’s home-court advantage and Loyola’s road jinx tilt this in the Shockers’ favor. While neither team is built for a high-scoring bash, Wichita’s recent 105-point outburst (albeit against Prairie View) suggests they can unlock a scoring groove when motivated. Loyola’s defense, for all its flaws, might keep this closer than the spread implies, but Guth’s squad has yet to prove it can handle top-tier competition.

Final Verdict: Bet Wichita State (-5.5) to win a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair. Take the UNDER 151.5 points—the combined three-point percentages of these teams would make a 50-point game feel like a championship final. And if Loyola’s bench tries to steal another game… well, at least they’ll make for great fourth-quarter entertainment.

“Wichita’s offense isn’t elegant—it’s more of a ‘we’ll take what we can get’ approach. Loyola’s defense isn’t great—it’s more of a ‘we’ll hope they miss’ approach. Together, they’re a recipe for a snoozefest with a killer popcorn moment.”

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