Sarah Stier/Getty Images. Pictured: Loyola Chicago’s Braden Norris in the Ramblers’ NCAA Tournament second-round upset win over Illinois.
Oregon State and Loyola-Chicago will tip off in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 on Saturday, March 27, with a spot in Monday’s Elite Eight on the line.
Both teams pulled off upsets in the second round to get here. Oregon State had just an 8.75% chance to reach the Sweet 16 before the tournament began, and needed to win the Pac-12 Tournament just to secure a spot in March Madness.
Get everything you need to know about Oregon State vs. Loyola-Chicago in the Sweet 16 below.
Oregon State vs. Loyola-Chicago Tip Time
The Beavers and Ramblers tip off at 2:40 p.m. ET.
TV Channel
The first two games of the day will be on CBS, including Oregon State vs. Loyola, and the two night games will be on TBS.
How to Live Stream Oregon State vs. Loyola-Chicago
You can stream Oregon State-Loyola in the NCAA Tournament on March Madness Live.
Updated Oregon State-Loyola Odds
| Odds | Oregon State | Loyola-Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +7 | -7 |
| Over/Under | 125 | |
| Moneyline | +220 | -275 |
Loyola-Chicago Good as Advertised
Loyola Chicago was one of the most polarizing teams entering the 2021 NCAA Tournament because the Ramblers rated out well in many advanced metrics, including our power ratings, but didn’t play many quality opponents outside the Missouri Valley Conference. And they lost their two toughest games — at Wisconsin and on a neutral court vs. Richmond.
But Loyola has proven it belongs in the top 15 or so in the nation like the metrics say. The Ramblers took care of business against Georgia Tech in their first-round game, then proved they were vastly underseeded by dominating No. 1 seed Illinois from start to finish in the second round.
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Loyola rates out as one of the best defenses in the country, holding all but one opponent under 1.0 points per possession since mid-January.
From Stuckey’s Sweet 16 betting guide:
I had some doubts about Loyola Chicago being a top-10 team as some models suggested. It was just much more difficult to rate teams this season with a reduced non-conference schedule. Plus, the Missouri Valley Conference had a down year as a whole, especially compared to the last time we saw Loyola make a deep run in the tournament.
However, I put most of those concerns to rest after the Ramblers dismantled No. 1 seed Illinois from start to finish last weekend. This is one of the most experienced (four senior starters) and well-coached teams in the country.
Oregon State Due for Regression?
If Loyola-Chicago wasn’t supposed to be here because it got a brutal draw, Oregon State really wasn’t supposed to reach the Sweet 16.
We gave the Beavers less than a 10% chance to get here before the tournament. They had to get past Tennessee in the first round, then beat Oklahoma State and likely No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham.
But that run might be coming to an end. There’s a reason Oregon State is still a 7-point underdog against Loyola.
Again, from Stuckey:
The regression monster certainly looms for the Beavers, who have enjoyed a great deal of 3-point luck during their five-game winning streak. They have connected on 45-of-107 3s (42.1%), while their opponents have drained just 30-of-119 (25.2%). I wouldn’t be shocked if we see a very poor 3-point performance from the Beavers, who don’t project as an elite outside shooting team.
On the other side of the ball, Loyola has many more avenues to success. The Ramblers didn’t see a ton of zone during the regular season but did get to see many zone looks against Georgia Tech in the first round. Plus, head coach Porter Moser has ample time to prepare here for the unique Oregon State defensive looks.