The Dayton Flyers will host the Loyola Chicago Ramblers at UD Arena on Friday as Atlantic 10 conference play continues. Dayton enters this contest as a strong favorite with a solid overall record and a four‑game winning streak, while Loyola Chicago has struggled through a difficult season and has lost four games in a row. Before these teams both try to get an important A-10 win, you can keep reading to find my Loyola Chicago vs Dayton prediction below.
Our Loyola Chicago vs Dayton Pick
Pick:
Dayton -16.5 ATS PRO
Confidence:
3/5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Loyola Chicago Ramblers @ Dayton Flyers
Date & Time: Friday, January 16, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
Broadcast: ESPN2
Key Storylines
Dayton has been one of the stronger teams in the Atlantic 10 this season, sporting a 13‑4 overall record and undefeated in conference play so far with a 4‑0 record. The Flyers have won their last four games and have a potent offense, averaging around 77.5 points per game. The Flyers benefit from a dominant home atmosphere at UD Arena, where they have won 9 of their 10 home contests. Key contributors like Keonte Jones and Javon Bennett have provided scoring and versatility. Bennett has been notable with 16.6 points per game, as the Flyers look to keep up with George Mason and Saint Louis in the A-10 race.
Loyola Chicago’s season has been a struggle with a 5‑13 record overall and only one victory in Atlantic 10 play. The Ramblers have dropped four straight games in January and are searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. Offensive production around Justin Moore and Kayde Dotson has been solid at times, but the roster lacks depth and the ability to get defensive stops often enough to remain competitive against a high‑powered Flyers squad. Loyola’s recent losses, including a home defeat to George Mason, highlight ongoing issues that Dayton can exploit as they did in their first meeting of the season.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
In their most recent meeting on January 3, Dayton got a close 70‑68 win, with Javon Bennett scoring the decisive basket in the final seconds.
Dayton enters this game with an 8-9 record against the spread this season.
Loyola Chicago is 5-13 against the spread going into Friday night.
The over is 10-8 in games involving the Ramblers this year.
The under is 11-6 in Dayton's games thus far.
Loyola Chicago vs Dayton Model Projection
Score Projection: Loyola Chicago 62 – Dayton 85 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Loyola Chicago 4%, Dayton 96% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
Dayton is the clear choice in this matchup based on recent performance, head‑to‑head success, and their statistical advantages. With a strong offense that consistently scores above its opponent’s defensive averages, and a struggling Loyola Chicago group that has faced difficulties in conference play, Dayton should cover the spread and control the game. I'll lay the big number in what should be a more lopsided game than their first meeting of the season.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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