4* NCAAB Blowout

Loyola vs. Iona, 01/15/2012 15:30 EDT, Score: 63 - 74

Point Spread: -11/-105 Iona

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Push

4* NCAAB Blowout on Iona -11.5
Motivated by an upset loss to Manhattan, expect Iona to take out its frustration all over Loyola Maryland this afternoon.

Iona has had an extra day to prepare for this contest and should have much fresher legs than a Loyola squad that used a lot of energy to erase a 15-point second-half deficit in Friday's upset of Fairfield.

Iona is one of the most explosive offensive teams in the country, currently ranking 2nd in the nation at 85.1 ppg. The Gaels haven't just scorched weak foes either. They put up 90 points on a Purdue team that is normally very sound defensively. In fact, the Boilermakers are only allowing 61.6 ppg on the season.

Iona has dominated this series winning 24 of the last 31 meetings, including 13 of 15 at home during this span. Those 13 wins have come by 18, 8, 24, 18, 9, 17, 12, 14, 12, 18, 21, 12 and 10 points for an average winning margin of 14.8 points. The Gaels won last year's home meeting by 18 points, and I expect another decisive victory today.