The Yale Bulldogs (18-11) face the Princeton Tigers (23-5) Sunday in the Ivy League Tournament Final. Tip-off from the Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass., is slated for noon ET (ESPN2). Below, we look at the Yale vs. Princeton odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Bulldogs picked up a 67-61 to oust Penn in the Ivy League semifinals Saturday, setting up a date with old friend Princeton. Yale lost at home to Princeton 81-75 Feb. 19, but the Elis won in New Jersey against the Tigers by an 80-74 score Jan. 29. The Over cashed in each of the two regular-season meetings.
The Tigers were given all they could handle in their Saturday semifinal against Cornell, finally putting the Big Red away 77-73 but failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites. Princeton enters on an eight-game win streak, going 5-3 ATS during the span, including 1-3 ATS in its last four contests.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Yale vs. Princeton odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:33 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Yale +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Princeton -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Yale +3.5 (-112) | Princeton -3.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Yale vs. Princeton odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Princeton 76, Yale 69
Money line
This isn’t your dad’s PRINCETON (-175) team, led by former head coach Pete Carril, with the low-scoring games, the weave, the backdoor cuts, etc. … These Tigers are flying, rolling up 80.6 points per game (PPG) to rank eighth in the nation.
The Tigers also shot 49.0%, good for eighth in the land, while posting a 38.8% mark from behind the arc to rank seventh. Oddly enough, they struggle from the line, shooting just 64.8% – ranking 348th – which can be their undoing at any moment. Still, the Tigers are easily good enough to get it done here.
Against the spread
PRINCETON -3.5 (-108) is the play to cash a winning ticket in the title game. Yale features a tough defense, which will offer plenty of resistance. The Elis have yielded 65 or fewer points in six of their past nine games. However, Princeton dropped 81 on them Feb. 19 in New Haven, and the Tigers won’t be denied here.
Over/Under
The OVER 141.5 (-115) is the lean, but play it lightly. Yale enters on a 4-0 Under streak, while hitting below the total in seven of the past nine games overall.
Of course, one of the two Over results was against Princeton in the most recent meeting.
The Tigers have cashed the Over just three times in the past eight outings, so it isn’t a slam-dunk play by any means. However, this team is good for 74 or more points in five straight, and 11 of the past 12 contests overall.
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