Yale vs Pennsylvania Prediction, Odds and Betting Preview Feb 18
Yale vs Pennsylvania Predictions and Odds
WagerTalk content contributor Kyle Kargel gives his prediction and betting preview before the Yale vs Pennsylvania game in the Ivy League. At the time of posting, the Bulldogs have opened as a 4-point home favorite over the visiting Quakers, with the total sitting at 144.5 points.
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| Friday, February 18 | Ivy League Basketball Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Yale Bulldogs -4 vs Pennsylvania Quakers |
| Total: | 144.5 Points |
| Game Time: | 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT |
| Arena: | John J. Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, CT |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Yale vs Pennsylvania Betting Analysis
The Ivy League’s top two teams battle it out tonight for sole possession of the conference lead as Pennsylvania travels to Yale to take on a Bulldogs team that has won six straight games.
The Quakers though are hot themselves winning five straight including a 76-68 win over the Bulldogs back on January 22.
This game will set the tone for the rest of the season as Princeton is the only other team in the conference with a realistic chance of climbing to the top of the Ivy League standings before the regular season ends.
Where are Yale and Pennsylvania’s strengths and weaknesses heading into their matchup tonight with tip off set for 7 PM EST?
Yale Seeking Revenge
The Bulldogs only loss of 2022 was to the Quakers and they look to avenge that loss tonight in their home gym this time. Although Yale boasts the better overall record, they actually have the worse against the spread record sitting at just 9-13.
They play somewhat high-tempo games but that’s due to the pace their opponents like to play at. They rank 76th in adjusted tempo and opponents don’t hold the ball long when trying to score against the Bulldogs as they rank 13th in average possession length for opponents.
Senior Azar Swain is the team’s primary scorer scoring just over 19 PPG (42nd nationally) while shooting it an average of 15 times per game. Another senior Jalen Gabbidon is the team’s other go-to player as he shoots over 49% from the field and over 81% from the free throw line.
The team struggles to generate shots off passes though as they don’t roster a player averaging over two assists per game.
The last time these two teams met, the Bulldogs only had five assists. That number is going to have to be much bigger if the Bulldogs want to come away with a home win here.
Pennsylvania Pecking Through the Ivy League
After going 3-10 to start the season, Pennsylvania has been able to go 8-2 (all conference games) while generating the second best adjusted offensive efficiency in the conference.
The Quakers have a play maker of their own in Jordan Dingle who averages over 20 PPG while shooting 45% from the field. He put up a remarkable 31 points the last time Yale and Pennsylvania met on 13-24 shooting.
He’ll look for a little more help from role players Max Martz and Clark Slajchert who each average 10 PPG. As a team the Quakers could be better on defense ranking 230th or worse in multiple categories including adjusted defensive efficiency, turnover rate, as well as blocks and steals.
They rely on their bench a lot, ranking in the top 50 in percentage of minutes coming from the bench. The Quakers could also be more aggressive on offense as they shoot the ball well from the free throw line but don’t get there often as only 15.2% of their total points come from the strip which is 310th nationally.
Yale vs Pennsylvania Prediction
With the Bulldogs as four-point favorites and getting the Quakers in a revenge spot in their home gym makes me lean in their favor.
I don’t see Swain putting up the same, poor numbers the last time these two met as he had 12 points on 3-13 shooting. As a team the Bulldogs only shot 3-19 from deep as well which I expect will be better this time around as well.
Prediction: Yale -4
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College Basketball Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his College Basketball Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Friday’s sheet, with notes on this Yale vs Pennsylvania contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
Get your daily fix of college hoops betting information with Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of handicapping guests. The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including this Yale vs Pennsylvania clash in New Haven, from a sports betting perspective.
WagerTalk Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the college basketball point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Friday’s NCAAB games, including this Yale vs Pennsylvania showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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