Friday's Best NCAAB Bet
Columbia Lions at Harvard Crimson (-10.5)
The Crimson has never been better at home - literally. Harvard is 8-0 at home this season and owns a program-record tying 11-game win streak at Lavietes Pavilion. But the Crimson have been a tough opponent no matter who they play and where.
The team owns road wins over Boston College and George Washington and also holds victories against Colorado and America East preseason favorite Boston University. Overall, Harvard has won six straight and is 6-3 ATS this season.
And the team has a new weapon – its zone defense. Harvard is ranked in the Top-75 nationally in points allowed, giving up just 62.8 per game, but recent injury and foul troubles have forced coach Tommy Amaker to mix in a zone. In wins over George Washington and Dartmouth, it has paved the way for second-half comebacks.
“We switched defenses and that changed the rhythm a little,’’ Amaker said. “We got some confidence as we got some stops and got up the floor and inched our way back in it. It’s the same zone but I thought we did a better job of communicating and getting matched. We don’t use it a lot but we certainly needed it.’’
Harvard is 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in the teams’ past four meetings.
Pick: Harvard
College Basketball Knowledge
Penn won five of last seven games vs Yale, which lost six of last seven in this gym, with losses by 8-24-22-28-13-12 points. Yale is ranked #162; best team Quakers have beaten is #179 Davidson. Quakers lost four of last five games; they're 1-1 as favorite this year. Yale won its last three games vs D-I teams; they're 3-2 against spread as an underdog.
Brown won seven of last nine games vs Princeton, winning three of last four in this gym, but Tigers are much the better this year, 9-1 vs teams not ranked in top 100 (Brown is #258). Princeton is 3-4 vs spread when favored. Brown got swept by Yale, losing by 5-8 points to open league play- they're 1-3 against the spread as an underdog this season.
Cornell won its last ten games vs Dartmouth, winning last five visits to Hanover by 4-13-10-18-18 points; both teams got swept in first couple Iby games. Big Red lost 11 of last 13 games, losing twice to Columbia by 4 points each in its first two Ivy games- they're 1-4 as a fave. Dartmouth lost its last five games, losing first two Ivy games by 15-9 points.
Harvard won its last three games vs Columbia by 9-29-20 points, after losing previous five in series; Lions lost last two trips here, 72-63/77-57, but Columbia is improved, winning seven of last eight games vs D-I foes, albeit only one of those seven wins was against top 200 team (Harvard is #97). Crimson won 11 of last 13 vs D-I teams; they're 4-1 as a fave. .
Home side won last seven Wright State-Green Bay games; Raiders lost last three visits here by 3-11-2 points. Raiders won first meeting 67-64, outscoring Green Bay 25-12 from foul line, but had seven last baskets in game. Horizon home favorites of 5 or less points are 3-6 against spread. Green Bay won four of last five games, covered its last six games.
Milwaukee swept Butler this year but is still just 5-5 in league; Panthers won four of last five games vs Detroit, winning four of last five games in this gym, with wins by 19-1-2-9 points- they beat Titans 84-81 on road in OT Jan 1, making 16-37 from arc, forcing 22 turnovers. Horizon home favorites of 5 or less points are 3-6 against the spread.
Siena won its last five games vs Loyola, winning last two visits here by 75-68/76-56 scores, but Saints are 1-6 in last seven road games, with win at lowly Marist. Single digit MAAC home favorites are 3-9-1 vs spread. Surging Loyola won last four games, three of which were by 6 points or less- Greyhounds won last three home games by 16-1-12 points.
Niagara won 12 of last 14 games vs local rival Canisius, but lost two of last three visits here; Purple Eagles are 1-8 in MAAC, 1-3 as road dog, losing away games by 8-24-22-20-2 points. Double digit MAAC home favorites are 9-3 vs spread. Canisius is just 3-6 in MAAC, with one win by more than two points- they're 1-2 vs spread as a MAAC fave.
Fairfield won last four games vs Manhattan, winning last two games here by 83-71/88-85 scores; Jaspers are horrible, losing 17 of last 18 games; they're 2-5 as a MAAC underdog. This is Stags' first home game in 19 days; they're 3-0 as home favorite, winning by 22-10-27 points. Double digit MAAC home favorites of 14+ points are 3-3 vs spread.