Another 6-2 night last night leaves me at 53-27 heading into the final evening of Ivy round robin play. We’ll try to end on a strong note. Alway tough to figure which teams are already looking ahead to the Ivy Tournament and which are just looking forward to a nap. Regardless, Brown and Penn are playing for something.
Yale -3 @ PRINCETON (143.5), 6 pm. Yale and Princeton both put up duds last night and yet each is still playing for a potential share of the Ivy League title. Since Harvard owns the tiebreakers over both teams, this game could be the 2-3 seed rematch at next Saturday’s Ivy Tournament so one would think both teams would want to make some type of statement. Simply on the basis of depth and athleticism...
Pick: Yale +2 Over Princeton and Under 148.5.
Brown +6 @ PENN (138.5), 6 pm. My track record picking Penn, the team I see the most and know the best, has been abysmal, but even with that, this line seems high. The Quakers have been playing much better defense recently and played their best game in a month last night to beat Yale in essentially an elimination game. They also shot really well so expect some reversion to the mean. The Bears also played very well last night - especially on D - and have an X-factor on offense in sophomore Desmond Cambridge. This is the game for the fourth spot in the Ivy Tourney so both teams should be ready to play. The question is which team will not just play hard, but play well. Still, in an elimination game between two relatively even teams, how can you not take 11 points?
Pick: Brown +11 Over PENN and Over 133.5.
Dartmouth +3 @ CORNELL (137.5), 7 pm. Even with Cornell’s upset win over Harvard, the Brown and Penn wins knocked them out of the race for fourth. They’re playing tonight to send senior star Matt Morgan out on a winning note. Dartmouth is playing to get a win -- any win. In one of the crazier seasons in recent Ivy memory, the Big Green are 2-11 and have lost eight games by 5 points or less, 6 games by 3 points or less and two in overtime. Last night at Columbia, this team that shoots over 36% from three was 0-17 from behind the arc and still only lost by four. Cornell has to be a little bummed, Dartmouth has to shoot better. Don’t they?
Pick: Dartmouth +8 Over CORNELL and Over 132.5.
Harvard -3 @ COLUMBIA (138), 7 pm. Harvard is playing for the title. Columbia is playing to end the season on a four-game winning streak. The Lions took the Crimson to 3 OTs before losing in Cambridge so they should have some confidence they can play with them. Harvard put up a stinker last night at Cornell -- star Bryce Aiken was 1-10 from inside the arc. Harvard has so much more talent and depth, but Columbia is on a roll and senior night at Levien Gym should be raucous if there are any students not on break.
Pick: COLUMBIA +8 Over Harvard and Over 133.