Ivy League Tournament Championship
Princeton vs Yale Odds
| Princeton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 140.5 -110o / -110u | +145 |
| Yale Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 140.5 -110o / -110u | -175 |
If you're a purist, the Ivy League Tournament has its advantages.
By inviting just four teams, the league gives its best teams a better chance to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Fans are also far more likely to see the best teams in the Ivy square off with the title on the line.
That's exactly what is happening Sunday as the Yale Bulldogs and Princeton Tigers, who tied atop the regular season standings, will meet with a trip to the Big Dance awarded to the winner.
Those same purists that love this set-up might find one major quibble though: The second-seeded Tigers, who lost twice to Yale this season, will host the game at Jadwin Gymnasium.
The Ivy League simply rotates the tournament from campus to campus each year. If a team is lucky enough to make the top four in a year it's hosting the event, that squad simply gets a free home-court advantage.
Before any Yale fans or backers cry foul, let's not forget the Bulldogs have also benefitted from this system. In 2019, Yale tied Harvard for the top spot in the standings, but lost both games against the rival Crimson. The tournament was held in New Haven, where Yale hung 97 points on Harvard in front of a pro-Bulldog crowd.
Venue aside, Yale is the better team and favored for a reason. The Bulldogs have lost just once since January 15, a two-point road loss at Penn. Yale housed Princeton in the team's first meeting this season, ending the game on a 27-9 run.
When Princeton hosted Yale — with a chance to win the top seed in the conference tournament — the Tigers open the game with some inspired basketball. Princeton led by 19 points with a tick under eight minutes left to play.
With Yale's leading scorer Matt Knowling sidelined with injury, the Bulldogs flipped a switch and made a triumphant comeback. Yale went on a 26-7 run and sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, Yale stayed red hot and scored 23 points in the bonus five minutes of play.
That game, despite the loss, showed some promise for the Tigers. Princeton played much more aggressively in the second meeting. The Tigers took just three free throws in New Haven, but took 31 freebies in the second meeting.
A lot of that was due to a conscious effort to play through all-conference forward Tosan Evbuomwan. In the first game, he took nine field goals and only three free throws. As the focal point in the Princeton attack the second time around, Evbuomwan took 11 field goal attempts and 16 shots from the foul line, adding in 10 rebounds and six assists.
He should be the best player on the floor in any Ivy League game. Evbuomwan seemed to realize that as the Tigers battled Penn in the semifinals. His nine points in the game's final eight minutes proved the difference as he finished with 21 points and four assists.
In the title game, getting the best player on the court, playing in his home gym, and getting points feels a little too good to pass up. Yale is the better team, but I'll trust Evuomwan to at least keep the game close, if not will the Tigers to an upset win.
I was hoping to see this number open at 4.5 or higher, but I'll stick with my gut and trust the Tigers.
Pick: Princeton +3 |
What is QuickSlip?
QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.
