The Harvard Crimson (12-8, 5-2 Ivy) will be at Palestra to clash with the Penn Quakers (15-8, 3-4 Ivy) in an Ivy matchup. Action starts at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 16, 2019.
Harvard Crimson at Penn Quakers ATS Odds
In the Crimson’s last game, they topped the Princeton Tigers, 78-69, as 9.5-point underdogs. The Quakers, meanwhile, defeated the Dartmouth Big Green,82-79, but failed to cover as 5-point favorites. Both games finished over their projected point totals. The Harvard game went 14.5 points over the projected point total of 132.5, while the Penn game finished 12.5 points over the projected point total of 148.5.
Harvard dominated every stat category in the game. They had a solid free throw rate of 0.286 (above their season average of 0.216) and a turnover percentage of 14.4 (better than their season average of 21.5). Princeton was 0.236 and 16.9, respectively, for those same stats. The Quakers, meanwhile, had a better free throw rate (0.182 vs. 0.118) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.655 (above their season average of 0.537). AJ Brodeur played a pivotal role for Penn with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Bryce Aiken played well for Harvard, contributing 33 points and five rebounds.
The Quakers captured this series last year, winning two out of three games. In the most recent contest, Penn won 68-65. Penn’s effective field goal percentage was its biggest advantage over Harvard. The Quakers had a rate of 0.538 while the Crimson posted a mark of 0.482. This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
Vegas has a tendency to set the total low when the Crimson are playing, as 10 of their 18 games have ended over the total. Harvard holds records of 12-8 straight up (SU) and 8-10 against the spread (ATS).
Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when predicting totals of Quakers games, with 11 overs compared to 10 unders. Additionally, Penn is 15-8 SU and 12-9 ATS.
Second-chance points could be scarce for Penn in this battle. The Quakers currently rank 253rd in offensive rebounding percentage (26.3 percent), while Harvard ranks 18th in defensive rebounding percentage (76.4 percent).
Harvard Crimson vs. Penn Quakers ATS Pick
Free Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Penn, ATS Winner – Penn, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Harvard ranks 23rd in rebounds allowed per game (31.4) while Penn ranks 199th (36.0).
- The Quakers rank 107th in steals per game (6.6) while the Crimson rank 199th in steals allowed per game (7.8).
- Harvard is 33rd in the nation with 2.6 blocks allowed per game while Penn is 57th with 2.8 blocks allowed per game.
- The Quakers rank 39th in assists per game (15.5) while the Crimson rank 171st (12.8).
- Penn ranks 14th in three pointers allowed per game (18.5) while Harvard ranks 125th (21.7).
- Harvard is 5-5 ATS on the road, while Penn is 5-2 ATS at home.
- The Crimson have 6 overs, 3 unders and 1 push in 10 road games.
- Of the Quakers’ 7 home games, they have 6 overs and 1 under.
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, Harvard and Penn are both 2-3 ATS.
- The Crimson have 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games, while the Quakers have 4 overs and 1 under
- The Crimson’s average margin of victory in their last five games has been 8.4, up from 2.2 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Quakers have scored an average of 76.4 points per game (1.4 above their season average) and allowed an average of 77.8 points per game (7.4 above their season average).
