The Iona Gaels (3-4) will be at home in Hynes Athletics Center when they square off against the Yale Bulldogs (6-6). The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 156.5 points with Iona opening as a 3.5-point favorite. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, and it can be seen on ESPN 3.
Yale Bulldogs vs. Iona Gaels Betting Preview
In the Bulldogs last contest, they were beaten by the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, 75-67. Yale’s Blake Reynolds recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. St. Bonaventure forced the Bulldogs into a turnover percentage of 25.8 (above their season average of 17.1). Yale, on the other hand, did a fantastic job of getting and making free throws (19-26; 73.1 percent).
The Gaels will look to keep it rolling after defeating the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in their last matchup, 82-75. Iona received a boost from Jan Svandrlik, who was the games high scorer with 27 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Iona dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a phenomenal free throw rate of 0.394 (above their season average of 0.142) and a turnover percentage of 9.0 (better than their season average of 14.8). Fairleigh Dickinson put up marks of 0.079 and 20.6, respectively, for those same stats.
Iona should have the edge on the offensive side of the ball. The Gaels rank 87th in offensive efficiency, while the Bulldogs rank 189th in defensive efficiency since last season.
These two teams are complete opposites in terms of the O/U total. Games including Yale have gone over 60.0 percent of the time, while Iona games have gone under 60.0 percent of the time. The Bulldogs have the better straight up (SU) record (6-6 vs. 3-4), but the Gaels hold the significant advantage against the spread (ATS) (3-2 vs. 2-3).
Alex Copeland has taken his game to another level over the last five games for Yale, averaging 17.0 points per game.
Yale Bulldogs vs. Iona Gaels Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Yale, ATS Winner – Yale, O/U – Over
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Bulldogs average 21.9 three pointers per game, which ranks 39th in the nation. The Gaels rank 136th in three pointers allowed per game (21.8).
- Yale allows the 28th-fewest blocks per game (3.3) while Iona ranks 56th (2.9).
- Yale ranks 11th in assists per game (16.5) while Iona ranks 175th in assists allowed per game (14.8).
- The Gaels rank 21st in steals allowed per game (4.8) while the Bulldogs rank 172nd (6.8).
- Yale ranks 98th in rebounds allowed per game (33.3) while Iona ranks 230th (38.3).
