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Columbia vs. Harvard Prediction and Odds (Fade Huge Movement Towards the Over)

By Ben Heisler

Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker talks with his team during a timeout. The Crimson have lost three straight games in conference play.
Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker talks with his team during a timeout. The Crimson have lost three straight games in conference play. / Steven Ryan/GettyImages
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Fresh off their third straight loss in Ivy League play, and fourth in their last five games, the Harvard Crimson look to take some frustration out when they host the Columbia Lions this evening in Cambridge.

Columbia is 4-18 on the season; just 1-9 in conference play with their lone victory coming more than a month ago in a road upset vs. the Penn Quakers on January 8.

As for Harvard, they fell to the aforementioned Penn 82-74 after two straight three-point losses against their hated rival Yale Bulldogs.

The spread is more than two touchdowns with a total that continues to climb, so let's dive into the latest odds over at WynnBET Sportsbook.

Columbia vs. Harvard Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Columbia +15 (-110)
  • Harvard -15 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Columbia +900
  • Harvard -1600

Total:

  • 146 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Columbia vs. Harvard Prediction and Pick

The over for today's matchup has actually gone up a full 3.5 points from where it opened at 142.5, and I think that push is actually a bit too much; considering I like the under anyways.

Harvard has to be piping mad after this three game stretch of losses against the two best teams in the Ivy League, especially when both games against Yale came within a single possession.

Purely from a matchup perspective, Harvard should steamroll the Lions this evening. The Lions' defense ranks in the bottom 3 of all teams in college basketball, as well as in the bottom 10 for effective field goal percentage. Columbia also ranks dead last in opponent three-point percentage allowed. If you want to get an open look from anywhere on the court, the Lions are a great team to play.

On the other side of the ball, the Crimson defense is tops in the conference in turnover percentage and limiting offensive rebounds.

The only way Columbia hangs around, as well as forces an over is if they make their shots from downtown. They rank first in the Ivy League in three-point percentage at a tick under 40%. The last time these two teams played, The Crimson let the Lions chuck up 27 three pointers, and they made just under half of them shooting 48% on the day in a 91-82 victory. The 82 points scored by the Lions was by far and away their season high.

This time around, expect Harvard's defense to be far more crisp and aggressive. The Crimson will continue to get easy buckets, but the defensive effort will be there this time around.

LEAN: UNDER 146 (-110)

Follow all of Ben Heisler's betting picks in real-time HERE!

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