Yale Bulldogs at Columbia Lions
Mar 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST
Opening Line: Columbia -2.5
Current Line: Columbia -2.5
Opening Total: 135
Current Total: 135
Opening Moneyline: Col -140 / Yale +120
Current Moneyline: Col -140 / Yale +120
Tonight’s Ivy League matchup features the 14-12 Yale Bulldogs against the 14-12 Columbia Lions. Yale has a better conference record at 7-5 than does Columbia, 5-7. Yale is 3rd in Ivy League and Columbia is 5th in Ivy.
Despite being 2 games above .500, Columbia has a negative point differential of -0.7. They give up slightly over 70 a game (70.3) and score just a tad under 70 a game (69.6). Yale, also 2 games above .500, does have a positive differential of +1.2. They score 67.9 a game and give up 66.8.
Some betting trends:
Yale is 8-16 SU in their last 24 on the road and they are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against Columbia.
Columbia is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games and they are 2-6 SU in their lsat 8 games. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbia’s last 5 games and they are 9-3 SU in their last 12 at home. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 home games and the total has gone UNDER in 5 of the last 7 games against Yale. Columbia is 1-4 SU in their last 5 against Yale and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 against Yale. Columbia is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games against Yale and they are 2-4 SU in their last 6 at home against Yale.
Yale is led by big man 6’10” junior forward Greg Mangano. Mangano puts up 16.0 points per game, grabs 9.7 rebounds per game, and blocks nearly 3 shots a game. His interior presence gives most teams immense trouble, as few teams can find someone to matchup with Mangano’s size. The problem for Yale is that there are not enough other players creating mismatches or playing significantly well enough for Yale to be much more than a middle of the road Ivy League ballclub. Mangano will have his way with Columbia.
Columbia is led by the backcourt duo of Noruwa Agho and Brian Barbour. The two each play 34 minutes a game and combine for 29.2 points per game (40% of Columbia’s total output). Agho, a 6’3″ junior guard, is leading the way scoring 16.1 points per game and is dishing out 4.5 assists per game in a potent Columbia lineup. He shoots 35.4% from distance (34 of 96) and has scored in double figures in 19 of Columbia’s 26 games. He’s also had 10 games with 20 or more points and hit six threes in a win against Union College. His backcourt mate 6’1″ sophomore Brian Barbour averages 13.1 points per game, 3.0 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game. Columbia is 3-4 in the 7 games in which Barbour has failed to score in double figures and they are 11-8 when he does score in double figures.
