by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 25, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Jadwin Gymnasium, Princeton, NJ
Where to watch: ESPNEWS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Princeton -7.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Princeton -7.5
Season record
Harvard: 13-10 (5-6 Ivy)
Princeton: 19-5 (9-2 Ivy)
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Harvard - Princeton preview and analysis
Harvard analysis
Nothing like a good old-fashioned Ivy League showdown to jump-start the rest of the season, but it might be better for one team than the other.
the Harvard Crimson come into this game having won back-to-back games And they have not played in almost a week. Harvard is coming off a five-point victory over Cornell in overtime back on February 19th, a much-needed victory considering where Harvard is in the standings right now.
Harvard is currently 4th in the Ivy League standings and at this current point in time, they would need to run the table and hope for a miracle to even get a chance to contend for the conference championship. Noah Kirkwood had the game of his life with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and four assists to meet the Crimson to a much-needed victory. Luka Sakota also had 18 points and needed only 13 shots to get there.
It's just kind of funny because you don't really expect the Ivy League to be this notable this late into the season. There are actually some really good teams coming out of this conference, but more than likely it's only a one-bid league. Harvard would need some serious miracles to even come close to making a championship run, and even if they did, it would more than likely be a one-and-done situation. Jeremy Lin is not walking through that door.
And for as much as we'd like to thank Harvard could make a run here, their opponents are playing for something much bigger than just respect.
Princeton analysis
I don't think anybody in the Ivy League actually wants to play the Princeton tigers right now. It's not just the fact that they've won four in a row and suddenly find themselves only a half-game back of the Yale Bulldogs for first place in the conference.
But it has everything to do with Princeton just beating Yale on the road back on February 19th, a six-point victory for the surging Tigers. Tosan Evbuomwan finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds on 10 of 21 shooting to lead Princeton. Ethan Wright also had one hell of a game with 23 points and nine rebounds while making 3 3-pointers.
It's not just the fact that Princeton is also won four straight games, and three of them have come on the road. Princeton is also one of these four games in a rather impressive fashion, winning three of them by double digits and one of them by 45 at home against Dartmouth.
This would actually be the start of a back-to-back between Harvard and Princeton, with Harvard hosting the game on Sunday. The Tigers would need to win out, including a victory at Pennsylvania on March 5th, to have a chance at tying Yale atop the standings. Yale would also need to lose one of its remaining games to Cornell or Brown for chaos to take place.
Prediction
It has been a rarity to see Harvard actually take advantage of the books following a straight-up victory. Harvard has failed to cover in 17 of its last 22 following a straight-up win. If you have ever been one to bet on Harvard and have lost on each occasion, this is the reason why it is failed so badly. Princeton meanwhile has covered its last four games and is 5 and one against the spread following its last six following a covered victory. I would probably reevaluate my situation with the rematch on Sunday, but in this game, I like Princeton to cover and win comfortably. Princeton by 16
Betting trends
Harvard is 2-10 ATS following a win by six points or less the past three seasons.
Harvard is 0-7 ATS after playing consecutive games as a home favorite.
Harvard is 5-14 ATS after two or more consecutive wins.
Princeton is 14-6 ATS after having won four or five of the last six games.
Projected starting lineup
Harvard:
PG: Denham Wojcik
SG: Luka Sakota
SF: Kale Catchings
PF: Mason Forbes
C: Noah Kirkwood
Princeton:
PG: Jaelin Llewellyn
SG: Ethan Wright
SF: Ryan Langborg
PF: Tosan Evbuomwan
C: Drew Friberg
Statistical leaders
Harvard:
Points: Noah Kirkwood -- 18.0
Rebounds: Noah Kirkwood -- 5.7
Assists: Noah Kirkwood -- 3.0
Princeton:
Points: Tosan Evbuomwan -- 15.4
Rebounds: Ethan Wright -- 7.3
Assists: Tosan Evbuomwan -- 4.9
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
