Harvard Crimson vs Penn Quakers Betting Pick & Prediction 1/20/24

The Crimson and Quakers are set to face off at 6:00 ET on ESPNU. The Quakers will host the game at The Palestra in Philadelphia, PA. The odds for this Ivy League conference game currently have the Quakers as the betting favorite with the over/under line sitting at 143.5 points.

HARVARD CRIMSON VS PENN QUAKERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Penn Quakers -2.5

This game will be played at The Palestra at 6:00 ET on Saturday, January 20th.

WHY BET THE PENN QUAKERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Quakers.
• Not only will Penn pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 144 points.

Can Harvard Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

Harvard is currently on a two-game losing streak, and their record on the road this season is 3-4. Their average scoring margin on the road is -7.6 points per game, and they have lost three straight games away from home.

So far this season, Harvard has been the underdog in eight of their 15 games, and their record in those games is 3-5. Overall, they have gone 9-6 this season, and their record in Ivy League games is 0-2.

When looking at Harvard’s ATS record this season, they are currently 5-9. On the road, their ATS mark sits at 3-4. Over their last three road games, the Crimson have gone 0-3 vs. the spread.

So far this season, the over/under record for Harvard games is 9-5. Today’s over/under line of 143.5 is lower than the average scoring total in their games this year (145.3). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 146 points.

The Crimson’s offense finished with 72 points in their previous game, mirroring their current average of 72.3 points per contest. Leading the team in scoring is Chisom Okpara, who is averaging 18.1 heading into today’s matchup. Additionally, Malik Mack also maintains a PPG average of 18.9 heading into game.

Harvard’s defense is currently in line with the NCAA average for points allowed, allowing an average of 71.9 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Harvard’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 40.7% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 28.8% this season.

Does Penn Have a Shot at a Home Win?

The Quakers have been much better at home this season, going 6-2 compared to 1-6 on the road. Over their last 10 games at home, they have gone 8-2. For the season, they have been favored in 9 of their 17 games, going 6-3 in those contests.

After a 77-60 loss to Cornell, Penn’s record now stands at 9-8. They are 1-1 in Ivy League play and 8-7 in non-conference games. So far, the Quakers have been favored in 9 of their games, going 6-3.

As the favorite, Penn has gone 5-4 vs. the spread this season. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Quakers have gone 5-5 ATS.

So far this season, the over/under record for Penn is 8-7 and today’s over/under line of 143.5 is close to the average over/under line in their games of 144.9. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 141 points compared to the season average of 146.9. In their last three games, the over/under record is 1-2.

The Penn offense, in their latest game, managed to score just 60 points versus Cornell. During the game, they attempted 28 three-point shots and had a field goal percentage of 42.6%. The team’s scoring leader is Clark Slajchert, who holds an average of 17.4 as they head into today’s matchup. Additionally, Tyler Perkins is averaging 14.3 points per game this season.

In terms of defense, Penn is currently on par with the NCAA average for points allowed, giving up an average of 72.2 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Penn’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 39.5% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 31.0% this season.