Brown vs Yale Prediction & Best Bets (Ivy League Championship): Bears Seek First Bid Since 1986

On February 16, Brown was 6-17 overall and 2-6 in the Ivy League. Today, the Bears could reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1986 with a championship game win over Yale (12:00 pm ET, ESPN2).

After a 72-63 loss at Princeton, the Bears were 11 games under .500 and four games under .500 in the Ivy with six games remaining in the regular season.

To date, that is their most recent loss. After winning their final six games to book a spot in the four-team championship tournament, fourth-seeded Brown (13-17, 8-6 Ivy) sent #1 seed Princeton packing with a 90-81 win. Entering the game, the Tigers (24-4, 12-2 Ivy), who reached the Sweet 16 last season, had won nine straight games, and their only losses of the season were on the road to St. Joseph’s, Cornell, and Yale.

With a win over the second-seeded Bulldogs (21-9, 11-3 Ivy), who are looking for their second Ivy League title in three seasons, the Bears will go dancing for the first time since 1986. That year, they were destroyed 101-52 by Syracuse in the first round.

Will the upset bug bite once more and send Brown to the Big Dance? Or is this where their unlikely run comes to an end? A prediction and best bets are below.

Brown vs Yale Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on today’s NCAA basketball action.

Spread

• Brown +7.5 (-110)
• Yale -7.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 134 (-110)
• Under 134 (-110)

Looking for more men’s college hoops picks? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for all of the top games each day.

Brown vs Yale Betting Analysis and Prediction

Eight days ago, Brown wrapped up the regular season with an 84-81 overtime win at Yale, whose only other Ivy League losses this season were at Princeton and Cornell.

Prior to that loss, the Bulldogs, an 11-point favorite for the game, were 17-3 SU and 13-7 ATS this season as a favorite. They had covered in 11 of their previous 12 games when favored, and they were 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS at home in Ivy League play.

So, Brown has already picked up one upset victory over Yale this season, and it was rather recent as well.

The Bears have been solid against the spread all season long, but they have been especially good during their hot streak. They have covered in eight straight games overall, and as an underdog, they are 6-0 ATS in their last six games and 13-6 ATS for the season.

Yale is also on a strong spread run, however. The Bulldogs are 14-4 ATS (14-4 SU) in their last 18 games, and in that stretch, they are 12-2 ATS (13-1 SU) as a favorite. For yesterday’s semifinal against third-seeded Cornell, Yale was favored by 2.5 and came through in a 69-57 win over the Big Red.

With the way that the Bears had their way with a team that had been so dominant in the regular season, it’s hard not to ride the wave and pick them to break their NCAA Tournament drought. When you’re hot, you can be hard to stop no matter who the competition may be. Just ask North Carolina State, for example.

But the Bulldogs are a talented, experienced team, and with last weekend’s loss to Brown still fresh, I don’t think they will trip like Princeton did. That said, don’t expect the Bears to go quietly.

Prediction: Yale to win, Brown to cover

Brown vs Yale Best Bets

Brown +7.5 & Brown/Yale over 134

When the total has been 140 or less in a Brown game this season, the over is 8-4, with hits in three straight and six of seven.

When the total has been 140 or less in a Yale game this season, the over is 7-5 and has hit in the last three instances.

Bonus Pick: Danny Wolf (Yale) over 9.5 rebounds (-114 at BetOnline)

Other NCAA Basketball Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on NCAA Basketball?

Throughout the college basketball season, you can find NCAA basketball odds at the top online sports betting sites. That includes prominent names like BetDSI, BetOnline, BetUS, and Bovada.

Along with game odds, many sportsbooks offer men’s and women’s March Madness futures odds, Final Four odds, Wooden Award odds, and more.

If you are unfamiliar with any of these sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Our reviews analyze available betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile and live betting, and the sportsbook sign-up bonuses and other promos offered.

• BetDSI Sportsbook Review
• BetOnline Sportsbook Review
• BetUS Sportsbook Review
• Bovada Sportsbook Review
• MyBookie Sportsbook Review

Interested in Learning More About Betting on NCAA Basketball?

If you are interested in learning more about betting on NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on the action from the Mountain West to the MAAC and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, check out our March Madness guide, and learn valuable March Madness betting tips, where you can find the best March Madness bracket challenges, who the Final Four favorites are, and much more.

• March Madness Guide

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Who will represent the Ivy League in the tournament field for the $200,000 Bracket Madness contest at BetOnline? Selection Sunday and the start of the contest aren’t until Sunday, March 17, but the contest is now open for entry fees. In the meantime, you can take advantage of their 100% cryptocurrency welcome bonus and build your bankroll for March Madness.