Ivy foes will collide when the Penn Quakers (9-4) challenge the Princeton Tigers (5-7) at Palestra. Penn is a 2-point favorite on the opening line, while the games Over/Under (O/U) opened at 138 points. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5, 2018.
Princeton Tigers vs. Penn Quakers Free Preview
The Tigers lost a tough one against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in their last outing, 69-67. Devin Cannady had a solid game for Princeton, leading the team in scoring with 16 points on 4-for-14 shooting. Middle Tennessee had a turnover percentage of 10.7 (better than their season average of 16.5). Princeton, meanwhile, had a free throw rate of 0.280 (above their season average of 0.191).
In the Quakers last matchup, they were beaten by the Toledo Rockets, 85-72. With 11 points and 10 rebounds, Penn’s Max Rothschild had a good outing. Toledo did a fantastic job of making free throws (16-20; 80.0 percent). Penn, on the other hand, had a turnover percentage of 7.9 (better than their season average of 14.7).
It will be a battle of contrasting tempos as the up-and-down Quakers will look to push the more grind-it-out Tigers. The Quakers rank 47th in possessions per game while the Tigers are 339th. Furthermore, the Tigers, who rank 327th in offensive rebounding percentage (22.9 percent), might have a tough time getting second chance points against the Quakers, who rank 15th in defensive rebounding percentage (76.7 percent).
Of Princeton’s 11 games with betting action, six have finished under the O/U total, while 8 of Penn’s 9 games have finished over the O/U total. The Quakers have the superior straight up (SU) record (9-4 vs. 5-7), but the Tigers hold the clear advantage against the spread (ATS) (5-6 vs. 3-6).
Myles Stephens has really been playing well over the last five games for Princeton, averaging 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
This is the first time these teams will battle this year. The Tigers won all three games played against each other last season. In the last matchup, Princeton won 72-64. The Tigers played a nearly perfect game. They had a superb free throw rate of 0.297 and a turnover percentage of 10.8. The Quakers were 0.063 and 16.4, respectively, for those same stats.
Princeton Tigers at Penn Quakers Betting Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Penn, ATS Winner – Penn, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Quakers allow the 36th-fewest blocks per game (2.6) while the Tigers rank 50th (2.8).
- Penn is 14th in the nation with 4.7 steals allowed per game while Princeton is 24th with 5.0 steals allowed per game.
- Princeton is 4-5 ATS on the road with 5 overs and 4 unders.
- At home, Penn is 0-2 ATS with 2 overs and 0 unders.
- Penn ranks 41st in rebounds per game (39.8) while Princeton ranks 265th (29.5).
- The Quakers rank 38th in assists per game (16.8) while the Tigers rank 180th (13.0).
- Penn ranks 25th in three pointers attempted per game (27.2) while Princeton ranks 63rd (25.2).
Bettings Trends:
- Penn is 1-1 ATS with 2 overs in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Princeton is 4-1 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
- The Quakers average margin of victory in their last five games has been 13.2, up from 11.3 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Tigers have scored an average of 75.8 points per game (5.9 above their season average) and allowed an average of 70.2 points per game (1.4 below their season average).
