As the college basketball season heats up, Harvard and Pennsylvania are set to face off in a intriguing matchup at Lavietes Pavilion. Both teams are sitting on the bubble, needing quality wins to build a tournament resume. Harvard, with a NET ranking of 192, is favored to win, according to the CHD Scout prediction, which has them taking down Pennsylvania by 5.9 points, with a 70.8% win probability.
The Crimson come into this game with a recent form of W-W-L, while the Quakers have a similar record of W-W-L in their last three games. With neither team boasting a strong quad record, this matchup is essentially a Quad 3 game for Pennsylvania and a Quad 4 game for Harvard. A win for either team would be a significant boost to their tournament hopes, especially for Harvard, who is still seeking their first Quad 1 or Quad 2 win.
CHD Scout Prediction
Pennsylvania
70
Harvard
76
The Vegas odds have Harvard as 5.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 148.5 points. While neither team has a player on a particularly hot or cold streak, Harvard's home-court advantage could prove to be the deciding factor. The Crimson have a strong record at Lavietes Pavilion, and their fans will likely be a major factor in this game.
Tournament Stakes
Given the CHD Scout prediction and Harvard's home-court advantage, I'm predicting a Harvard win, 76-70. The Crimson's ability to protect their home court and their slight edge in recent form should be enough to take down the Quakers and give them a much-needed boost to their tournament resume.