Rhode Island Rams vs Yale Bulldogs Point Spread Picks

Combine the Bulldogs (-375) and the Big Red (-1667) into a 2-team parlay at -303 odds. 

Yale is a big, balanced team led by the senior backcourt of 6-6 John Poulakidas (20.6 ppg) and 6-4 senior Bez Mbeng (11.6 ppg). They average 84.8 points, shooting 50.8% from the field and 40.1% from long range. The frontcourt is a handful, too, with 6-7 junior Nick Townsend (13 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and 6-10 sophomore Samson Aletan. They've played the Big Ten twice, losing at Minnesota, 59-56, covering as a +4.5 underdog, and No. 13 Purdue, 92-84, as a +14.5 dog. Yale is on a 19-8 ATS run. Rhode Island is undefeated but hasn't been tested. Last year, the Rams were 12-20. Rhode Island is on a 6-15-1 spread run. Play Yale.

Yale is the Ivy League favorite and playing like it with five starters averaging double figures in scoring. They're back in New England after winning two of three at the Atlantic Slam in New Brunswick, Canada, playing three games in three days. The Bulldogs opened that tournament with an easy 68-50 victory over three-time defending Patriot League champion Colgate. Yale is 34-14 ATS on the road against teams that force 12 or fewer turnovers per game, plus 63-29 ATS away from home versus teams that average 6 or fewer steals per contest. They're also 70-55 OVER the total after playing two straight as a favorite. Rhode Island was 9-22 last season and comes into this one having dropped two of three. They lost to Brown of the Ivy League last year, 59-58, a team that Yale swept scoring 81 and 84 points. Rhode Island relies on two players to carry the load while the offense shoots just 61.5% from the free-throw line and turns it over 12.5 times per game. Rhode Island is 52-79 ATS against teams that commit 12 or fewer turnovers game and 10-2 OVER the total versus teams that shoot 45%+ from the field, while Yale is 48-24 ATS on the road as chalk of 6 points or less. Back the visitors in a high-scoring affair. Play Yale + OVER the total.