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Columbia heads to New Haven for an Ivy League game against Yale on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. It’s at the John J. Lee Amphitheater, it’s on ESPN+, and Yale is laying 8.5 with a total of 154.5. That number is basically the market saying Yale’s offense is real and Columbia will have to score with them, not just hang around.
Columbia is 12-5 and coming off an 86-80 loss at Brown where they still scored well enough to win most nights. Yale is 13-3 and just ran Cornell out of the gym 102-68, so the momentum angle points hard toward the home side. The question for bettors is whether Yale’s ceiling is worth paying for at more than two possessions, or if Columbia’s rebounding and shot-making keep this closer than the spread suggests.
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Columbia Lions vs Yale Bulldogs Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated college basketball odds before tipoff. You can track movement on the latest Columbia vs Yale odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Lions | +318 | +8.5 (-109) | O 154.5 |
| Yale Bulldogs | -427 | -8.5 (-115) | U 154.5 |
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Columbia Lions Betting Form
Columbia’s offense is more legitimate than most casual bettors assume when they see “Ivy.” They’re efficient from the field, they shoot it well from three, and they don’t need to manufacture points with gimmicks. Kenny Noland is the kind of scorer who can keep you afloat in tough environments because he doesn’t have to be spoon-fed, and that matters a lot in a road underdog spot.
What really makes Columbia interesting as a spread team is the rebounding. When you rebound like they do, you give yourself extra chances and you can survive a few empty trips without letting the game break open. That’s a big deal against Yale because Yale’s offense can create separation quickly if you’re trading one-and-done possessions for clean looks on the other end.
The concern is obvious, though. They just gave up 86 to Brown, and even if you’re scoring, you still have to get stops somewhere. If Columbia’s defensive possessions end with fouls or open threes, the +8.5 can get uncomfortable fast.
| Player | Pos | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report |
Yale Bulldogs Betting Form
Yale is priced like a team that can score on anybody, and their recent results back that up. They’re efficient from the field, they stretch you with shooting, and when the ball is moving they get easy points that don’t feel like they should exist at this level. The Cornell game is the perfect example, because it wasn’t just a win, it was a scoreboard that forces the market to react.
At home they’ve been reliable, 8-1 in this building, and they tend to start games with purpose. That matters when you’re laying 8.5, because you want a favorite that can build a lead without needing a late surge. Yale also has enough depth and secondary creation that they don’t collapse when the first option gets taken away.
The one soft spot, if you’re looking for it, is that Yale can be a little dependent on shooting to create margin. If the threes aren’t falling and the opponent is cleaning the glass, you can get a game that stays in the single digits longer than the market expects.
| Player | Pos | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report |
Columbia Lions vs Yale Bulldogs Matchup Breakdown
This game is basically offense versus offense with a rebounding subplot. Yale’s edge is shot quality and spacing, and they can turn a normal possession into a great look quickly. Columbia’s counter is that they’re efficient enough to score back, and they can create extra possessions with rebounding, which is one of the better ways for an underdog to keep contact without playing perfect.
The pace is important because the total is up at 154.5. If this turns into a more typical Ivy half-court game, that number is going to feel high even if both teams shoot well. If it turns into a more open, early-clock shot game, then the total starts to make sense and the spread becomes harder to cover because variance creeps in.
From a side perspective, the key stretch is usually the middle ten minutes of each half. Yale’s best runs tend to come when opponents miss a few shots and stop getting second chances. Columbia has to avoid that by finishing possessions, getting back in transition, and not turning it into a foul parade. If they do that, they can lose and still cover comfortably.
Columbia Lions vs Yale Bulldogs Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Columbia +8.5. Yale is the better team and I get why they’re favored, but 8.5 in conference play is a number that asks for sustained separation, not just a “win at home” script. Columbia’s shooting and rebounding profile gives them a real path to stay within two or three possessions most of the way, even if Yale closes better late.
If you’re betting Yale -8.5, you’re betting that Yale’s offense is going to be clean again and that Columbia’s defense won’t hold up for 40 minutes. That can happen, especially if Yale hits threes early and forces Columbia to chase the game. The problem is that chasing also creates more possessions for the underdog to backdoor, and Columbia is good enough offensively to take advantage of that.
On the total, I lean Under 154.5. Both teams can score, but that number assumes a lot of smooth possessions and a pace that stays elevated. Ivy games often tighten when the game matters, and the first thing that disappears is early-clock freedom. If this is competitive late, you can get longer possessions and more careful shot selection, which helps an under.
Best Bet: Columbia Lions +8.5 (-109).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting college basketball daily, it helps to treat it like a market, not a set of isolated games. Comparing multiple games on the same slate makes it easier to spot when a spread is inflated by a recent final score or a headline performance. The today’s college basketball picks page is a good tool for that because it keeps the focus on numbers and matchups, not narratives.
It also pays to have a consistent framework for sides and totals, especially once conference play ramps up. Pace control, shot profile, rebounding, and foul-driven scoring are repeatable inputs, and you can apply the same thinking across leagues. If you want a broader process view, an expert betting guide style approach translates well to college hoops. And when you’re scanning team context across the sport, the NCAAB teams hub is useful for staying organized.
