Yale Bulldogs vs Northeastern Huskies Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 2

Both teams sit at 1-2, but Yale leans on Riley Fox at 18.7 points per game in a near pick em spot in Boston.

The Matchup

Yale travels to the Cabot Center in Boston to face Northeastern with both teams at 1-2 and searching for footing. Yale, from the Ivy League, has scored 69.3 points per game and allowed 79.7 this season, numbers that look nothing like last season when the Bulldogs went 24-7, scored 81.3 per game and allowed 70.9. Northeastern, from the Coastal Athletic Association, has scored 77.0 per game and allowed 86.7 this season after a 7-24 campaign last season.

The numbers here blend this season with last season because both teams have played fewer than eight games, and for Yale that blend reflects a program that won at a high level last season but has defended poorly through three games this fall with a reshaped rotation finding its roles. Riley Fox leads Yale at 18.7 points per game, with Daniel Ogunyemi adding 8.3 rebounds per game and Jordan Brathwaite contributing 3.0 assists per game.

Northeastern counters with Rashad King at 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Fox, Ogunyemi and King carry no injury designations.

Key Factors

This game turns on whether Yale can defend for a full night. Northeastern will score, because King is a proven high usage option and the Huskies already average 77.0 points per game, but Northeastern has allowed 86.7 per game and gave up points in bunches last season as well. Yale has more two way balance in its recent history, and Fox gives the Bulldogs a closer who can create a good shot late.

The counterpoint is real and specific. Yale has allowed 79.7 points per game this season, and if that defense travels to Boston, King can take over and Northeastern wins at home behind its crowd. Yale also cannot afford a slow start from its supporting cast, because Fox alone will not beat a team that can match his scoring through King. Still, in a game priced this tight, the side with the stronger program baseline and the steadier late game scorer holds the edge.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.