[11:05 PM] Harvard @ Stanford

Who will WIN this matchup?

Harvard Crimson (0-0)

@ Stanford Cardinal (0-0)

 

Current odds:

Harvard Crimson: (+159)

Stanford Cardinal: (-180)

 

• ESPN simulations have Stanford as 66.5% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Stanford to win as (-180) favorites.

• The Cardinal were picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 preseason media poll but have reason for optimism with 10 of their top 11 scorers returning from a year ago. Stanford enters the season at full strength, which wasn’t the case last season as starting point guard Robert Cartwright missed the entire year with a broken arm and forward Reid Travis played just eight games because of a stress reaction in his left leg.

• The Crimson took a step back last season as point guard Siyani Chambers missed the entire year with a torn ACL, but the senior appeared fully healthy in last Thursday’s 78-63 exhibition win over MIT with nine points, four assists and four rebounds.

• The veteran Harvard squad includes big man Zena Edosomwan (12 double-doubles last season) and senior guard Corbin Miller, who ranks seventh in program history with 146 career 3-pointers. Guard Bryce Aiken had a team-high 17 points and five rebounds in the exhibition victory and could see extensive playing time as a freshman.

• The Cardinal lost leading scorer Rosco Allen but have the pieces in place to contend for a conference title if Travis and Cartwright can regain their pre-injury form while freshmen forwards Stanback and Kodye Pugh make an immediate impact. Haase also will need to see continued growth from promising wings Marcus Sheffield and Dorian Pickens, who averaged 15.5 points over the final eight games last season.

• Stanford has won 26 of its last 28 season openers.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Stanford Cardinal

Confidence: 5/10

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