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Here are the latest College Basketball betting odds for the Harvard vs. Connecticut game December 8, 2011. Get up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account at Sportsbook.com here. Use promo code GAMBLING911
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Connecticut -5.5 & 129
No. 25 Harvard will face a major test in its first game as a top-25 team in school history when the Crimson travel to play No. 9 Connecticut on Thursday night in Storrs.
These teams nearly collided 12 days ago at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, but while Harvard upended Florida State in the semis, the Huskies were upset by Central Florida. But while the Crimson went on to win that tournament, there’s no doubt that the Huskies are the better team. UConn blew Harvard out of the building at Hartford a year ago, winning 81-52, and the Huskies have won each of their five home games by double-digits.
Harvard has been winning with a slow-tempo, defensive-minded style that gives them a shot at the upset. The Crimson beat Florida State in the Bahamas 46-41, one of five opponents they’ve held under 50 points. They’re 312 out of 345 teams in adjusted tempo so far, which is why senior power forward Keith Wright currently leads the team with just 11.4 PPG. Forward Kyle Casey (10.9 PPG) and guard Laurent Rivard (10.1 PPG) are the only other Crimson players averaging in double-figures.
A year ago, Harvard shot just 30.0% from the field in a lopsided loss to the Huskies, but Wright had a solid game (18 points on 8-for-12 shooting).
UConn has far more firepower than any team Harvard has faced. Since returning from the Bahamas, where it beat Florida State in overtime to take third place, UConn scored a 75-62 home win over Arkansas on Saturday. Star shooting guard Jeremy Lamb played only 26 minutes in that game because of foul trouble, and his 14 points was his lowest output of the season. Freshman Ryan Boatright, an undersized scorer in the Kemba Walker mold, shined in his second career game. Coming off the bench, Boatright had 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and six assists. He had scored 14 points, including three late free throws to force overtime, in his debut against Florida State (Boatright missed the season’s first six games while serving an NCAA suspension for receiving improper benefits).
UConn also has point guard Shabazz Napier (16.8 PPG, 6.1 APG) to push the tempo, which will be a key in this matchup of contrasting styles. The Huskies outrebounded Harvard 42-31 in last year’s matchup, and have a serious size advantage again with a low-post rotation of 6-foot-9 Tyler Olander (7.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG), 6-foot-11 Andre Drummond (7.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG) and 6-foot-9 Alex Oriakhi (6.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
