Southern Utah vs Yale Picks and Odds (Nov. 23)

• The Yale Bulldogs are 1.5-point favorites over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in an opening-round game at the Fort Myers Tip Off tournament
• It’s the first-ever meeting between Yale and Southern Utah
• As well, it’s the first game between Yale and a current member of the Big Sky conference since December 22, 1969

Both the Yale Bulldogs and Southern Utah Thunderbirds are enjoying salad days in their respective men’s basketball programs. Yale has proven dominant of late, while Southern Utah rates among the most prominent mid-major schools in the nation.

For the first time in the history of the two schools, they’ll oppose each other on the hardwood. The Bulldogs and Thunderbirds meet Tuesday in an opening-round game in the Palms Division of the Fort Myers Tip Off tournament in Florida.

It’s the Bulldogs that the oddsmakers are opting to favor as the 1.5-point betting choice. Yale is 3-2 against the spread so far this season.

Yale vs Southern Utah Odds

Odds as of November 22nd at BetMGM.

Tipoff for this game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena is set for 12:00 pm ET. The winner of this game face the winner of the Milwaukee-Bowling Green game in the tournament final.

Yale Bulldogs Betting Trends

After opening the season with consecutive home wins, the 3-2 Bulldogs (3-2) will play the fourth game of a five-game road swing. Among Yale’s three victories was a 20-point home verdict over UMass and a 28-point road decision at Siena.  The Bulldogs’ two losses have come at #22 Seton Hall (80-44) and 61-53 at perennial America East power Vermont.

Named to the Ivy League Honor Roll on Monday, Senior guard Azair Swain leads the Bulldogs in scoring. He’s averaging 17.6 points per game. Swain is coming off back-to-back 20+ point games. He scored 23 in the win at Siena, and 22 in the loss to Vermont.

Some 📸 from today’s practice at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Less than 24 hours away from game time. @FTMyersTipOff #ThisIsYale | #OwnTheFort pic.twitter.com/sr4AhRvN51

— Yale Men's Basketball (@YaleMBasketball) November 22, 2021

Swain recently scored the 1,000th point of his career. He’s also closing in on Yale’s all-time three-point field goals made record. He enters this tournament with 210 treys. That’s 19 shy of Ed Petersen’s school record.

Junior guard Matthue Cotton (12.0 ppg) and senior guard Jalen Gabbidon (10.6 ppg.) are also averaging double figures in points for Yale. Gabbidon also tops the team in rebounding with 6.4 boards per game.

Southern Utah Thunderbirds Betting Trends

It’s been a rough start to the season for the Thunderbirds, who are 1-3. They’ve lost three in a row following a season-opening 116-74 victory over Bethesda.

However, the most recent of those losses should’ve been a victory over the California Golden Bears. Southern Utah sophomore center Jason Spurgin hit a pair of free throws at the 14:02 mark of the second half that should’ve put the Thunderbirds up 43-34. However, he was only credited for one of the free throws, leaving the score showing 42-34.

Statement from @DebCorum on the scoring error that occurred during the men's basketball game between @SUUBasketball and @CalMBBall.

📰 https://t.co/MMBWzJ712P#StormTheSky pic.twitter.com/zv1zoaDmpc

— SUU Thunderbirds ⚡️ (@SUUThunderbirds) November 22, 2021

Despite protestations from Southern Utah coach Todd Simon, game officials never rectified the scoring error. Cal came back to tie and won 75-68 in double overtime.

Redshirt senior guard John Knight III scored 31 points in that game. That’s the highest single-game output from a Big Sky Conference player so far this season. Knight is one of three Thunderbirds averaging double digits in scoring. He’s netting 19.5 points per game. Redshirt senior guard Dre Marin (12.5 ppg) and senior guard Tevian Jones (11.5 ppg) are in double figures as well. Senior forward Maizen Fausett (10.8 rebounds per game) is the team’s top rebounder.

Thunderbirds-Bulldogs Prediction

Yale is in the midst of the most successful era in the history of the program. Over the last six seasons the Bulldogs have posted a 63-21 Ivy League record. During that stretch, they’ve won four league titles. Earning three NCAA Tournament berths, they notched the first March Madness victory in school history.

Taking on an Ivy League 🔜#StormTheSky pic.twitter.com/WBo26ZivCC

— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) November 22, 2021

The Thunderbirds finished 20-4 last year, posting the best winning percentage in school history. They clean the glass effectively. Southern Utah is showing a +10.0 rebounding margin through four games.

The Thunderbirds rely heavily on their starting five. During the double-OT loss to Cal, they combined for 62 of 65 points. Four of them played at least 44 minutes. Knight only came off the floor for 49 seconds.

Pick: Southern Utah Thunderbirds moneyline (+100)