YALE BULLDOGS @ BAY

Baylor’s pressure defense is an early calling card

Baylor forced 34 turnovers and recorded 21 steals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, tying its program record; Yale’s ability to handle that pressure is a key matchup.

Yale needs a steadier second half

Yale led UCF at halftime before the Knights’ decisive 13-0 run changed the game; foul trouble also hurt the Bulldogs.

Celiscar faces his former team

Baylor junior forward Isaac Celiscar transferred from Yale, making this his first game against the Bulldogs as a Bear.

A rematch of a memorable tournament upset

Yale won the teams’ first meeting 79-75 in the 2016 NCAA Tournament; this is the second meeting and the Bulldogs’ first trip to Waco.

No public lineup or injury update in the preview

Baylor’s official game preview does not announce starting lineups or report player injuries.

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

Lean Yale +18.5

If the spread remains Baylor -18.5, consider Yale +18.5; available efficiency-margin figures imply a roughly 17-point gap before home-court adjustment, but the tiny sample warrants a modest stake.

Pass on Baylor at a steep moneyline price

Pass on Baylor around -6000: the small payout offers little value relative to the risk, making the spread more practical.

Small lean to the over at 157

Lean over 157 because the teams’ combined scoring averages through two games exceed that total, though the results came against different opponents.