A pair of undefeated Ivy League athletic programs will square off this Friday and not at a rowing regatta. No, the Friday evening bout pits No. 23-ranked Harvard against academic rival Yale on the NCAA basketball betting line.

Though hardly known for their success on the hard court, the Harvard Crimson have emerged as a threat on the national level. With alumni Jeremy Lin representing the institution in the NBA, the academic juggernaut is starting to announce its presence in the NCAA.

Harvard may remain a far cry from contending for the national tournament next spring, but their odds of winning at March Madness are vastly improved compared to what they’ve been historically. If the school can continue to thrive in the Ivy Standings over the course of the season, a conference championship could boost them further up the list.

But regardless of whether the Crimson can knock off the 12-4 Yale Bulldogs (2-0 in Ivy play), Harvard may find themselves underdogs on the college basketball betting lines due to their reputation alone. They didn’t build their academic-driven culture over night, and they certainly won’t reverse it either.

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