The Columbia Lions take on the Cornell Big Red in Ithaca, New York. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Cornell is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -148. The total is set at 172.5 points.
Here’s my Columbia vs. Cornell predictions and college basketball picks for January 5, 2026.
Columbia vs Cornell Prediction
My Pick: Over 169.5
My Columbia vs Cornell best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Columbia vs. Cornell Odds, Spread
| Columbia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 172.5 -110 / -110 | +124 |
| Cornell Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 172.5 -110 / -110 | -148 |
- Columbia vs Cornell spread: Cornell -2.5
- Columbia vs Cornell over/under: 172.5 points
- Columbia vs Cornell moneyline: Columbia +124, Cornell -148
Columbia vs Cornell NCAAB Betting Preview
Columbia Basketball
Columbia is enjoying a resurgent campaign in Kevin Hovde's first season on campus. The Lions' last winning season came in 2016 under Kyle Smith, and Hovde, who was an assistant on that staff, is looking to buck the trend.
Just like Smith and Todd Golden, Hovde is all about winning the possession battle. The Lions maximize their possessions by grabbing offensive boards at a 37% clip (31st nationally) while holding teams to a 25% offensive rebound rate (25th nationally).
Offensively, the Lions will have to shoot it well to keep pace with Cornell. They have a stud guard in Kenny Noland, who averages over 16 points per game and hits 40% of his 3s.
Columbia surrounds Noland with an array of shooters, which is why the Lions shoot 38% from downtown. Forward Blair Thompson plays a key role (47% from deep), and guard Gerard O'Keefe drills 44% from deep.
Another advantage that Hovde will look to exploit is the Lions' size difference. With 6-foot-9 Mason Ritter and 6-foot-10 Ryan Soulis settling into starting roles, Columbia has three starters that stand 6-foot-7 or taller. That should give Columbia the boost it wants on the boards.
The Lions rank 125th in KenPom's defensive efficiency. They excel at holding teams from scoring inside, limiting opponents 47.9% shooting on 2s (59th nationally).
Cornell Basketball
Take everything I just said about Columbia, and realize it's the exact opposite for Cornell. All you have to do is look back to last week, when Cornell scored 97 points against Michigan State. However, it allowed 114 points in an uneven road loss.
The Big Red play an entertaining style to watch, but it doesn't always translate to wins. Tempo-wise, Cornell loves to push, playing at the 13th-fastest tempo in the country.
Offense is the name of Cornell's game, as it ranks 60th in offensive efficiency. Jon Jaques has a squad filled with shooters, and they shoot 3s on 50% of their attempts (they make 40%).
Plus, Cornell is terrific at cutting to the hoop. That somewhat atones for the lack of a post option, as it allows Cornell to shoot 57% on 2s.
Three scorers account for over 50 points per game. Cooper Noard is the star of the squad, tallying 19 points a night, while Adam Hinton and Jake Fiegen each add 14 per game.
While the Big Red boast the second-best offense among the Ivies, they have the worst defense by a wide margin. They rank 338th in defensive efficiency and sit outside the top 300 in 2-point and 3-point field goal defense.
On the off chance that Cornell gets a stop, it also ranks 173rd in defensive rebound rate.
Columbia vs. Cornell Betting Analysis
It's not unusual for Cornell to allow 90+ points to teams that don't play super fast — just look at the Towson and George Mason games, a pair of teams outside the top 300 in adjusted tempo that each dropped 90+ points.
I could see the Lions doing the same, especially given their strong shooting.
I see a very high-scoring game here. Between the elite shooting of both squads and Cornell's pace, this spot screams over.
My Pick: Over 169.5
