Cornell vs. Columbia betting: College basketball preview for Jan. 5

Data Skrive
Data Skrive

The Cornell Big Red (7-6, 0-0 Ivy League) are just 2.5-point favorites as they look to build on a four-game home winning streak when they host the Columbia Lions (11-3, 0-0 Ivy League) on Monday, January 5, 2026 at Newman Arena. The matchup airs at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The over/under for the matchup is set at 171.5.

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Cornell Cover -2.5 vs Columbia -110

Bet $20, Payout $38.18

Cornell vs. Columbia betting lines

  • Cornell moneyline odds to win: -142
  • Columbia moneyline odds to win: +119
  • Spread: Cornell (-2.5)
  • Total: 171.5

Cornell statistics, trends and more

As the home team

  • Cornell has done a better job covering the spread in road games (4-5-0) than it has at home (0-2-0).
  • At home, the Big Red go over the total 50% of the time (one of two games). They hit the over more often in road games, exceeding the total in 77.8% of games (seven of nine).
  • As a moneyline favorite, Cornell has the same winning percentage at home compared to on the road (1.000).

Last season stats

  • Last year, the Big Red were fourth-best in the country offensively (85.1 points scored per game) and ranked 318th defensively (77.5 points allowed).
  • Cornell collected 32.3 rebounds per game and conceded 30.6 boards last season, ranking 162nd and 142nd, respectively, in college basketball.
  • At 19.0 assists per game, the Big Red were second-best in the country last season.

Cornell betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 4-7-0 (Home: 0-2-0; Away: 4-5-0)
  • ATS Record When Favored by 2.5+: 3-2-0 (As Favorite: 3-2-0; As Underdog: 1-5-0)
  • O-U-P: 8-3-0 (Home: 1-1-0; Away: 7-2-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 5-0 (Home: 2-0; Away: 3-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-6 (Home: 0-0; Away: 0-6)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
50.5 (24th in nation) 47.0 (318th) 34.2 (128th) 31.1 (177th) 22.9 (first) 12.7 (277th)

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Columbia statistics, trends and more

As the away team

  • Columbia has been better against the spread at home (5-0-0) than away (4-3-0) this season.
  • In 2025-26, a higher percentage of the Lions’ games have finished above the over/under at home (60%, three of five) compared to away (57.1%, four of seven).

Last season stats

  • On offense, the Lions put up 78.4 points per game (68th-ranked in college basketball) last year. They surrendered 78.1 points per contest at the other end (327th-ranked).
  • Columbia averaged 31.7 boards per game (188th-ranked in college basketball). It allowed 31.1 rebounds per contest (172nd-ranked).
  • The Lions were one of the top teams in college basketball in terms of assists, as they delivered 17.4 per game (sixth-best in college basketball).

Columbia betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 9-3-0 (Home: 5-0-0; Away: 4-3-0)
  • ATS Record When Underdog by 2.5+: 1-1-0 (As Favorite: 8-2-0; As Underdog: 1-1-0)
  • O-U-P: 7-5-0 (Home: 3-2-0; Away: 4-3-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 9-1 (Home: 5-0; Away: 4-1)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-1 (Home: 0-0; Away: 0-1)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
49.6 (34th in nation) 39.8 (42nd) 39.3 (13th) 25.6 (seventh) 17.4 (47th) 12.7 (277th)
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