Fri Oct 11 22:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Harvard Crimson Favored to Beat Cornell Big Red in Ivy League Matchup

**Ithaca, NY -** The Harvard Crimson (2-1) will travel to Ithaca, NY, to face the Cornell Big Red (1-2) on Friday, October 11th at 6 p.m. ET, a game that will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Harvard enters the game as a 11.5 point favorite, with the total points set at 48.5. The Crimson are riding high after a 28-23 victory over New Hampshire, while Cornell suffered a crushing 31-10 defeat at the hands of Albany.

Harvard’s offense has been powered by a strong rushing attack led by Xaviah Bascon, who scored two touchdowns against New Hampshire. Quarterback Jaden Craig has also been impressive, throwing for 599 yards and boasting a 6-1 touchdown to interception ratio. Cornell, on the other hand, struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities against Albany, failing to convert key drives inside the opponent’s 35-yard line.

Analysts point to Cornell’s weak run defense as a major vulnerability, having allowed 674 rushing yards and 5.7 yards per carry in three games. This bodes well for Harvard, who relies heavily on their rushing game. Conversely, Harvard’s defense has shown improvement, particularly in shutting down New Hampshire’s passing attack.

Given Harvard’s offensive and defensive strengths, combined with Cornell’s struggling run defense and recent offensive woes, the Crimson are widely considered the favorites. Analysts predict a comfortable win for Harvard, with the Crimson’s strong running game expected to dominate the game.

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