The Xavier Musketeers (22-13) and the Texas A&M Aggies (27-12) meet Thursday for the NIT Championship Game. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden in New York is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Xavier vs. Texas A&M odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Xavier missed a chance to compete in March Madness when it lost its opening game of the Big East Tournament and a host of upsets in other league tourneys came through. However, instead of pouting, XU has rattled off four straight wins to get to MSG for the NIT title game.
The Aggies were in the same boat as the Musketeers. In fact, Texas A&M was probably ticketed for the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 68 until Richmond and Virginia Tech pulled off shocking league tourney wins.
Texas A&M is not only 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS in the NIT so far through four games, but the Aggies have registered each win by at least 12 points. Defensively, the Aggies have allowed 65 or fewer points in five straight, hitting the Under in each of those outings.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Xavier vs. Texas A&M odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:05 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Xavier +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Texas A&M -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Xavier +4.5 (-112) | Texas A&M -4.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Xavier vs. Texas A&M odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Texas A&M 72, Xavier 63
Money line
Texas A&M (-205) is a little on the steep side for a straight-up play. While it has won each of the four NIT games by 12 or more points, it’s too much risk for not enough reward.
PASS.
Against the spread
TEXAS A&M -4.5 (-108) is a good bet to cover, win this game handily, and claim the NIT Championship. It will be a nice bit of redemption for the Aggies and head coach Buzz Williams, who believed A&M was robbed of an NCAA Tournament chance.
Over/Under
The UNDER 137.5 (-112) is worth a small-unit play here.
While Xavier has cashed the Under in just two of its last four games, the Under has connected in five in a row for Texas A&M. The Aggies defense has had it on lockdown, allowing 65 or fewer points in each of those five outings. Look for Texas A&M to continue tossing a blanket on the opposition one final time.
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