NIT odds lines against the spread over/under total picks predictions

NIT: Cincinnati at Utah Valley odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Cincinnati at Utah Valley NIT quarterfinal odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 4th-seeded Cincinnati Bearcats (23-12) and unseeded Utah Valley Wolverines (27-8) meet Wednesday in a NIT quarterfinal at UCCU Arena in Orem, Utah. Tip is scheduled for approximately 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Cincinnati at Utah Valley odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Despite a higher seed, the Bearcats hit the road for UCCU Arena in Orem because of renovations at Cincinnati’s home arena.

Cincinnati was able to host Virginia Tech in the 1st round, winning 81-72 as a 5.5-point favorite. It played at Hofstra Saturday, winning 79-65 as a 1-point favorite. The Under has cashed in all 4 of Cincinnati’s postseason games to date.

Utah Valley suffered a devastating loss in the WAC Tournament semifinals in an amazing game against Southern Utah. The Wolverines frittered away a 23-point lead in the second half, and were beaten when SUU converted a 4-point play in the final seconds.

Instead of pouting, UVU bounced back with a pair of road wins and covers against New Mexico and Colorado. The Wolverines are averaging 82.0 PPG, while allowing 69.0 PPG in the NIT. Utah Valley is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 games overall.

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Cincinnati at Utah Valley odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Cincinnati -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Utah Valley -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Cincinnati -1.5 (+105) | Utah Valley +1.5 (-125)
Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Cincinnati at Utah Valley picks and predictions

Prediction

Cincinnati 73, Utah Valley 69

Moneyline

CINCINNATI (-110) is a decent play on the moneyline, as the AAC team hits the road for a challenging battle. Utah Valley (-120) has not pouted about its WAC semifinal stunner, but embraced the NIT experience, its 1st in school history. Still, the Bearcats are a seasoned team with the goods to go the distance.

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Against the spread

CINCINNATI -1.5 (+105) is certainly worth a look at plus-money, as the Bearcats should be able to get it done by at least a bucket.

The Bearcats are on a 21-8 ATS run in the last 29 games overall, while cashing in 4 of the last 5 against winning teams.

Utah Valley +1.5 (-125) has been hot against the number, going 21-5 ATS in the last 26 games overall. However, it is just 3-8 ATS in the last 11 home games against a team with a winning road record.

Over/Under

The UNDER 147.5 (-115) is the lean.

The Under has cashed in 4 straight for the Bearcats, while going 3-1-1 in the last 5 against teams with a winning percentage over .600.

For the Wolverines, the Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 games overall, while going 5-2-1 in the last 8 home games against teams with a losing road mark.

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NIT: UAB at Vanderbilt odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s UAB at Vanderbilt NIT quarterfinal odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 4th-seeded UAB Blazers (27-9) and 2nd-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores (22-14) meet Wednesday in a NIT quarterfinal at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UAB at Vanderbilt odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

The Blazers were bounced in the Conference USA Tournament final by Florida Atlantic, who is still alive in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. UAB has rolled in the NIT so far, topping former conference mate Southern Miss and Morehead State by 18 or more points, with an average margin of victory of 23.0 points per game (PPG).

UAB has done it with defense, allowing just 59.5 PPG, while scoring 82.5 PPG, covering both games while cashing the Under in 3 postseason games in a row.

Vanderbilt just missed out on a trip to the Big Dance, falling to Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament semifinals. It has rebounded in the NIT with a pair of victories over Yale (71-62) and Michigan (66-65), splitting against the spread (ATS), while going 2-0 to the Under.

The Commodores have averaged 68.5 PPG in 2 NIT games, while allowing just 63.5 PPG.

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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UAB at Vanderbilt odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:29 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): UAB -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Vanderbilt -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): UAB -1.5 (+105) | Vanderbilt +1.5 (-125)
Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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UAB at Vanderbilt picks and predictions

Prediction

Vanderbilt 71, UAB 66

Moneyline

VANDERBILT (-115) is worth a look on the moneyline, mainly due to the home-court advantage.

UAB (-115) has been dominant in this tournament to date, but wins against USM and Morehead State are a lot different than facing a mid-tier SEC team.

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Against the spread

UAB -1.5 (+105) has been strong in the NIT, but it is still just 5-16-2 ATS in the last 23 road games, while going 6-15-1 ATS in the last 22 games following a cover.

Vandy +1.5 (-125) is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 games overall, while cashing in 6 of the last 7 home games. The Commodores are also 7-2 ATS in the last 9 games against winning teams.

None need to pay more juice with such a small spread. Play the ML. PASS.

Over/Under

The UNDER 153.5 (-115) is the best play on the board.

Both of these teams have been about the Under in the NIT so far. UAB has allowed just 59.5 PPG, and Vandy has conceded just 63.5 PPG. Both teams play a tremendous brand of defense, and there is no way this turns into a track meet in the Music City.

The Over trends are strong for both sides, oddly enough, but the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 for the Blazers against teams with a winning percentage over .600, and 7-3 in the last 10 for the Commodores against teams with a winning percentage over .600.

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NIT: North Texas at Oklahoma State odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s North Texas at Oklahoma State NIT quarterfinal odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 2nd-seeded North Texas Mean Green (28-7) and 1st-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-15) meet Tuesday in a NIT quarterfinal at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. Tip is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the North Texas at Oklahoma State odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

The Mean Green have picked up back-to-back wins in the NIT over Alcorn State and Sam Houston State, averaging 72.0 PPG, while allowing just 54.0 PPG. UNT has split against the spread (ATS), as well as on the Over-Under in 2 NIT games.

The Cowboys had to go on the road in the first NIT game at Youngstown State, winning 69-64 while pushing at most shops. Despite a No. 1 seed, it had to hit the road because Gallagher-Iba Arena was being used for wrestling championships. OSU topped Eastern Washington 71-60, just missing a cover as an 11.5-point favorite.

The Under is 4-0 in 4 postseason games and Oklahoma State has allowed 58.5 PPG in those 4 outings, allowing 64 or fewer points in each game.

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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North Texas at Oklahoma State odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:45 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): North Texas +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Oklahoma State -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): North Texas +4.5 (-110) | Oklahoma State 4.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 124.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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North Texas at Oklahoma State picks and predictions

Prediction

Oklahoma State 66, North Texas 57

Moneyline

Oklahoma State (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s just a tad bit too expensive, even for a home team playing very well.

AVOID.

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Against the spread

OKLAHOMA STATE -4.5 (-110) is a much better value. Gallagher-Iba Arena should be rocking on Tuesday night, and the Cowboys have been playing with a chip on their shoulder, trying to show that the NCAA Tournament committee made a mistake leaving them as the last team out.

While Oklahoma State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 home games, that was against top-tier Big 12 talent in an ultra-competitive league. It’s 5-0 SU and ATS in the last 5 home games against non-conference teams.

Over/Under

The UNDER 124.5 (-115) is worth a look in this NIT quarterfinals battle, as each of these teams were tremendous defensively during the regular season.

North Texas closed out the regular season on a 3-0 Under run, allowing just 33 points in the regular-season final against Western Kentucky. UNT was No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (55.6 PPG). OSU ranked 54th in the country, yielding 65.9 PPG, while holding teams to just 39.6% in field-goal percentage, good for 12th.

The Under is also 4-0 in the last 4 games for Oklahoma State, while going 3-0-1 in the last 4 home games. The Under is 7-3 in the last 10 at home against teams with a winning road record, too.

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NIT: Oklahoma State at Youngstown State odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Oklahoma State at Youngstown State odds and lines, with college basketball picks, predictions and best bets

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The 1-seed Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-16) meet the 8-seed Youngstown State Penguins (17-15) Wednesday in the 1st round of the NIT. Tip from Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Oklahoma State vs. Youngstown State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Oklahoma State hits the road despite a No. 1 seed, as the school is hosting the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Stillwater this weekend. If it advances, it will host in the 2nd round. The Cowboys will be making their 13th appearance in the NIT and 1st as the No. 1 seed. It last appeared in the 2018 NIT, making its deepest run to the quarterfinals.

The Cowboys were the first team out in the NCAA Tournament selection process after going 18-15 straight up (SU), including 6 Quad 1 wins. But non-conference losses to Southern Illinois, UCF and Virginia Tech weighed heavily against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State also struggled down the stretch, losing 5 in a row from Feb. 14-27, albeit against 5 NCAA Tournament teams. It didn’t fare well after G Avery Anderson III went down with an injury. He was averaging 11.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.5 SPG while hitting 82.3% of his free throws.

The Penguins won the regular-season title in the Horizon League, but it came up short against Cleveland State in the tournament semifinals, having to settle for an NIT bid. Youngstown State enters the NIT 0-4 ATS in the last 4 games, while scoring 71 or fewer points in 3 of the last 4 outings.

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Oklahoma State at Youngstown State odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 11:18 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Oklahoma State -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Youngstown +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
Against the spread (ATS): Oklahoma State -5.5 (-115) | Youngstown +5.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Oklahoma State at Youngstown State picks and predictions

Prediction

Oklahoma State 76, Youngstown State 69

Moneyline

Oklahoma State (-260) will cost you more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s too expensive for a standalone bet.

AVOID, and focus on the spread instead.

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Against the spread

OKLAHOMA STATE -5.5 (-115) is worth playing lightly, but go with a small-unit wager at best.

It’s a tough assignment for the Cowboys, hitting the road to face a 24-win team due to scheduling conflicts. Oklahoma State just missed being an NCAA Tournament team, and it has faced much larger obstacles than a trip to Youngstown, Ohio.

The Penguins have failed to cover the last 4 games, while the Cowboys have picked up covers in 2 of the previous 3 outings. Neither team has been hot against the number, but someone has to cover, so take the much better team.

Over/Under

UNDER 148.5 (-105) is lean, but again, go lightly with a half-unit play at most.

Oklahoma State’s offense has been a little erratic without Anderson running the point. It averaged just 52.0 PPG in 2 games in the Big 12 Tournament, and the Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 games overall for the Cowboys.

Youngstown State’s offense was also off in the Horizon League Tournament, going for 67.0 PPG in 2 games, which was well below the team’s regular-season average of 83.4 PPG. Facing a top-tier team like Oklahoma State won’t help snap YSU’s offense on track, either.

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NIT: Seton Hall at Colorado odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Seton Hall at Colorado odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 6-seed Seton Hall Pirates (17-15) face the 3-seed Colorado Buffaloes (17-16) Tuesday in the 1st round of the National Invitational Tournament. Tip from CU Events Center in Boulder is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Seton Hall vs. Colorado odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The Pirates were stunned in their opening game of the Big East Tournament by lowly DePaul, and Seton Hall has now dropped 4 of its last 5 games overall. Coach Shaheen Holloway, who led St. Peter’s on a magical NCAA Tournament run last season, was unable to duplicate the feat this season with the Pirates.

Seton Hall hits the road, and that’s been a good thing in recent times. The Pirates won outright at Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, St. John’s and UConn since Jan. 10, going 5-2 straight up (SU) and 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the last 7 games away from home.

The Buffaloes started out well enough, but really hit the skids in mid-January once the conference schedule kicked into full gear. Colorado was 11-6 SU after conference wins against Oregon and Oregon State in Boulder in early January, then it all went south.

CU is just 6-10 SU and 6-9-1 ATS in the last 16 games overall. Colorado has struggled as a home favorite, too, 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 such situations.

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Seton Hall at Colorado odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:53 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Seton Hall +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Colorado -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Seton Hall +4.5 (-120) | Colorado -4.5 (+100)
Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Seton Hall at Colorado picks and predictions

Prediction

Colorado 68, Seton Hall 66

Moneyline

Colorado (-190) is a little too expensive for my liking, just over my personal moneyline limit of -180 for a standalone wager.

Even as part of a multi-team parlay, including Colorado sucks the value out of your ticket.

AVOID, and focus on the spread of this close game instead.

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Against the spread

SETON HALL +4.5 (-120) is the play on the road, in what should be a low-scoring battle with points at quite the premium.

Both Seton Hall and Colorado -4.5 (+100) have very deliberate offensive attacks, and the defense is very good. During the regular season, Colorado limited teams to 66.3 PPG while Seton Hall yielded just 65.1 PPG.

Over/Under

UNDER 137.5 (-110) is play, but go with a half-unit play at most.

Each of these teams have played solid defense this season, and the offense on each side is rather slow at best.

Seton Hall isn’t a great free-throw shooting team, either, hitting just 68.3%. It leaves a lot points on the floor, which is maddening to Over bettors. Colorado does the same, hitting just a little better at 69.1%.

If either of these teams gets into the 70s it would be rather shocking.

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NIT: Villanova at Liberty odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Villanova at Liberty odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 6-seed Villanova Wildcats (17-16) face the 3-seed Liberty Flames (26-8) Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. Tip from Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Va., is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Villanova vs. Liberty odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

It was an up-and-down season for Villanova in the 1st season under the leadership of coach Kyle Neptune. However, the new coach had this team playing hard down the stretch, and Villanova really jelled as a group.

The Wildcats head on the road for this NIT game, but could easily be favored. It won its final 2 road games outright, and Villanova is a solid 7-4 ATS in the last 11 games overall.

Liberty was stunned by Kennesaw State Owls in the final seconds of the Atlantic Sun Championship. The Flames and Owls saw 9 lead changes, and 10 times the teams were tied in the title game. With just 0.7 seconds left, a shooting foul was called on Liberty’s Isiah Warfield, and the Owls took advantage with a successful free throw to snuff out the Flames.

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Villanova at Liberty odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 11:15 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Villanova +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Liberty -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Villanova +3.5 (-115) | Liberty -3.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Villanova at Liberty picks and predictions

Prediction

Villanova 75, Liberty 71

Moneyline

VILLANOVA (+130) heads down to Lynchburg looking to keep its season alive. The Wildcats won’t be fazed by a road game in front of a raucous crowd, as this team just played at Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament, and have been on the road in difficult environments all season.

In fact, Villanova has won its past 2 true road games, including at Xavier as a 4.5-point underdog on Feb. 21 at Cintas Center.

Liberty (-165) lost both of its games against top-flight conference teams this season by double digits, including a 36-point loss at Alabama, and a 14-point loss t Northwestern on a neutral floor.

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Against the spread

VILLANOVA +3.5 (-115) has managed a 5-2 ATS mark in 7 road games as an underdog this season, including the outright win at Xavier, and a near-miss earlier in the season against Michigan State. Again, ‘Nova won’t be fazed by playing at Liberty.

The Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 games after a straight-up (SU) loss, and a non-cover, too.

Liberty -3.5 (-110) is an impressive 14-2 ATS in the last 16 at home. On the other hand, the Flames are a dismal 1-6 ATS in the last 7 games against teams with a winning overall record.

Over/Under

OVER 137.5 (-110) is worth playing lightly.

The Over is 6-2 in the last 8 games overall for the Flames, while cashing at a 16-7 clip in the last 23 road games for the Wildcats against teams with a winning home record.

One thing to really like about Villanova if you play the Over, it is a great free-throw shooting team. During the regular season, according to covers.com, this team led the nation at 82.3%. The ‘Cats don’t leave free points on the floor.

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NIT: Toledo at Michigan odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Toledo at Michigan odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions & best bets.

The 6-seed Toledo Rockets (27-7) face the 3-seed Michigan Wolverines (17-15) Tuesday in the 1st round of the National Invitational Tournament. Tip from Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich., is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Toledo vs. Michigan odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Toledo came up short as the top-seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, and failed to secure its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1980.

Still, the Rockets are on a 17-1 SU roll since Jan. 10, while covering 6 of the last 7 games. This is a prolific offense, rolling up 85.7 PPG in the regular season (2nd in the nation). Toledo was also No. 2 in 3-pointer percentage (40.5%), while checking in No. 5 in field-goal percentage (49.6%). Defensively, Toledo was a train wreck, yielding 76.1 PPG, and it was even worse in the MAC tourney with 81.0 PPG allowed in 3 outings.

Michigan limped to the finish line of the regular season with 2 straight OT losses to Indiana and Illinois, and it needed a strong showing in the Big Ten Conference tourney. It didn’t get it, getting bounced 62-50 in the 1st game by Rutgers. That snapped a 5-0 ATS run, while the Under result halted a 3-0 Over streak.

Michigan was a so-so offense in the regular season, going for 73.8 PPG, and it wasn’t great defensively either, allowing 69.6 PPG, which was middle of the pack. One alarming stat is a 70.3% free-throw percentage, which won’t serve Michigan well in potentially close games in the NIT.

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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Toledo at Michigan odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:41 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Toledo +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Michigan -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Toledo +6.5 (-115) | Michigan -6.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 161.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Toledo at Michigan picks and predictions

Prediction

Toledo 83, Michigan 81

Moneyline

TOLEDO (+210) heads up US 23 to Michigan (-280) on a mission, looking to prove that it deserved an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Some of these mid-major teams who come up short tend to enter the NIT with a chip on their shoulder, and I think Toledo will be no exception.

The Rockets have a red-hot offense, and it will be a huge test for the defense of the Wolverines. Toledo has scored 78 or more points in 9 consecutive games since Feb. 11, and there is no reason to believe it won’t happen here, either.

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Against the spread

TOLEDO +6.5 (-115) is still a tremendous play catching more than 3 buckets, if you just can’t bring yourself to bet it straight up.

Michigan -6.5 (-105) is not like Toledo, and likely unhappy to be in an NIT game. Sure, it’s nice to be in front of your fans, but the Wolverines are highly disappointed in not making the NCAA Tournament field. A postseason bid in a lower-level tournament doesn’t have the same pizzazz as it does for a mid-major team happy to receive any postseason invitation. Look for the Rockets to come out with more energy.

Over/Under

OVER 161.5 (-110) is a rather big number, but it’s still not enough.

The Over is 5-1 in the last 6 games overall for Toledo, while going 4-1 in the last 5 games on the road, too. Toledo has posted 90 or more points in 11 occasions, while hitting the century mark 4 times this season.

For Michigan, the Over is 5-2 in the last 7 home games, while cashing at a 5-0 clip in the last 5 at home against teams with a winning road mark.

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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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