A couple of teams that finished in the middle of the pack of their respective conference’s regular season standings will square off for the right of being coined the 2022 NIT tournament champion when the Xavier Musketeers square off against the Texas A&M Aggies on the hallowed grounds of MSG. Not that it matters, but the former was the No. 2 seed in its region while the latter clocked in as the No. 1 seed in theirs. While each squad’s regular season efforts weren’t enough to lock up at-large invites to the Big Dance, each team has swept that disappointment under the rug and played their hearts out to reach the title game. Maybe Buzz Williams was onto something when he typed up that nine-page dossier on why his kids ultimately should’ve been in the NCAA tournament. Regardless, the Aggies are installed favorites to cut down the nets at online sportsbooks and I can’t help but agree with that sentiment as dominant A&M has been throughout its journey to get here. While the X-Men aren’t pushovers and are playing their best ball of the season, I’ve got A&M more than a few possessions better on a neutral court.
Take the NIT Championship game in live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET from the Madison Square Garden on Thursday, March 31, 2022. BookMaker.eu will have NCAA basketball odds available for this and every game lined up for today’s college hoops schedule.
NIT Championship Odds at BookMaker.eu
Xavier Musketeers +4
Texas A&M Aggies -4
Total 137.5
Odds Analysis
Texas A&M hit the board as 4-point favorites to win this tilt with the total lined at 137.5. The number looks a bit light to me, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the Aggies got steamed. Buzz’s troops have been sensational moneymakers for college basketball bettors since tournament play began in going 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS with the lone defeat coming against Tennessee in the SEC tournament title game. As for Xavier, it hasn’t been nearly as lucrative losing outright to Butler in its lone Big East tourney matchup, and only managing a 2-2 ATS showing in its four played NIT games. The total is already on the rise with it up as much as a full point from the opener in some spots. Surprising regardless of the Musketeers last two games playing to high scorers; A&M has only cashed two over tickets in its last eight games with all four NIT skirmishes playing to low scorers.
Xavier Musketeers
The X-Men had no issue whatsoever disposing of St. Bonaventure en route to punching a ticket into the finals. The trio of Adam Kunkel, Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle each went for 18 points apiece to help keep the Bonnies at an arm’s length throughout the game’s entirety. Though the Musketeers allowed Dominick Welch and company to put 56 points on the board in the second half, they still went on to log the 84-77 outright win and cover as 2-point underdogs per the closing college basketball betting lines. That being said, they held a commanding 15 point lead at the break and held the Bonnies to just 23 total points. Xavier will march the better offense onto the hardwood in this matchup, but A&M’s No. 29 ranked defense will present a stiff test.
Texas A&M Aggies
Very impressive! These are the scoring outputs of the Aggies last five opponents: 65, 62, 60, 52, 56. The latter occurred in the semis versus Washington State whom it smacked by 16 points to easily cover the closing 2-point spread; looks like that game day Texas A&M steam was warranted! Quenton Jackson led the offensive charge with a game-high 18 points with Henry Coleman III (16) and Manny Obaseki (14) the only other two double-digit scorers. It wasn’t the offense that ultimately propelled the team into the title game. The defense held the Cougars to its lowest scoring output since the middle of February by way of limiting Michael Flowers and Co. to a 35 percent showing from the field which included an ugly 7 of 29 showing from beyond the arc.
Xavier vs. Texas A&M Betting Prediction
Shame on me for stepping in front of the Aggies on Tuesday night! Had I not, it would’ve been a nice little two-game sweep after Xavier scored the upset in the prior game. Regardless, this A&M defense has been proving that it’s no joke since the season was dramatically turned around in the middle of February. For the Musketeers to have any shot in this one, they’re going to need to get hot from deep. With it ranked No. 252 from downtown, it isn’t likely. A&M is simply playing too suffocating a brand of defense right now for a Musketeers squad currently running on adrenaline to contend with. This is the game the absence of Paul Scruggs rears its ugly head. After getting overlooked by the selection committee, I firmly expect Buzz’s kids to be out to throw it right back in their face by winning the NIT. Lay those points now since I foresee the number getting steamed dramatically leading up to Thursday night’s tip.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
