NCAA Basketball NIT Picks & Odds: Richmond vs. Toledo Predictions
Richmond vs. Toledo
College hoops is back Wednesday night as the first game of the NIT tips off in Denton, TX between the Richmond Spiders and the Toledo Rockets. Richmond is coming off a loss in the second round of the A10 tournament and Toledo coming off a loss to MAC champions, the Ohio Bobcats. Richmond is backed by Blake Francis and Grant Golden who are both questionable with injuries for Wednesday night’s game.
Toledo is one of the highest scoring teams in the country this season. They are ranked 14th in the NCAA averaging 81.6 points per game this season. These guys can fill it up. Marreon Jackson leads the Rockets with 18.4 points per game and getting help from Ryan Rollins and Spencer Littleson averaging 13.5 points apiece. I’m going to back Toledo to run the score up on Richmond come Wednesday night.
The Pick: Toledo -2 @ -113
Western Kentucky vs. Saint Mary’s
The Saint Mary’s Gaels and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers meet in the first round of the NIT for the late game Wednesday night. WKU comes into the NIT after finishing the year 20-7 overall while 11-3 in conference play. The Hilltoppers are backed by big fella Charles Bassey averaging 17 and 11. Bassey gets help from guard Taveion Hollingsworth averaging 13.6. Some may argue that WKU should’ve been a tournament team despite losing the conference tournament to North Texas.
Saint Mary’s enter this matchup after recording a 14-9 record while 4-6 in conference play. Logan Johnson leads the Gaels with 13.5 points per game and getting help from Tommy Kuhse, averaging 12.5 points per game. Matthias Tass chips in 10 points per game to complete the trio of double digit scorers for the Gaels.
Saint Mary’s is led by their defense this season that ranked an impressive 17th in scoring defense. Many people will be all over WKU in this one, but I’m going to back the Gaels out of the West Coast Conference to make things very difficult for Bassey and the Hilltoppers.
The Pick: Saint Mary’s -2 @ -105
NCAAB Expert Picks
Toledo -2 @ -113 (Click to bet)
Saint Mary’s -2 @ -105 (Click to bet)