NIT Championship Game - Baylor vs. Penn State

BetUS NCAA Basketball Betting Odds: BAYLOR -4, Total 138

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* BAY has covered six of its last eight games

* BAY has won seven of its last eight games SU

* BAY has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* BAY has played 11 of its last 15 games UNDER the total

* PSU has covered four of its last six games

* PSU has won five of its last six games SU

It is fair to say that both these squads showed a fair amount of resilience in getting to this championship game. San Diego State. In all four games in this tournament, Baylor has shot at least 50%, and hit 52% against the Aztecs, with 11 three-pointers.

Out on the perimeter, there is no question that Baylor has the edge. When you can put together the corps of shooters they have, it makes it very difficult for the defense to keep pace. The hot hand on Tuesday was LaceDarius Dunn, who hit six treys and finished with 23 points. It's even harder when you have a complement in the inside game, and Baylor has gotten steady play from Kevin Rogers, who has averaged 16 points and seven rebounds in the NIT. What we're saying is that there is offensive balance there, and the Bears have pumped things up to a new level, sharpshooting against talented defensive clubs like Georgetown and San Diego State.

Penn State has been battling uphill all season long, as coach Ed DeChellis is trying to build some tradition at a school that doesn't have any. The semi-final win over Notre Dame was a gem, as the Lions led by 13 at the half and limited the Irish to just one double-digit scorer. Penn State overcame a 2-for-17 performance from beyond the arc by winning the rebounding battle and committing just six turnovers. Front court players Andrew Jones III, Jeff Brooks, David Jackson and Jamelle Cornley forced Luke Harangody into a 5-of-16 shooting night, so don't think they can't do the same to Rogers.

Jones came up with the game of his career, with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and a similar contribution would be more than welcome, because Penn State has not overwhelmed a lot of opponents with height. His front court mate, Cornley, is one of the more aggressive players and effective scorers in the Big 12, Stanley Pringle, a 6'1" guard, has had 11 rebounds in the last two games, and you can't say enough about point guard Talor Battle, who is a penetrator, a leader, and sometimes a hot three-point shooter (9-for-20 in the first two NIT games; two-for-14 in the last two). He's bounced back from that hip injury to provide some inspiration for this squad, which has proven time and time again how mentally tough it is.

We have the feeling that Penn State, which is greater than the sum of its parts, can find a way. We'll grab the points with the Nittany Lions, the four-point underdogs in the BetUS NIT college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: PENN STATE +4 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)