NIT Tournament's Finest - Saint Mary's at San Diego

BetUS NCAA Basketball Odds: SAN DIEGO STATE -3, Total 128

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

* SM has won nine of its last ten games SU

* SM has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* SM is 0-5 ATS in its last five road games

* SM has won 10 of its last 14 road games SU

* SM has played six of its last eight road games UNDER the total

* SDSU has covered five of its last six games

* SDSU has won seven of its last eight games SU

* SDSU has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

* SDSU has won 12 of its last 13 home games SU

* SDSU has played its last eight home games UNDER the total

Davidson Wildcats, turning them back by an 80-68 score, with Patrick Mills (23 points, 10 assists) trading punch-for-punch with Curry, Now it's a 48-hour turnaround (or a little less, actually) as the Gaels travel to San Diego to face off against an Aztec team that, like themselves, had a real argument for being included in the NCAA Tournament field.

Kansas State by a combined 34 points. This is a team with four seniors playing key roles, and they wanted to make this last experience a good one. Two of those seniors, Kyle Spain and Richie Williams, came up big against Kansas State, as they combined for 30 points in the 70-52 win. Lorrenzo Wade may have helped his NBA stock a little with a 20-point effort against Weber State in the opening NIT game. At 25 wins, this is the most ever for a San Diego State team.

Saint Mary's is also on a roll, and looking to make a statement. The Gaels have won nine of their last ten games, with the only loss in the West Coast Conference finals to Washington State and Davidson thus far, and Mills has demonstrated that he is back in form, after missing nine games with his hand injury. Mills has scored 50 points in the last two games, and that includes six three-pointers. Against Davidson, he dished out a season-high ten assists, with one turnover.

You have to respect coach Fisher, who has won a national title before with Michigan, and the experience for San Diego State is not to be discounted. We appreciate what both clubs are trying to accomplish in this "consolation" tourney, but we like the fact that Saint Mary's can probably exhibit more strength up front and has the best player on the floor in Mills, who will likely declare for the NBA after this tournament concludes. Almost eighty years ago a feisty Saint Mary's football program, which at that time was one of the best in the nation, traveled east to play Fordham and cement its national reputation under coach Slip Madigan. They will make another triumphant trip east after this one. We're taking the points with Saint Mary's, the three-point underdog in the NIT college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: SAINT MARY'S +3 **

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