Recent Play Details

4% Utah Valley (10:00 ET): A bit of trivia that few will even remember is that New Mexico was the last unbeaten team in all of College Basketball this season. The Lobos were 14-0 SU when we turned the calendar to 2023, but the new year brought a downturn in Albuquerque as the team dropped 11 of its last 19 games including 8 of its last 11. I’m well aware of how hard it is to win at “The Pit,” but my view is that Utah Valley comes in as the more motivated team here and motivation is often the key in handicapping these NIT matchups. 

Utah Valley were regular season champions in the WAC, but came up short in the conference tournament, losing in the semifinals to Southern Utah 89-88 as a four-point favorites. That was a brutal loss for the Wolverines, not just because it cost them a potential trip to the Big Dance, but because they led by as many as 23 points and shot 55.4% from the field. This is a team that’s gone 21-9 ATS this season including 14-4 ATS against foes with a winning record and 11-4 ATS on the road. 

Furthermore, Utah Valley is 7-1 ATS coming off a game in which they scored 80 or more points and they are a perfect 3-0 ATS this season after allowing 80+ points the previous game. The Wolverines have a pretty substantial edge in defensive efficiency in this matchup as they are 39th in the country while New Mexico is just 111th. The Lobos’ defense got particularly bad down the stretch, allowing 80 or more in four of the last six games. Utah Valley averages 76.9 PPG for the year. Take the points. 4% Utah Valley (Play to +3.5)