NIT 2012: Odds and Predictions for Every First-Round Game

It's time for everyone's favorite college basketball tournament—the NIT!

OK, so maybe the NIT isn't everyone's favorite tournament—if the NCAA tournament is March Madness for teams that get in, the NIT is March Sadness for everyone else—but that doesn't mean there aren't some very good teams battling it out at this year's event.

And that means it is time for NIT first-round odds and predictions, baby.  As always, feel free to nit-pick my NIT picks in the comments.

(Note: NIT odds from BetOnline.com)

First Round: March 13th, 2012

No. 1 Washington (21-10) vs. No. 8 Texas-Arlington (24-8)

Odds: Washington (-9)

Pick: Washington

Say what you want about the Pac-12 this year—it's still impressive to go 14-4 in the conference, which Washington did. I'll take the Huskies.

No. 4 Northwestern (18-13) vs. No. 5 Akron (22-11)

Odds: Northwestern (-6.5)

Pick: Northwestern

Northwestern beat Michigan State, took Michigan to overtime twice and lost tight games against Ohio State and Indiana—the Wildcats are more dangerous than their record suggests.

No. 3 Oregon (22-9) vs. No. 6 LSU (18-14)

Odds: Oregon (-6.5)

Pick: Oregon

I don't like either of these teams very much—Oregon didn't beat anyone substantial this year and LSU wasn't much more impressive—but I'm going with Oregon because the Ducks have the best player in this game, senior Devoe Joseph (16.6 PPG).

No. 2 Dayton (20-12) vs. No. 7 Iowa (17-16)

Odds: Iowa (-4)

Pick: Iowa

The Hawkeyes battled in the country's best conference and beat Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin (twice). Another Big Ten team that is better than its record suggests.

No. 1 Tennessee (18-14) vs. No. 8 Savannah State (21-11)

Odds: Tennessee (-14.5)

Pick: Tennessee

Savannah State is in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, just in case you weren't aware.

No. 4 Middle Tennessee (25-6) vs. No. 5 Marshall (21-13)

Odds: Middle Tennessee (-5.5)

Pick: Marshall

Middle Tennessee comes into the NIT off of dreadful losses to Western Kentucky and Arkansas State. Marshall advanced to the Conference USA championship game. I'll take the Thundering Herd.

No. 1 Seton Hall (20-12) vs. No. 8 Stony Brook (22-9)

Odds: Seton Hall (-11)

Pick: Seton Hall

A Big East school should always beat a school named Stony Brook. End of story.

No. 4 Mississippi State (21-11) vs. No. 5 UMass (22-11)

Odds: Mississippi (-6.5)

Pick: UMass

The problem with the Bulldogs is that you never know which team will show up. Disappointed that they didn't make the NCAA tourney, I expect them to come out flat and fall to UMass.

No. 3 Stanford (21-11) vs. No. 6 Cleveland State (22-10)

Odds: Stanford (-6)

Pick: Stanford

Stanford held up pretty well in its non-conference schedule, beating Colorado State and NC State, and giving Syracuse a game before losing.

First Round: March 14th, 2012

No. 3 La Salle (21-12) vs. No. 6 Minnesota (19-13) 

Odds: La Salle (-3)

Pick: Minnesota

I don't plan on picking against the Big Ten schools, at least not in the first round, even against a pretty good squad like La Salle.

No. 2 Miami (19-12) vs. No. 7 Valparaiso (22-11)

Odds: Miami (-11)

Pick: Miami

The Hurricanes have wins over Duke and Florida State this year. They should win this one.

No. 3 Drexel (27-6) vs. No. 6 UCF (22-10)

Odds: Drexel (-7)

Pick: Drexel

If you've watched any college basketball coverage recently, you know that the Dragons have won 25 of their last 27 games. They'll make it 26 of 28.

No. 2 St. Joseph's (20-13) vs No. 7 UNI (19-13)

Odds: St. Joseph's (-6.5)

Pick: St. Joseph's

The Hawks make it two first-round wins for the three Philadelphia-area teams in the NIT.

No. 1 Arizona (23-11) vs. No. 8 Bucknell (24-9)

Odds: Arizona (-8.5)

Pick: Arizona

Crazier things have happened, but I just can't pick a Patriot League school to beat Arizona. Maybe it's too many fond Mike Bibby and Miles Simon memories, I don't know.

No. 4 Oral Roberts (27-6). vs. No. 5 Nevada (26-6)

Odds: Oral Roberts (-5.5)

Pick: Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts was a tourney snub depending on who you ask, and it'll have its vengeance at the expense of the NIT field.

No. 2 Ole Miss (20-13) vs. No. 7 Illinois State (20-13)

Odds: Ole Miss (-6)

Pick: Ole Miss

Wins against Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State lead me to believe Ole Miss is more battle-tested, though the Redbirds' win against Wichita State is probably the best win either team has. I say Ole Miss just squeaks by with the win.

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