NIT 2012: Spread Picks for Both Final Four Matchups

The Final Four of the NCAA tournament won't arrive until Saturday. Until then, you'll have to be patient.

The good news is that the Final Four of the NIT tournament arrives today. UMass and Stanford will fight it out for the right to go to the NIT final, as will Minnesota and Washington. 

If you're looking for spreads and picks, you've come to the right place. Just scroll below.

Note: spreads according to Bovada.

No. 5 UMass vs. No. 3 Stanford (7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2)

Spread: Stanford -2.5

Stanford's defense better be ready for a test. If there's one thing UMass can do very well, it's put the ball in the basket.

The Minutemen averaged nearly 77 points per game in the regular season, and they're successful mainly because they move the ball around very well. They averaged 15.8 assists per game, 17th in the country. Chaz Williams is in charge of it all, and he's been good for over 20 points and about five assists per game throughout the NIT.

You wouldn't think that Stanford has the offensive firepower to match strides with UMass, but the Cardinal have been scoring very well so far in the NIT. This is thanks in part to their three-point shooting. Stanford was a very good three-point shooting team in the regular season, and it's been very sharp from three thus far in the NIT.

The numbers suggest that UMass does a good job of defending the three-point shot, but it hasn't had to face a team like Stanford yet. If the threes are falling for Stanford, UMass will not be able to control this game.

This is a game Stanford should win, and it's a game Stanford will win.

Prediction: Stanford by six

No. 6 Minnesota vs. No. 1 Washington (9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2)

Spread: Washington -1

Minnesota is the lower seed here, but don't let that fool you. The Golden Gophers come from the toughest conference in the country, so it's no surprise that they've made it this far against inferior competition.

Then again, Washington had no trouble whatsoever handling Northwestern, which nearly earned an at-large bid from the Big Ten this season. Minnesota isn't head and shoulders better than Northwestern, so it stands to reason Washington will handle the Golden Gophers too.

The Huskies will do just that as long as they continue to get outstanding play out of Terrence Ross and good work on the boards from all their guards. Minnesota is not a team that dominates on the boards, so Washington's guards shouldn't have too much trouble sneaking in and grabbing rebounds.

All things being equal, the Huskies are the better team in this game. Plus, they've been playing like they're on a mission after getting denied entry to the Big Dance. They're going to want this game more than Minnesota.

Prediction: Washington by eight