FrontPageBets breaks down NIT championship game: Texas A&M vs. Xavier

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College basketball's best rivalry on display with more than just bragging rights on the line

The National Invitational Tournament championship game is set for Thursday night in Madison Square Garden.

And while the NIT doesn't have the cachet of the NCAA Tournament, it still matters to the teams competing, as it's not only a chance to win a championship, but to continue playing.

Texas A&M, a No. 1 seed that just missed making the NCAA Tournament field out of a tough Southeastern Conference, is the favorite to beat Xavier, a No. 2 seed out of the Big East.

FrontPageBets breaks down the matchup.

No. 2 Xavier vs. No. 1 Texas A&M

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Site: Madison Square Garden

Spread: Texas A&M -4 (-110); Xavier +4 (-110)

Money Line: Texas A&M -190; Xavier +160

Over/Under: 138 (-110)

Road to the NIT championship game: Texas A&M (27-12) just missed making the Big Dance, as one of the last teams left out of the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies' consolation prize was a top seed in the NIT, which didn't sit well with those in College Station. However, Texas A&M has used that frustration to run roughshod through the NIT field, winning by double digits in its first four games: 74-62 vs. Alcorn State; 75-60 vs. Oregon; 67-52 vs. Wake Forest; and 72-56 vs. Washington State in the semifinal. The Aggies have now won by double digits in eight of their last 11 games. They've also won 11 of their last 12, with the only blemish coming against Tennessee in the SEC tournament final. A win over Xavier would tie an A&M school record for wins in a season. Senior guard Quenton Jackson leads the Aggies, scoring double figures in 20 out of his last 21 games, including a game-high 18 against Washington State. Xavier (22-13) has had closer games in the NIT: 72-68 vs. Cleveland State; 72-56 vs. Florida; 75-73 vs. Vanderbilt; and 84-77 vs. St. Bonaventure. The Musketeers had three players score 18 points in their semifinal win over the Bonnies, guard Adam Kunkel, forward Jack Nunge and forward Zach Freemantle. Nunge leads Xavier, averaging 13.4 points per game and is shooting 54.8% from the floor and 37.2% from 3. Texas A&M is 23-15 against the spread, while Xavier is 16-19.

The pick: Texas A&M, 77-68

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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 22-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.