California will host New Mexico late on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT. The Golden Bears are seeded fourth in their region of the bracket, while the Lobos are the fifth seed. California is in the NIT for the sixth time in history and the first time since 2000. Overall, California is 10-4 previously in the NIT. SBG Global reports that early NCAA Basketball betting has the public taking California at Home.
NIT Betting Preview
New Mexico (24-7) at California (15-14)
Wednesday, 11:00 pm Eastern – ESPN 2
SBG Global Opening Line: California -3, Total 152
California is 8-1 against non-conference competition at home this season. The Bears are led by sophomore F Ryan Anderson, a first-team All-Pac-10 choice and second-team All-American (The Sporting News). Anderson leads the conference in scoring at 21.3 ppg and is third in the league in rebounding with 10.0 rpg. Sophomore G Patrick Christopher, an honorable mention All-Pac-10 choice, contributes 15.8 ppg. The Bears led the Pac-10 in scoring at 77.3 points per game. Cal has averaged 80.5 ppg in non-conference games this year. California head coach Ben Braun knows that his team would have preferred to be in the NCAA Tourney but they still are happy to be playing.
“I know to a man that our team want to continue playing, but I also know to a man that, just like any team, your goal is to get to the NCAA,” he said, “I don't care what team you are, you have to come with grips with that at some point, and when you can't get in – whether you lose you opportunity in the season or you don't have an opportunity in the Pac-10 tournament – now you readjust your goals. But this is a challenging year in the Pac-10. I think our guys have put it in perspective. They want to continue playing. If you look around the field of the NIT tournament, my goodness, there are some good basketball teams. It's amazing.”
SBG Global Current Line: California -4, Total 152
New Mexico is led by Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year J.R. Giddens, who averages 16.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg. The Lobos lead the nation in three-point percentage at 42.5 percent and are led by Chad Toppert, who has made 48.3 percent of his three point shots. Cal has a 3-1 series lead over New Mexico but the teams have not played since 2002.
New Mexico is the No. 5 seed in this 8-team side of the 32-team bracket. Cal is No. 4. The winner of this game will face the winner of Ohio State and UNC Asheville in the second round. The Lobos are 8-2 in their last 10 games. They lost to Utah in the Mountain West quarterfinals. This is the 28th postseason appearance for New Mexico. The Lobos have been in the NIT 16 previous times, including seven straight appearances in the late 1980’s. New Mexico is 16-17 overall in the NIT. Their last appearance was in 2002 when the Lobos lost at Minnesota in the first round, 96-62. The Lobos have never won a true road game in the NIT, having lost all five games.
Here are the NCAA Basketball betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Lobos are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games. The Lobos are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games. The Lobos are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 non-conference games. The Lobos are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Pacific-10. The Lobos are 22-8-1 ATS in their last 31 games overall. The Lobos are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning record.
The Golden Bears are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games. The Golden Bears are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games. The Golden Bears are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Golden Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games following three or more consecutive road games. The Golden Bears are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 home games.
The Over is 7-0-1 in the Lobos last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Over is 8-1-1 in the Lobos last 10 road games. The Over is 5-1-1 in the Lobos last 7 Wednesday games. The Over is 4-1 in the Lobos last 5 non-conference games. The Over is 20-8-1 in the Lobos last 29 overall.
The Over is 6-1 in the Golden Bears last 7 home games. The Over is 5-1-1 in the Golden Bears last 7 non-conference games. The Under is 7-2 in the Golden Bears last 9 Wednesday games. The Over is 35-16-1 in the Golden Bears last 52 overall.
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