Cal Riverside at Santa Clara

It's the first round of the NIT and Cal Riverside isn't getting much respect with this line as they lost to Santa Clara back in November, 96-54. However, this is a good Riverside squad that won 21 games and went 14-6 in the Big West. Riverside is fifth in the 11-team Big West in scoring and turnover margin, plus third in rebounding, while the defense is fifth at defending beyond the arc. They're on a 19-9 SU, 15-11-1 ATS run, including 7-1 ATS as an underdog. Santa Clara had a quick exit from the WCC tournament, losing 78-76 to Pepperdine as a 15-point favorite. They're playing in the NIT for the third time over the last four seasons but haven't done well losing six of eight games. Santa Clara hosted Sam Houston in the opening NIT round two years ago but lost, 58-56, as a 4.5-point favorite turning it over 14 times. Play Cal Riverside.