Massachusetts at Ohio State

The NIT Championship will be decided at The Garden tonight as UMass takes on Ohio State. It will be the offense of UMass against the defense of Ohio State. This total is strictly based on UMass, and their high-flying, high-speed offense, but does not take other factors into account. In their last 24 games the Buckeyes have not played in any game where the total has exceeded 150 points (non OT games). The Buckeyes have limited opponents to 61 points per game and 39% shooting, as well as just 31.8% from the arc. Just twice all season has an unranked opponent reached as high as 70 against Ohio State. UMass has averaged well over 80 points a game, but the postseason and increase in the strength of the opponent has seen them held under their average in all five games. UMass may feel like an easy team to play over on, because of their style, but that has been a losing proposition. UMass has played 13 games since January 23, with a total posted at 146+ and they have gone over in just two of them. They are 0-4 in the postseason to totals in this same range! Ohio State will be the best defensive team they have faced all season and since the Buckeyes have not played a game since the turn of the New Year that more than 150 points has been scored, we will back this inflated total to go UNDER.