NIT First Round: George Washington vs Utah Valley Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 18)
- The Revolutionaries make their first NIT appearance since 2016.
- The Wolverines are perfect at home with a 15-0 record this season.
- This marks the first all-time matchup between the two squads.
The NIT first round is present on the March 18 slate as the George Washington Revolutionaries take on the Utah Valley Wolverines. The latter stands tall as the slight favorite, presenting a solid matchup at the mid-major level.
How to Watch
- When: Wednesday, March 18, 8 pm ET
- Where: UCCU Center, Orem, Utah
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington | -107 | +1 | O154 |
| Utah Valley | -113 | -1 | U154 |
Game Preview
The Revolutionaries (18-15) have made consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 2014-17 after appearing in the College Basketball Crown last season. Rafael Castro leads the squad with averages of 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Trey Autry and Tre Dinkins present themselves with strong perimeter shooting as they made 76 3-pointers and 74 triples this season, respectively.
The Wolverines (25-8) pulled off back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns. They rank among the nation’s top-10 in steals per game (9.4, 6th), forced turnovers per game (15.2, 8th), assists per game (18.4, 8th), blocks per game (5.5, 9th) and FG% (50.3, 9th). Jackson Holcombe leads Utah Valley in scoring at 15.6 points per game while also averaging 7.1 rebounds. Trevan Leonhardt continues to orchestrate the Wolverine offense, averaging 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while leading the WAC in total assists and assists per game.
George Washington vs Utah Valley Head-to-Head
The two programs are facing each other for the first time in their respective histories.
George Washington vs Utah Valley Predictions
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to the second round of the NIT to face the winner of the matchup between New Mexico and Sam Houston. Utah Valley are potent on both sides of the ball, showcasing themselves as a team talented enough to make a run in the NIT. Our betting pick here is for the Wolverines to cover a 1-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Utah Valley Wolverines -1
