NIT Second Round: Seattle vs Auburn Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 22)
- The Redhawks beat St. Thomas-Minnesota in the Round of 32
- The Tigers took down South Alabama in the first round.
- This marks the first all-time matchup between the two squads.
The NIT will have a matchup involving an SEC squad when the Auburn Tigers take on the Seattle Redhawks in the second round. The hosts stand out as the solid favorite, meaning that Seattle will be quite occupied in trying to pull off an upset.
How to Watch
- When: Sunday, March 22, 6:30 pm ET
- Where: Neville Arena, Auburn, Alabama
- How to Watch: ESPN2
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | -105 | +14 | O153 |
| Auburn | -115 | -14 | U153 |
Game Preview
The Redhawks (21-13) made sure to get their first win in the NIT since 1957, taking down St. Thomas-Minnesota. They limited their counterparts from St. Paul to just 37.5 percent overall shooting (21-of-56) and just 29.6 percent (8-of-27) during the second half. Brayden Maldonado pumped in 15 points while Will Heimbrodt added 13 plus three blocked shots. On another note, Jojo Murphy and John Christofilis had 10 each off the bench. Seattle ranks 12th nationally in blocks per game (4.9) and is also top 25 in scoring defense (66.6 – 23rd) and turnovers forced (14.94 – 21st). Heimbrodt is the WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Tigers (18-16) made sure to earn a win in the NIT after beating South Alabama in the first round. They made a season high 16 3-pointers against South Alabama and tied a school record with 44 3-point attempts. Kevin Overton made seven 3-pointers (all in the second half) against South Alabama and now has 80 triples this season. Keyshawn Hall notched his 18th game of scoring 20 or more points against South Alabama with 21 points against the Jags.
Seattle vs Auburn Head-to-Head
The two programs are facing each other for the first time in their respective histories.
Seattle vs Auburn Predictions
The winner between the Redhawks and Tigers will advance to the NIT quarterfinals to face the winner of Nevada/Liberty on either March 24 or 25. Seattle boasts a solid defense and a balanced offense that can help them make things interesting against Auburn. However, if they can’t slow down Kevin Overton’s perimeter shooting and Keyshawn Hall’s scoring, then their place in the quarters can be secured. Our betting pick here is the Tigers to defend a 14-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Auburn Tigers -14
