2023 NIT Championship Game odds, trends, pick: UAB taking heavy spread action in all-Conference USA final vs. North Texas

Was Conference USA the best college basketball league in the country this season? We can't go that far, but the league has had unprecedented success with Charlotte winning the CBI Tournament, Florida Atlantic in the NCAA Tournament Final Four, and C-USA teams UAB and North Texas facing off tonight in Las Vegas in the NIT title game with the Blazers as 1.5-point favorites at BetMGM. Click here for model picks.

It's the first NIT Championship Game for both programs and their fourth meeting of the season. North Texas won both in the regular season, one in double overtime, but UAB beat the Mean Green in the Conference USA Tournament in the most recent meeting. The Blazers have never faced the same team four times in one season, and I'm presuming the Mean Green haven't, either.

As of this writing, 87% of the bets and 86% of the money at the book are on UAB giving 1.5 points. On the total of 127.5 (note that North Texas has the No. 1 scoring defense in the country) 85% of the bets and 91% of the money are on Over. UAB is No. 10 nationally in scoring at 81.3 points per game. North Texas is +110 on the moneyline and taking only 28% of the bets and 16% of the money.

Both teams had two-point wins in the semifinals with UAB beating Utah Valley 88-86 in OT and North Texas rallying from down 14 to beat Wisconsin 56-54. The Mean Green held the Badgers scoreless for the game's final nine minutes and seven seconds.

When these teams do play again, it will be as members of the American Athletic Conference as they, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Rice and UTSA will become new AAC members on July 1 to help replace Cincinnati, Houston and UCF departing for the Big 12 Conference. Thursday also will be the last game as North Texas coach for Grant McCasland, as he will be named the coach at Texas Tech. He was the director of operations there from 1999-2001. North Texas is 11-3 in postseason games under McCasland, including winning the 2018 CBI. North Texas had never won a NCAA postseason game prior to McCasland's arrival in 2017.

The Mean Green have played without starting forward Abou Ousmane since Round 2 of this tournament, and he is not expected to suit up for the title game due to personal reasons. The junior averaged 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds during the year and played very well in both victories over UAB. Ousmane's 84 career blocks are fifth-most in school history.

NCAAB pick: UAB -130

So which 2023 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts, and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine's Fantasy baseball cheat sheets now to get rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Joey Votto's disappointing season, and find out.