The Niagara Purple Eagles had to go through a lot this season on their way to a MAAC Championship. A lack of leadership that resulted in a serious altercation with a Purple Eagle Baseball player that landed him in the hospital with serious injuries , and the subsequent suspension of 6 players , was the beginning of a possible rallying call that led this inexperienced but talented group, to come together as the season progressed behind coach Joe Mihalich. After winning their L/11 games of the season, they now feel disrespected for having to win one more time against a lower ranked Florida A&M program in the play in game in Dayton, Ohio today. With that said ,look for the Purple Eagles to come out here with all guns blazing in what I expect to be a statement game. Final notes & Trends: Niagara is 4-1 ATS L/5 in neutral court games . Projected score: Niagara 83 Florida A&M 67

Bet on Niagara -8.5…

Say what you will, but Drexel was jobbed by the NCAA Committee and should be playing in the Tourney. They had a number of solid wins this season. Wins at Creighton, St. Joe’s, Syracuse, and Villanova should have been enough, but they’ll just have to accept they got the same fate as Hofstra from a year ago. Now, many will expect that with all the snub talk that they will have forgotten about their game tonight with the Wolfpack. I completely beg to differ. HC Flint will have his men ready, and Mason, Mejia, and Elegar are going to have huge games against this NCST squad that’s played a ton of basketball the last five days against tough ACC competition. They’re worn down, and not even HC Lowe’s red blazer will save them from the fate their about to be handed. The Dragons were moineyburners ATS at home this year, but that’s because they had to lay some obscene amounts of chalk. That’s just not the case here tonight as the three hoops is a very manageable line for these ultra-motivated kids to overcome in this spot. Lay the chalk as the Dragons move on!!!!

Bet on Drexel -5.0…

We might be playing with fire in this spot considering the Wolverines are a much different club at home, but this Utah State Aggies club has really turned it on to close the season and I expect them to give it their all tonight. I know Michigan is a stellar 17-3 SU at home and they’ve had success with this bunch in the NIT before, but I’m not expecting the Wolves to take the court with much emotion for this one whatsoever. Big Blue is comprised of a number of Seniors that never got a chance to lace ‘em up in the Big Dance. Their bubble was bursted in the Big 10 tourney by Ohio State, and I’m looking for that disappointment to carry over into tonight’s contest. Aggies Jaycee Carroll has been playing like a man possessed of late, and there’s not a better stage (except for the NCAA Tourney) for him to reintroduce himself to the nation. Look for HC Stew Morrill to be the more motivated of coaches in this one as I believe Tommy Amaker’s days are numbered in Ann Arbor. A run in this years NIT won’t save his job, and I don’t believe the kids that battled for him the last four years care much anyway. The Aggies hang tight, and a possible outright win is definitely in the cards.

Bet on Utah State +8.0…