Penn State players gather in a huddle during a college basketball game

Penn State, Utah Set To Clash In Unexpected NIT Final Matchup

The Penn State Nittany Lions and Utah Utes will meet at Madison Square Garden with the NIT crown hanging in the balance Thursday. Both programs have gotten there as underdogs, as Penn State and Utah upset the No. 1 seeds in their respective regions en route to the final.

SHARK BITES
  • Utah has only won the turnover battle once in its last 5 games.
  • Tony Carr has scored 20-plus points in 7 of Penn State’s last 9 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah’s last 7 games with an average combined score of 133.7 ppg.

Penn State comes into this contest after dominating Mississippi State in the semifinals 75-60. The Nittany Lions defense, which has been their bread and butter during the NIT, held the Bulldogs to a 39.6 shooting percentage including a lousy 3-for-15 from beyond the arc. Penn State’s perimeter defense has been excellent during the NIT with opponents hitting just 27.4 percent of their three-point attempts. Though Tony Carr gets the attention, senior Shep Garner has been just as important for Penn State offensively. Garner is averaging 17.3 points while shooting 55.6 percent from deep in the last three games.

It wasn’t easy but Utah squeaked past Western Kentucky in the semifinals thanks to the free-throw abilities of Justin Bibbins, who went a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. The Utes had to rely on that after their three-point shot evaporated, as Utah shot just 31.3 percent from deep compared to 48.1 percent in the two games prior. Utah fans had not seen Bibbins drive to the paint the way they were used to against both LSU and Saint Mary’s but the diminutive guard’s ability to force contact and get fouled is important – especially if the three-point shot is not there.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Utah Utes Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

The 23-11 and 19-11-2 ATS Utah Utes will face the 25-13 Penn State Nittany Lions, who own a 20-13-1 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Utes are 11-21 on the OVER/UNDER so far this season while the Nittany Lions are 14-19-1.

The Utes sit at No. 209 in the current college hoops power poll here at OddsShark, while the Nittany Lions sit at No. 99 on the same chart.

Statistical Matchup

Scoring and defensive stats point to some betting edges in this matchup. The game features Utah's No. 141-ranked scoring average of 73.68 PPG, against a Penn State defense rated No. 35 and allowing 66.71 PPG. The Utes' FG% has averaged 46.12% to date this season, more than the Nittany Lions shooters have managed so far (45.9% per game).

Recent Outings Betting Recap

Penn State earned a 75-60 victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday, getting 21 points from Tony Carr at Madison Square Garden.

Justin Bibbins scored 19 points leading the Utes to a 69-64 victory over Western Kentucky at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Betting Trends
  • Penn State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
  • Penn State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Penn State's last 7 games
  • Utah is 12-4-1 ATS in its last 17 games
  • Utah is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah's last 7 games
Utah has only won the turnover battle once in its last 5 games.home Tony Carr has scored 20-plus points in 7 of Penn State’s last 9 games.away The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah’s last 7 games with an average combined score of 133.7 ppg.home
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