Before the Final Four gets underway in the Big Easy this weekend, another title is on the line in the Big Apple.
Texas A&M and Xavier will square off in the championship game of the men’s National Invitational Tournament. Despite missing the Big Dance, both sides will be competing for a trophy and one last win to end their 2021-22 seasons.
Texas A&M just missed the cut for March Madness, as it was announced as one of the “First Four Out” from the 68-team NCAA Tournament field on Selection Sunday. The Aggies, like each of the “First Four Out” teams, were slotted as a No. 1 seed for the NIT, but they were the only ones to even reach the tournament quarterfinals. Texas A&M beat Alcorn State, Oregon, Wake Forest and Washington State on its way to the NIT title game.
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Xavier reached the NIT title game after being given a No. 2 seed. The Musketeers needed a couple of close wins to punch their ticket to the final, beating Cleveland State, Florida, Vanderbilt and St. Bonaventure.
Where is the 2022 NIT Championship?
The 2022 NIT Championship will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
After hosting the final 82 times from 1938 to 2019, the event was held away from MSG for the first time in 2021, when all games were played in Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The semifinals and championship game are back at the venue this year, but the NIT has begun the process for finding new hosts for the 2023 and 2024 tournament finals.
When is the NIT Championship?
Texas A&M and Xavier will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 31.
How can I watch the NIT Championship?
Thursday’s title game will air on ESPN. It can be streamed on ESPN.com and on the ESPN App.
What are the betting odds for the 2022 NIT Championship?
The Aggies (-180) are favored to beat the Musketeers (+150) and win their first NIT title, according to our partner, PointsBet. The spread is -4.5 and the over/under is 137.5.
Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.