There has been quite a bit of sentiment for the underdog in this one, amid the popular belief that the line is skewed based on the results of the NIT semifinals. There may be something to this, but I still feel Penn State has the look of a team that is on a mission to finish the season with the NIT banner. The Lions have performed better and beaten a higher level of competition along the way than Utah, which was fortunate to escape against Western Kentucky in the semifinals. Penn State finishes what it started with another resounding win Thursday.

Penn State’s devastation of Mississippi State in the NIT semifinals has driven this line up from three. Hold on now. Utah is for real, and a tight game looms. The Utes’ depth could be shored up with the return of C Jayce Johnson (ankle), who missed the semifinals. That would provide a checkmark on Utah’s side for depth, Penn State having lost key players late in the season. An upperclass-heavy lineup assures Utah of focus and the right balance or urgency and calm.

My data suggests the wrong team is favored in the NIT final Thursday, and finds the rock-solid Utes as a massive bargain for a money-line play against Penn State at Madison Square Garden. Utah overcame an early double-figure deficit against Western Kentucky and pulled out a narrow win, while Penn State obliterated Mississippi State in other semifinal. This disparity has skewed the line and I've got the Utes winning straight up in nearly 60 percent of simulations.

Don't miss this one. The NIT Final is going to be a great game. Two very solid teams that are very well coached. Penn State has put a nice run together without center Mike Watkins however I feel they are a little over-inflated now. Utah has a better offensive and defensive FG percentage than Penn State. The Utes have played their three best games of the year in the NIT. A win over LSU by 24, an overtime win at Saint Mary's and the semifinal win over a really solid Western Kentucky. I think this is a pick 'em game.