Dayton Flyers vs. Mississippi Rebels Betting Odds

Opening Line: Pick-em O/U 142

Time: 7 PM EST Tuesday March 30, 2010 on ESPN2

Ok, so it is not the Big Dance, but there is the NIT, which is always filled with teams that feel they should have got an invite to the NCAA tourney. In the first semifinals match up tonight the Dayton Flyers take on the Mississippi Rebels in the Big Apple.

Each of these teams had 20 wins this season, but Dayton faltered down the stretch and only ended the season 8-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and even though Ole Miss finished the season strong they were only 9-7 in the SEC.

This season Dayton is 17-15 ATS and Mississippi is 18-12-1 ATS.

In their quarterfinal wins Dayton beat Illinois 77-71 and Mississippi played a barnburner beating Texas Tech 90-87 in double OT.

Dayton only has 2 players averaging in double figures in F Chris Wright (13.8 ppg 7.1 rpg) and G/F Chris Johnson (11.5 ppg 6.8 rpg). Luckily the Flyers play great defense and only give up an average of 62.1 ppg.

Wright and Johnson combined to score 28 points and 14 rebounds in their win over Illinois. The main reasons that Dayton won that game was their defense and their 3-point shooting. They held Illinois to only 37.7% from the floor and they hit 44.4% of their 3-point shots.

Ole Miss has a solid offense averaging 78.8 ppg and they are led by the guard duo of Chris Warren (17.3 ppg) and Terrico White (15 ppg). This duo did have a combined 39 points in the win over Texas Tech, but they only shot 13/39 from the field and if they shoot like that again Dayton will likely be advancing to the finals.

F Murphy Holloway (10.1 ppg 7.7 rpg) is the big guy in the paint for Ole Miss and he scored 17 points and pulled down 11 boards in the win over Texas Tech. His main tasks in this game are to keep Wright and Johnson off the glass and to give the Rebels some inside offense.

The Rebels only shot a 3-point FG% of 25.9% and they must shoot better from deep against Dayton or the flyers will drop down in the paint to play inside D and man the boards.

Dayton must hold onto the rock in this game against a quick Rebels' squad. Old Miss forced Texas Tech into 18 turnovers and Dayton had 15 turnovers in their win over Illinois.

Betting Trends

Dayton is 7-0 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games, 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, and has an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 games.

Mississippi is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games, and has an Over record of 3-1-1 in their last 5 neutral site games.

Our Selection : Take Dayton as a pick'em.