Virginia Tech at Cincinnati

Cincinnati and Virginia Tech are a pair of strong programs, but each missed out on the NCAA Tournament this season. They will open their first-round NIT game at Cincinnati. The Bearcats faltered down the stretch and finished with a mediocre 7-6 record since Jan. 22. Virginia had a rough stretch in Dec.-Jan. that really hurt their chances for an NCAA bid. The Hokies suffered through a woeful 0-7 run but were otherwise 19-7. I think the toll that O'fer slump took on the team's overall record and ratings has been over-compensated for in this contest. In what shapes up as more of a toss-up game, I'm grabbing the points with Virginia Tech.