My 10* NIT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TOP TOTAL is on the under between Chattanooga and UC Irvine at 9:00 EST. The Mocs are 28-9 this year. Chattanooga has now won 16 of its last 17 games, with the only loss in that stretch being the Southern Conference Championship Game, an 80-77 overtime loss to Furman. While the Mocs have played to the over in seven of their last ten games, I'm finally expecting a more defensive affair here in the NIT Championship game. Overall Chattanooga averages 79.6 PPG, while allowing 72.6. Frank Champion is still out for the Mocs (their No. 1 threat), but three others still average double-digits in points. UC Irvine stands in the way though, as the Anteaters are 32-6 this season, and they've seen the O/U go 16-20-1 this season. UCI got by North Texas 69-67 in the semifinal round, and everything points to a similar pace and tempo here in the championship game in my opinion. UC Irvine averages 75.7 PPG, but excels defensively by conceding just 66.5. UC Irvine is bigger in the middle and it will be looking to run plenty of half-court offenses through its big men. When you add it all up, I say this O/U line is much too high. The play is the under.