The 2022 NCAA Tournament tips off with the First Four on Tuesday and the first game from Dayton, Ohio, is Texas A&M-Corpus Christi facing Texas Southern – the campuses are about 200 miles apart, but they haven’t played in years. Texas Southern is favored on the college basketball odds. The winner of this game faces No. 1 Kansas on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Before all else, Nitrobetting takes a peek at important game details that help you lock in on the best picks. Below, you can find event information, team and player stats, and the latest College Basketball odds. We also have timely betting trends and predictions at your disposal.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Texas Southern Game Information

Wheels UP! Here we come, Dayton❗️✈️ Catch flights not feelings. ?#marchmadness #BeLegendary #GoTigers | @txsotigers @texassouthern pic.twitter.com/ytqU5loF9w

— Texas Southern Basketball (@TSUMensHoops) March 14, 2022

• When: Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 5:40 PM ET
• Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
• TV: truTV
• Radio: TBA (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) / KTSU 90.9 FM (Texas Southern)
• Live Stream: truTV.com
• NCAAB Betting Odds: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (+4) / Texas Southern (-4)

READ MORE: Bryant vs. Wright State NCAAB Odds and Preview – March 16th, 2022

Why Bet on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders?

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (23-11) upset SE Louisiana 73-65 in the Southland Tournament title game. Junior Terrion Murdix was named the SLC Tournament MVP and on the All-Tournament Team along with senior Simeon Fryer. Murdix registered 13 points and five steals, while junior Jalen Jackson tallied 13 points, six rebounds and five assists. Senior De’Lazarus Keys recorded 12 points, and senior San Antonio Brinson notched 10 points off the bench.

Junior Isaac Mushila, an All-Conference Second-Team selection, finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Mushila entered the SLC Tournament ranked eighth in the country in offensive rebounds per game (3.55) and pulled down five. It was his 16th double-figure rebounding game of the year. The Islanders out rebounded SLU 37-25. They also dominated in the paint, where they posted a 36-16 advantage.

A&M-Corpus Christi, which has won seven of its last eight games, won its third championship in program history. The Islanders improved to 11-9 all-time in the SLC Tournament. It was the fourth time they were in the finals. A&M-Corpus Christi is now 17-0 this season when holding the opposition to 70 points or fewer. The Islanders aren’t a great shooting team, but Fryer is the biggest threat from deep (50 for 135, 37 percent).

First-year head coach Steve Lutz, a former Purdue assistant, has more than quadrupled the Islanders’ win total from a year ago. That team went 5-19, and that marks the biggest one-year turnaround in program history. The Islanders recorded their sixth 20-win season in program history and first since 2016-17. The program began in 1999-00. It’s the school’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2007.

The Islanders are 14-4 against SWAC teams all-time as they’ve played Alcorn State, Bethune-Cookman, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M and TSU. Bethune-Cookman, Prairie View A&M and TSU have the lone wins against the Islanders.

Why Bet on the Texas Southern Tigers?

Texas Southern (18-12) beat Alcorn State 87-62 in the SWAC Tournament title game. John Walker III led TSU with 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while SWAC Tournament MVP PJ Henry added 15 points and five rebounds.

Texas Southern didn’t place anyone on the All-SWAC first- or second-team in the regular season. The Tigers don’t even have anyone who averages double figures in scoring. Senior forward Brison Gresham averages only 19 minutes per game, but he makes the most of his time. The 6-9 forward leads Texas Southern in rebounding at 6.8 per game. His offensive rebounding percentage and block rate both rank 15th nationally. In the SWAC tournament final, Gresham had 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots.

This marks the third consecutive First Four appearance and fourth all-time for the Tigers. TSU has won its past two First Four appearances in 2018 and 2021 with the latter taking place in Bloomington, Indiana, due to the modified NCAA Tournament format last year.

TSU is 1-2 all-time against the Islanders, with the last meeting between in 2007 as current TSU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kevin Granger served as head coach for that game during a 72-64 win in Corpus Christi. TSU guard A.J. Lawson is familiar with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as he faced them once in 2020 while attending McNeese State. Lawson scored eight points in the game against the Islanders.

Texas Southern is 2-9 all-time in NCAA Tournament contests and 2-1 in First Four/Opening Round contests (2021/2018/2003). TSU faced off against teams from seven conferences in 2021-22. TSU squared off against teams from the Pac-12 (2), WCC (2), Mountain West, ACC, Conference USA, SEC and WAC.

Texas Southern men’s basketball made history when they became the first team in SWAC history to defeat a ranked opponent from the SEC after an impressive 69-54 win over No. 20 Florida on Dec. 6. TSU’s non-conference schedule resembled an NBA schedule with 11 straight games away from campus against some of the best teams in the nation.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Texas Southern Betting Trends

• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS win.
• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight-up win.
• Texas Southern is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
• Texas Southern is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
• Texas Southern is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Texas Southern Expert Betting Predictions

Texas Southern 70, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2021-22 NCAAB season previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball odds on our online BTC sportsbook.