Smu Mustangs vs Northern Iowa Panthers Picks and Predictions March 19th 2025

Northern Iowa Seeks NIT Upset Against Top-Seeded SMU

The SMU Mustangs (23-10, No. 1 seed) host the Northern Iowa Panthers (20-12) in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) on Wednesday night in Dallas, Texas.

Despite falling short of an NCAA Tournament bid, SMU remains a dangerous postseason contender, finishing with its highest win total since 2021-22 and boasting one of the nation’s most efficient offenses.

Meanwhile, Northern Iowa enters the matchup hungry for an upset, returning to the NIT for the third time in program history after falling in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals.

SMU’s Balanced Attack Fuels Tournament Hopes

First-year Mustangs head coach Andy Enfield has led his team to at least 22 wins in five of the last six seasons, continuing his track record of success.

“It’s been a lot of fun to coach these young men,” Enfield said. “They grew as a team, and we’re a pretty good basketball team right now.”

SMU’s strength lies in its high-powered, balanced offense, featuring:

• Boopie Miller (13.2 PPG) – Leading scorer.
• Chuck Harris (2.2 made threes per game, 37.6% 3PT shooting) – Top perimeter threat.
• Six players averaging at least 9.8 PPG, making SMU one of the most balanced offensive teams in the nation.

The Mustangs rank among the top 40 nationally in scoring (80 PPG) and enter the postseason as the No. 24 team in 3-point shooting.

Northern Iowa Aims for Another Deep NIT Run

The Panthers (20-12) haven’t played since March 7, when they suffered a 64-63 loss to Valparaiso despite a 22-point effort from Tytan Anderson.

Northern Iowa returns to the NIT for the first time since 2022, previously reaching the second round in both 2012 and 2022.

Key contributors include:

• Tytan Anderson (15.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG) – Senior leader and primary offensive weapon.
• Jacob Huston (11.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG) – Reliable post presence.
• Trey Campbell (11.2 PPG) & Ben Schweiger (10.0 PPG) – Backcourt duo fueling the offense.

These four players combine for nearly two-thirds of the team’s 73.6 PPG, but Northern Iowa’s X-factor could be Leon Bond III (9.6 PPG). The dynamic guard returned from a knee injury late in the season but remains limited.

“I liked getting him two- or three-minute stretches to get him back in the game,” head coach Ben Jacobson said.

Betting Insights & NIT Implications

• SMU is a No. 1 seed in the NIT and ranked top 40 nationally in scoring.
• Northern Iowa seeks its first NIT second-round appearance since 2022.
• The Mustangs’ sharpshooting (37.6% from 3-point range) could be a game-changer.
• John Wooden Award Odds, College Basketball Championship Odds, and First Four betting lines continue to shift.8ou

For the latest insights, Pick Page, and Odds Page updates, and expert picks, visit the Expert Betting Guide for full tournament analysis.

Your Winning Bracket Starts Now

Get Inside

Get Free Trial

Final Thoughts

Will SMU’s high-powered offense dominate at home, or can Northern Iowa pull off a signature NIT upset? With postseason survival on the line, expect a competitive battle in Dallas.