Patrick Everson
Fox sports analyst
The NCAA tournament deploys so much basketball, especially in the first two days, that it is rightly proclaimed March Madness.
But if we are all honest here, madness is in fact in this week’s conference tournaments.
There are many more games. This means many more Paris opportunities in the dimensions of the conference tournament. And not only on the games themselves; Bets on the future of the conference tournament are also attractive.
And potentially lucrative – if you can precisely provide a black horse.
Afficionado of Andy Molitor in university basketball betting has some teams of these teams in mind, betting on the coasts of the future championship in Big Ten and Big East tournaments.
Scarlet letter
Michigan State is rightly favored to win the Big Ten tournament. The Spartans won the regular season title and are +260 to win the conference tournament. This means that a bet of $ 100 would benefit from $ 260 (total payment of $ 360) if the Tom Izzo team did it.
But where is the pleasure of betting on the favorite? Molitor, director of content of bets, is more interested in betting a little to gain a lot with a longer shot. As in +200,000 – or in more relatable terms, 200/1.
“A really fun long shot is rutgers at 200/1 or more. Think of 2023-24 North Carolina State, who won five games in five days, including two rivals classified as an ACC tournament,” said Molitor.
Last year, NC State lost its last four regular season games to finish a dull of 17-14. But the Wolfpack then torn the ACCA tournament, beating Duke and North Carolina along the way, as a two -digit -clippings in two games.
In fact, NC State was just beginning. The Wolfpack finally reached the Final Four before falling back against Purdue.
If the Scarlet Knights perform a Big Ten title race, a $ 100 bet could become $ 20,000.
Stars
Admittedly, there is a reason why Rutgers is 200/1 in the odds of the Big Ten tournament. The Scarlet Knights enter the playoffs with a disappointing file of 15-16 and are the seeded n ° 11 in a field of 15 teams.
“The defense, especially inside, took a big step back after losing Clifford Omoruyi in Alabama,” said Molitor, noting the center that was transferred after last season. “But it’s a team that has two potential draft choices.”
It would be the first year duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Harper is on average 19.3 points per game and Bailey records 18.2 points.
“We saw stars shining and raising the teams at the right time,” said Molitor. “I will not speculate on the motivation of other teams in the Big Ten. But with most of the best teams already locked in At-Large offers (NCAA tournament), Bailey and Harper can certainly help Rutgers do a lower seed race.
“Being in the support section with a team in shock from Michigan does not hurt either.”
The Wolverines are the seeded n ° 3, but have lost their last three games and four of their last six.
Fear the musketeers
In the Big East, St. John’s was the story of the season. Rick Pitino’s squad is hot, in 16-1 in his last 17 games.
The Red Storm (27-4 in total) certainly appears in the conversation of the national championship. And they are favored in the end dimensions of the Big East Tournament, in the +150 range.
Molitor does not extend as far as on Rutgers. But he jumps in front of the first four teams and goes to choice n ° 5 Xavier to win the Big East.
“The return of St. John’s as a relevant team was fun. And you can say that it is good for university basketball as a whole,” said Molitor. “But it’s a high -level league that has at least six viable candidates to eliminate the tournament this week.”
Crowded
In the term ratings of the Big East Tournament at Draftkings Sportsbook, five teams are likely of +850 or shorter:
- St. John’s +155
- Creighton +370
- Uconn +400
- Marquette +550
- Xavier +850
The sixth Molitor team alluded to Villanova, at +1500. It will not be easy, but Molitor thinks that Xavier is a worthy game.
“I don’t like the way, having to go through the red storm to reach the final,” he said. “But among the best teams, Xavier is the most balanced and arrived in hot. They won seven games in a row, including a dominant performance on the second head of Creighton.”
Indeed, on March 1, the musketeers were modest favorites at two points and hammered the Bluejays 83-61.
“They make their 3 points to the second largest clip in the league, and they arrive more than anyone in the Big East,” said Molitor, noting that the musketeers draw almost 80% of the line.
“They are probably on the right side of the bubble. But a great performance this week will not hurt.”
It would certainly not harm your wallet if Xavier progressed. At +850, a bet of $ 100 would benefit from $ 850. It would be good money for the NCAA tournament – afterwards, you know, This The madness of the week.
Patrick Everson is analyst of sports betting for Fox Sports and senior journalist for vegasinsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national space of sports betting. It is based in Las Vegas, where he likes golf in heat at 110 degrees. Follow it on Twitter: @patricke_vegas.
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