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The 2023-24 college basketball season has entered the final month, which means March Madness is right around the corner. Before that, however, there’s the business of post-season conference tournaments.
Though the majority of marquee conferences aren’t concluding regular-season play until the end of this week, others will have a champion crowned by Sunday. As conference tourney action provides some great opportunities to wager, there are leagues really deserving of your time.
Here’s a look at some college basketball odds in conference tournaments currently underway.
Big Sky
Big Sky Conference may not be one of the top leagues in the country, but it’s a league where the tournament action is tremendous. Odds and lines are extremely tight, leading to some great games along the way in Boise.
There are a quartet of teams expected to have a legit shot at the title. Here are the odds at the top of the ticket, according to college basketball conference tournament odds…
Eastern Washington 9-4 (+225)
Weber St. 5-2 (+250)
Montana 3-1 (+300)
Northern Colorado 9-2 (+450)
These teams have been battling it out throughout the season, with no team separating itself.
Taking Northern Colorado at +450 offers the requisite amount of value.
Missouri Valley
“Arch Madness” is the nickname given to the MVC, and it’s always a tournament with great action on the floor. There have been Missouri Valley teams who’ve made deep runs in March, and this might be another season.
The Indiana St. Sycamores, as the regular-season champs, are the current 8-5 (+160) favorites to win the tournament. The Drake Bulldogs have their fans as the 2-1 (+200) second choice.
Bradley’s Braves come into this event at 13-4 (+325) to take the title. Odds fall off in a big way after that. In our opinion, take 2-1 with the Drake Bulldogs to do the job in St. Louis.
West Coast
Partly because of the time zone, partly because of the dominance of Gonzaga, the West Coast Conference is often overlooked among fans and bettors. While it’s true the Gonzaga Bulldogs have owned the league seemingly forever, that hasn’t been the case this season. Sure, the school out of Spokane is odds-on (-125) to win the tourney in Vegas, but no longer a given.
Saint Mary’s, located in beautiful, downtown Moraga, California, won the league during the regular season. The Gaels are solid second choices at +105 to win the post-season tourney. Those two teams split their games during the regular season, and a rubber match is highly anticipated in the championship.
Either the Bulldogs or Gaels are winning this tournament. The chalky choice here is Gonzaga.
If you’re a fan/believer, wagering on the national title has St. Mary’s priced at 70-1 (+7000), Gonzaga at 80-1 (+8000), as per men’s college basketball championship odds.
Sun Belt
Another small conference worth examining is the Sun Belt. and the betting board suggests both tense moments and tight games during the tournament in Pensacola, Fla.
The Dukes of James Madison are favored to win, priced at +125. James Madison has been the best team throughout the season, but now has to see it out.
Appalachian St. (+190) would not be a surprise, to win a conference championship, as the Mountaineers have had themselves a season, Do not sleep on the Trojans of Troy, offering their share of value at 11-2 (+550).
It ain’t broke, so don’t fix it. Another short-priced selection is JMU at +125.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
