If the annual men’s basketball NCAA Tournament is a feast of college basketball betting action in the second half of March, more than 30 individual conference tournaments in the first two weeks of the month are the extended appetizer menu.
Every NCAA Division I basketball team in the nation gets one more chance to earn a spot in the 68-team field for the Big Dance. For many, the chances are slim to none. Yet, if they can find a way to win their annual conference tournament, that acts as an automatic berth in the field. That is why the conference tournaments are such a significant part of the madness in March.
Starting the first week of the month and running right through Selection Sunday two weeks later, the betting action at your favorite online sportsbooks never ends. Whether you are way up with your regular season bets or trying to erase a deficit, the conference tournaments offer an excellent opportunity to cash some winners. The trick is knowing how and where to look for those hidden gems.
There are more than 30 different conference tournaments to choose from. Yet, you will want to focus your attention on the teams and/or conferences you know the best. If you never bet on a game in the Sun Belt all season long, betting on that conference tournament makes no sense at all.
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Closely following a specific conference all year long sets the stage for more than a few winning bets over the four or five days of its annual tournament. If a team has been playing poorly in conference play all season long, there is no real reason to think anything is going to change in postseason play. The early rounds of play tend to provide great opportunities to bet against certain teams as opposed to betting on them.
A handful of conference wins (straight-up and against the spread) combined with a season-ending losing streak stand out like a sore thumb when looking for teams to bet against. Upsets are still a big part of the postseason play, but they are rarely pulled off by bad teams. Losing becomes a habit, and a swift exit in the opening round of the tournament is an excellent way to bring a forgettable season to a close.
Most tournaments offer early byes for the first two to four teams in the final conference standings based on the overall size of the field. Once you move to the quarterfinal rounds, the cream should start to rise in the remaining field. Teams with a strong conference record (SU and ATS) and a strong finish to the regular season become teams to “go with” in tournament play.
A big part of betting individual matchups this time of year hinge on the past results between the two teams. There is a good chance that they met once and even twice in the regular season. Those results can offer some solid insight into the upcoming rematch. If one team dominated the other, winning that season’s second or third game becomes a high percentage play depending on how wide the spread is.
Along with this year’s results, going back over the past eight to ten meetings can provide even deeper insight into the upcoming matchup. Some teams have another team’s number, no matter where or when the game is played. Tighter series, especially ATS over the past several meetings, may give the immediate lean towards the underdog.
Finally, look for chances to bet the teams you have previously bet and won on all season long. A high level of familiarity can lead to a higher level of predictability.
