Mid Major Conference Tournament's Preview. Part 1

ASun

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

East

1) Liberty +115

2) Jacksonville +900

3) FGCU +1600

4) Kennesaw St. +2700

5) North Florida +12000

6) Stetson +12000

West

1) Jacksonville St. +165

2) Bellarmine +1300

3) Central Arkansas +13000

4) Lipscomb +13000

5) Eastern Kentucky +6500

6) North Alabama +25000

Favourites:

Liberty +115

Liberty finished the year first in a solid east side of the ASun. I believe the Flames are the best team in the conference, and with home-court throughout the tournament, getting them at plus money is a great deal.

Jacksonville St. +165

The Gamecocks finished first in an average ASun West. Jacksonville St.'s most impressive win is a ten-point shocker at Liberty. They will probably have to repeat that task if they want a ticket to the big dance, and I'm not sure they are up to the task.

Contenders:

FGCU +1600

The Eagles are no stranger to winning this tournament and making noise in March. They come into the tournament very hot (8-2) CBB is better when FGCU is rolling.

Jacksonville +900

The Dolphins come into the tournament winners of eight of their last ten. I believe they are the second-best team, and +900 is an absolute steal!

Dark Horse:

North Florida +12000

North Florida comes in winners of seven of their last ten picking up wins against Liberty, Jacksonville St, and FGCU. If you give me that kind of momentum at +12000, I will take that all day.

Picks:

Liberty +115

Jacksonville +900

North Florida +12000

Big South

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

1) Longwood +145

2) Winthrop +210

3) Gardener-Webb +500

4) USC Upstate +2100

5) Campbell +2400

6) UNC Ashville +750

7) High Point +3200

8) Radford +18000

9) NC A&T +9500

10) Hampton +50000

11) Presbyterian +24000

12) Charleston Southern +50000

Favourites:

Longwood +145

The Lancers have been the class of the Big South all year. They've only dropped one conference game all year. I'm not sure they deserve sure a short number at +145. That being said, you will never go wrong picking the best regular-season team.

Winthrop: +210

I believe Winthrop is the best team in the conference. The Eagles come in hot winners of eight straight. They ended the regular season with only two conference losses, one at Longwood in a back and forth classic and one stinker at High Point. I like Winthrop team making a deep run.

Contender:

Gardener Webb +500

The Bulldogs are an excellent team. I do not want anyone to get the wrong idea here. I'm not too fond of their second-round matchup with Winthrop. Because of this, I think the +500 is not enticing enough for me to pull the trigger.

Dark Horse:

USC-Upstate +2100

USC-Upstate is simply a value play if you give me the four seed at +2100, I'll take that all day. On top of that, they are on the opposite side of the Bracket as Winthrop, who is the strongest team in the tournament, in my opinion.

Picks:

Winthrop +210

USC-Upstate +2100

Horizon

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

1) Cleveland St. +230

2) Purdue Fort Wayne +500

3) Northern Kentucky +400

4) Wright St. +390

5) Oakland +650

6) Detroit +1200

7) Youngtown St. +2300

8) UIC +3200

9) Milwaukee +31000

10) Robert Morris +18000

11) Green Bay +22000

12) IUPUI +50000

Favourites:

Cleveland St. +230

Cleveland St. has been the strongest team in the Horizon all year. They have backed their way into the tournament, falling to Oakland and Detroit to finish the regular season. I wouldn't look into the late slide too hard as in my eyes they still are the class of the conference.

Wright St. +390

The Raiders are an exciting team and could be a problem. They have the best offence in the conference and great value at +390. I like this team making a run if their defence can make a few stops in crunch time.

Contenders:

Purdue Fort Wayne +500

The Mastodons are the hottest team coming into the tournament (9-1). I do not necessarily think they are the strongest by any means, but if you want the ride the momentum +500, that is a pretty nice number.

Northern Kentucky +400

Northern Kentucky comes into the tournament winners of eight of their last ten. They carry a very stout defence and get on the offensive boards. I believe defence and rebounding is key in March, and +400 isn't a bad number.

Oakland +650

The Grizzles have all the tools to make a run, but they have fallen apart the last few weeks, losing three of their final four to end the season. I loved this squad earlier in the year, but now I cannot trust them.

Darkhorse:

Youngstown St. +2300

Youngstown comes in on a roll (7-3). They play very efficient offence but struggle defensively. As we have seen in March, the sky is the limit if you get a few hot shooters that make clutch shots.

Picks:

Wright St. +390

Northern Kentucky +400

Youngstown St. +2300

Ohio Valley

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

1) Murray St. -175

2) Belmont +240

3) Morehead St. +900

4) SEMO +1800

5) Tennessee St +4700

6) Austin Peavy +15000

7) Tennessee Tech +8500

8) SIUE +50000

Favourites:

Murray St. -175

I'm going to keep this real simple Murray St. is the best team in this tournament. Barring a collapse, I see the Racer’s winning The Ohio Valley Tournament and carrying momentum into the big dance.

Belmont +240

Belmont is a solid team, and any other year I would say they would have an excellent chance to win. I just cannot justify putting money on a team that lost by thirty to Murray St. less than a week ago.

Contenders:

Morehead St. +900

The defending champions have a road to the final, avoiding the Murray St. side of the Bracket. The Eagles play great defence and can be a problem in this Bracket.

SEMO +1800

The Redhawks have a terrible draw with Murray St. waiting for them if they get by their first-round matchup. They did play Murray St. very close in the season finale. I'm not saying they could pull the upset, but +1800 is a nice number.

Darkhorse:

Tennessee Tech +8500

The Golden Eagles, this is simply value. Tech is on the more accessible side of the Bracket in my eyes, and if a low seed is going to make a run, I see it on the bottom side. +8500 is an eye-popping number to throw a couple of bucks on.

Pick:

Murray St -175

SEMO +1800

Tennessee Tech +8500

Patriot

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

1) Colgate -210

2) Navy +650

3) Boston U. +480

4) Lehigh +6000

5) Army +3500

6) Loyola MD +1200

7) Holy Cross +50000

8) Lafayette +5500

9) Bucknell +25000

10) American +50000

Favourites:

Colgate -210

All year, the Raiders have been head and shoulders above everyone in the Patriot League. They come into the tournament winner of eleven straight I do not see a world where Colgate is not at the very least in the Patriot League final on March 9th in their own gym.

Contenders:

Navy +650 & Boston U. +480

Navy and Boston U. are on the opposite side of the Bracket as Colgate. This is a considerable advantage, and if either one of these two wins their opening round matchups, the bottom of the Bracket will run through Navy or Boston U. If you throw a few bucks on both of these teams, chances are one of them will be in the final playing at Colgate.

Dark Horse:

Holy Cross +50000

Hear me out on this one. If the Bracket breaks, it will be on the bottom half. Holy Cross has wins over Navy, Boston U, and Loyola. If you give me a team that has beat their whole side of the Bracket at +50000, I'll take that all day.

Picks:

Colgate -210

Holy Cross +50000

Sun Belt

Source: HoopsHD.com

Projected NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Seeds:

1) Texas St. +430

2) Appalachian St. +600

3) Georgia St. +270

4) Troy +900

5) South Alabama +410

6) Arkansas St. +1900

7) Coastal Carolina +1300

8) Louisiana +1200

9) UT Arlington +3200

10) Georgia Southern +6000

11) Louisiana Monroe +12000

12) Little Rock +50000

Favourites:

Georgia State +270

When the Panthers put it all together, I'm not sure anyone in this conference can beat them. They come into the tournament winners of seven straight and won't have to see co-favourite Texas St. until the finals.

Texas St. +430

The Bobcats aren't getting much respect from bookmakers. They come into the tournament winners of nine straight. I like the value of this line, and if you are going to give me the best team all year in a must-win tournament. I'll take the +430 any time!

Contenders:

South Alabama +410

The Jaguares have arguably the most talent in the Sun Belt. I can not trust them enough as their +410 is a worse line than I can get with Texas St., the number one seed going into the Sun Belt Tournament. I would not be surprised if the Jags make a run, but I can not pull the trigger at that number.

Appalachian St. +600

The Mountaineers have been a very consistent team all year. They play solid defence and do not turn over the ball. This +600 line is not giving App St. much respect. They aren't going to amaze you or blow anyone out, but they will be in every game and that +600 isn't looking so bad.

Dark Horse:

Coastal Carolina +1300

The Chanticleers are a chalky team. They beat everyone they should and lose to everyone they should, except the win over Georgia St. back in January. They shoot the three-ball well and play defence as well as anyone in the Sun Belt. I'm not sure if they can make a run, but I guess that is why they call it a dark horse.

Picks:

Texas St. +430

Georgia St. +270

Coastal Carolina +1300

As always, thank you for reading. I hope it helps you put a few extra bucks in your bank account. For the best odds and the official Sports-Book of GTD Sports, check out https://bit.ly/GTDSports-BetUS