NCAAB · 1 year ago

Big East Tournament Betting Guide: Madness at the Mecca

David Connelly

Host · Writer

Big East Tournament Best Bet: St. John's (+1400)
I think many are underestimating the power of this St. John's fanbase when it's in full effect. This group is surging at the right time, and they have already come down from their original +1600 pricing in the marketplace. #4 Seton Hall was a great quarterfinal draw as a team that has outperformed its metrics all season. We expected to see them a bit closer to +1000 than this, so we'll gladly take the price on the de facto home team entering on a winning streak.
Big East League Overview
For the first time since the conclusion of its realignment more than a decade ago, the Big East truly feels like it's back to being a premier conference in college basketball. It's looking like the league could net five or even six teams in the NCAA Tournament this season, and the rivalries are continuing to grow. With #4 Seton Hall, #5 St. John's, #6 Villanova, and #7 Providence still looking to make final impressions in front of the selection committee in order to cement their spot in the field, there is plenty of drama awaiting from the Mecca this week. Let's break down the field and where the value lies.
Big East Tournament Favorite: UConn (-160)
The Husky faithful are ready to take over Madison Square Garden, otherwise known as self-proclaimed Storrs South. UConn will easily have the most fans reporting to mid-town Manhattan outside of St. John's, and they may even have the Red Storm fans outnumbered. They enjoyed a statement victory early last month over St. John's in this building, and there's a chance we could get another rematch in the semifinals. UConn has battled some injuries throughout the year, and they've been nearly unstoppable while fully healthy. This price may be steep in such a competitive field, but it's for good reason with a team this elite.
Big East Tournament Challenger: Creighton (+340)
Creighton remains the only team in the country to have really given it to UConn across 40 minutes this season. The difference is that the game was in Omaha and any potential title game rematch will be heavily attended by UConn fans. The Bluejays had perhaps their worst performance of the season up in Storrs back in January, so it will be interesting to see how they match up against the Huskies in a hypothetical final on a neutral court. Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander are one of the top duos in the country, while Ryan Kalkbrenner remains an elite paint presence and now a two-time Defen
Big East Tournament Dark Horse: St. John's (+1400)
The Johnnies have plenty going for them ahead of the battle for the Big East crown. As always, the games will be in their home, Madison Square Garden. They are also playing their best ball of the season with a five-game wins streak entering the event. This team also has loads of talent that has just taken some time to mesh with a smattering of transfers. And, of course, the coaching advantage of having Rick Pitino on your sideline. He is the most accomplished head coach in this conference and has the ability to go toe-to-toe with all ten coaches. The emergence of Daniss Jenkins has also been key here. The Iona transfer has become a leader in the backcourt and a great outside option to take some pressure off star center Joel Soriano. If some of the tertiary pieces could step up this week, that would go a long way for the Red Storm's chances of claiming their first Big East Tournament title since 2000.
Big East Tournament Best Bet: St. John's (+1400)
I think many are underestimating the power of this St. John's fanbase when it's in full effect. This group is surging at the right time, and they have already come down from their original +1600 pricing in the marketplace. #4 Seton Hall was a great quarterfinal draw as a team that has outperformed its metrics all season. We expected to see them a bit closer to +1000 than this, so we'll gladly take the price on the de facto home team entering on a winning streak.
Big East League Overview
For the first time since the conclusion of its realignment more than a decade ago, the Big East truly feels like it's back to being a premier conference in college basketball. It's looking like the league could net five or even six teams in the NCAA Tournament this season, and the rivalries are continuing to grow. With #4 Seton Hall, #5 St. John's, #6 Villanova, and #7 Providence still looking to make final impressions in front of the selection committee in order to cement their spot in the field, there is plenty of drama awaiting from the Mecca this week. Let's break down the field and where the value lies.

Big East Tournament Betting Guide: Madness at the Mecca

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