NCAAB · 1 year ago

Conference USA Tournament Betting Guide: Tech’s Time to Tango?

David Connelly

Host · Writer

C-USA Tournament Best Bet: Sam Houston State (+480)
The top-seeded team in the field has the fourth-shortest odds. We'll take our chances here with a team on a seven-game win streak boasting the best three-point percentage in the conference and top three units on both sides of the floor. This team has legitimate depth, plenty of capable guards, and a debut head coach in Chris Mudge, who has pulled a lot of the right strings in his first year at the Division I level. The Bearkats are a bargain at such a long number, and we love their value here.
C-USA League Overview
Conference USA hasn't exactly shaken out how we expected in the preseason. Sam Houston State - picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll - is your regular-season champion. Liberty and Middle Tennessee State - tied for first in the preseason poll - both failed to finish inside the top three of the league standings. It's been a myriad of unpredictability this season within the league, and Louisiana Tech is your favorite as the lone team within the top 100 on KenPom. We talk all of these teams and one long shot to keep an eye on as things tip off in Huntsville this week.
C-USA Tournament Favorite: Louisiana Tech (+110)
There are few mid-major inside-outside duos like Daniel Batcho and Isaiah Crawford for Louisiana Tech. It feels inevitable that they are going to get theirs, and it almost comes down to limiting their tertiary options from having big outings. Both Batcho and Crawford can kill you slowly with their elite ability to get to the free-throw line. Both rank top ten in the league in free throw rate, both doing so through embracing contact and utilizing their plus-size frames. It's clear when watching them play why they are the favorite, and it'll take a disciplined performance to beat the Bulldogs.
C-USA Tournament Challenger: Liberty (+400)
To call a fourth-place finish in their first season within a more difficult league is a testament to how elite Liberty has been as a mid-major in the past handful of years. Ritchie McKay hasn't quite been able to get as much out of his guys as we may have originally thought, but they are still certainly in the running for an automatic bid here. The only stark difference between this team and last season's is 2023 All-American Honorable Mention Darius McGhee, who is currently at the next level in the G-League. His impact on this team was monumental, and it's showing this season. Still, we refuse to doubt Professor McKay and his wondrous ability to scheme open looks and dissect opposing defenses.
C-USA Tournament Dark Horse: Jacksonville State (+2500)
Among the bottom ten nationally in KenPom's luck rating, Jacksonville State is far superior to whattheir 6-10 league record states. It provides a bit of value on them at this monstrous number, likely due to their involvement in Tuesday night's play-in game. Many will remember Xavier transfer KyKy Tandy, who was an All-Conference First-Team selection this season for the Gamecocks. His athleticism and three-point shooting make him a big fish in a small pond here and a player that can take over a game at any given moment. They've also swept Liberty and downed Sam Houston State already this season, their two potential opponents should they get past FIU on Tuesday.
C-USA Tournament Best Bet: Sam Houston State (+480)
The top-seeded team in the field has the fourth-shortest odds. We'll take our chances here with a team on a seven-game win streak boasting the best three-point percentage in the conference and top three units on both sides of the floor. This team has legitimate depth, plenty of capable guards, and a debut head coach in Chris Mudge, who has pulled a lot of the right strings in his first year at the Division I level. The Bearkats are a bargain at such a long number, and we love their value here.
C-USA League Overview
Conference USA hasn't exactly shaken out how we expected in the preseason. Sam Houston State - picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll - is your regular-season champion. Liberty and Middle Tennessee State - tied for first in the preseason poll - both failed to finish inside the top three of the league standings. It's been a myriad of unpredictability this season within the league, and Louisiana Tech is your favorite as the lone team within the top 100 on KenPom. We talk all of these teams and one long shot to keep an eye on as things tip off in Huntsville this week.

Conference USA Tournament Betting Guide: Tech’s Time to Tango?

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