MAC Tournament Betting Guide: Are the Favorite Zips Vulnerable?

MAC Tournament Best Bet: Toledo (+330)

A trip to the NCAA Tournament feels long overdue for head coach Tod Kowalczyk, who is one of the best offensive minds in the country. Despite consistently boasting a top-100 offense nationally over the past decade, the Rockets have failed to make a March Madness appearance out of it. We feel that changes this year, primarily due to a lack of defense across the league. This group ended the season on a high note in wins over Buffalo and Miami (OH) away from home as well as a 15-point victory over first-round foe #8 Kent State. Back the Rockets to find their spot in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.

MAC Tournament Favorite: Akron (+175)

While Akron is the favorite, the Zips have limped to the finish lately. They went 3-5 down the stretch, including a pair of stunning defeats to Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan in the final two games. Something similar happened last season, where they really struggled against teams a second time around. The silver lining for Akron is that they possess two of the top players in the conference Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali, a dominant frontcourt that can push them past any opponent in this league. They'll have their hands full immediately facing #7 Miami (OH), who they fell to in their lone regular-season meeting.

MAC Tournament Challenger: Ohio (+240)

Ohio has been a freight train in the back half of the MAC season, winning eight of nine, with their lone defeat coming to top-seeded Toledo in a narrow two-point road defeat. Head coach Jeff Boals has proved his coaching chops in the past by leading this team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and we've come to trust him as someone who always keeps his teams relevant. The key for this team will be the performance of star guard Jaylin Hunter. The senior was dominating the league up until late February, where he's now fallen short of double-figures in four of their previous five outings. He will need to get going in order for the Bobcats to contend for the league's auto bid.

MAC Tournament Dark Horse: Kent State (+850)

Kent State has been the victim of late-game variance plenty of times throughout the season. The Golden Flashes are far better than their 8-10 record indicates, losing ten of their 16 games by ten points or fewer this season. It's why they are at a lower price despite their sub-.500 record, and they've got a brutal first-round draw against #1 Toledo. We would advise proceeding with caution, though, because there may be some merit to an inability to close out games in closer, high-leverage game situations.

MAC Tournament Best Bet: Toledo (+330)

A trip to the NCAA Tournament feels long overdue for head coach Tod Kowalczyk, who is one of the best offensive minds in the country. Despite consistently boasting a top-100 offense nationally over the past decade, the Rockets have failed to make a March Madness appearance out of it. We feel that changes this year, primarily due to a lack of defense across the league. This group ended the season on a high note in wins over Buffalo and Miami (OH) away from home as well as a 15-point victory over first-round foe #8 Kent State. Back the Rockets to find their spot in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.