Northeast Tournament Betting Guide: Finally Merrimack’s Time?

Northeast Tournament Best Bet: Central Connecticut State (+135)

The key here is the home-court advantage. The Blue Devils owe Sacred Heart a beer after stunning Merrimack on Saturday, helping hand them home-court advantage throughout the NEC Tournament. Merrimack and CCSU defended their home courts from one another in the regular season, and we can't imagine how rowdy a championship game would be in New Britain for a program that has been one of the worst in Division I over the past decade. In years past, we've seen NEC teams provide rowdy atmospheres in cramped gyms, and we're happy to back the team thriving in that hypothetical environment.

Northeast Tournament Favorite: Merrimack (+110)

Merrimack probably felt like it was on the wrong side of history last season. Despite being ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to the NCAA's four-year transition process to Division I, the Warriors went on to win the Northeast Tournament. Instead, the league's automatic bid was given to the team they beat in the championship game. That team was Fairleigh Dickinson, who defeated Texas Southern in the First Four and top-seeded Purdue in a historic upset. Merrimack's back, and so is Jordan Derkack. The sophomore guard is the best player in the league and can take over, which very few players can do in the conference.

Northeast Tournament Challenger: Central Connecticut State (+135)

Central Connecticut State's pair of matchups with Merrimack made for some of the most intriguing games on the Northeast schedule in 2024. The two split their regular-season meetings by a combined winning margin of eight points. Perhaps CCSU's star forward Allan Jeanne-Rose could again have a big outing in a potential championship game against Merrimack after combining for 47 points in their two previous matchups. The Fairfield transfer is the team's catalyst, and he will be driven to go out with a bang in his final collegiate season. 

Northeast Tournament Dark Horse: Sacred Heart (+1000)

There's a gap between the top two and the rest of the league, so we'll go with a third choice as our dark horse. The Pioneers made a statement this past weekend on the final day of the regular season, downing Merrimack and snapping their ten-game win streak. It helped hand Central Connecticut the top seed, shifting the landscape of this tournament. Nico Galette is a defensive stud and 1,000-point scorer who could give Merrimack a handful in a hypothetical semifinal.

Northeast Tournament Best Bet: Central Connecticut State (+135)

The key here is the home-court advantage. The Blue Devils owe Sacred Heart a beer after stunning Merrimack on Saturday, helping hand them home-court advantage throughout the NEC Tournament. Merrimack and CCSU defended their home courts from one another in the regular season, and we can't imagine how rowdy a championship game would be in New Britain for a program that has been one of the worst in Division I over the past decade. In years past, we've seen NEC teams provide rowdy atmospheres in cramped gyms, and we're happy to back the team thriving in that hypothetical environment.