Pac-12 Tournament Betting Guide: Perhaps a Surging Contender?

Pac-12 Tournament Best Bet: USC (+1400)

USC is playing like the team they were pegged to be in preseason. It's pretty selective, but since the start of March, they have ranked in the top 20 nationally in Bart Torvik's T-Rank. A combination of newcomers and injuries derailed most of their year. Still, the Trojans were a freight train down the season's stretch, culminating with a statement win over Arizona at home. This number has plummeted since opening at +4500, and we are getting on the wagon.

Dig deeper into the case for USC as a Betting Dark Horse in the Pac-12

Isaiah Collier is finally performing like the five-star freshman advertised, while DJ Rodman and Kobe Johnson are playing their best basketball of the season. If Boogie Ellis can get healthier down the stretch here, USC has the horses to get past Arizona yet again and become a legitimate bid-steal candidate.

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Pac-12 Tournament Favorite: Arizona (-150)

The most talent and highest ceiling undoubtedly resides in Tucson within the Pac-12. Caleb Love looks like a different player since transferring from North Carolina, Pelle Larsson is a legitimate NBA prospect, and Oumar Ballo is an unstoppable force within the paint. 

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The concern with the Wildcats is the occasional off night that has been so costly to them over the past two seasons. It most notably came against 15-seed Princeton in last year's NCAA Tournament, providing one of the all-time March Madness upsets we have seen. It's happened twice against Washington State and two other times against conference bottom-feeders Stanford and Oregon State. Ghosts of upsets past make it challenging to back them across a three-game futures wager, and we're not interested whatsoever at this steep minus-money price.

Pac-12 Tournament Challenger: Colorado (+480)

The Buffs have the metrics to be in the field but need more results. That's where the Pac-12 Tournament comes in, their final opportunity to add to their resume and play their way into the NCAA Tournament field. Their only Quad 1 wins have come against Washington and Oregon, two teams unlikely to be in the NCAA Tournament. A win over #6 Utah in the quarterfinals would sit just outside the first quadrant, and beating #2 Washington State in the semifinals would almost certainly seal their fate in the field. 

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If projected lottery pick Cody Williams can get healthy ahead of the action in Vegas, it would be a much-needed boost for this Buffs team.

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Pac-12 Tournament Dark Horse: Washington State (+700)

These odds surprised us. While Colorado's predictive metrics are superior, the Cougars have the results, including a season sweep over top-seeded Arizona and a matchup advantage that could prove beneficial should they meet in the championship. 

Myles Rice is the architect of the offense, a red-shirt freshman point guard who can both score and create for others at will. Idaho transfer Isaac Jones uses his physical frame and coordination to score from wild shooting angles around the rim while drawing contact at one of the highest rates in the league. Jaylen Wells has come into his own as a sharpshooter for this team, and their size and length have provided matchup nightmares for plenty of opponents. 

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Washington State is a true contender not only in this field but also in March Madness.

Pac-12 Tournament Best Bet: USC (+1400)

USC is playing like the team they were pegged to be in preseason. It's pretty selective, but since the start of March, they have ranked in the top 20 nationally in Bart Torvik's T-Rank. A combination of newcomers and injuries derailed most of their year. Still, the Trojans were a freight train down the season's stretch, culminating with a statement win over Arizona at home. This number has plummeted since opening at +4500, and we are getting on the wagon.

Dig deeper into the case for USC as a Betting Dark Horse in the Pac-12

Isaiah Collier is finally performing like the five-star freshman advertised, while DJ Rodman and Kobe Johnson are playing their best basketball of the season. If Boogie Ellis can get healthier down the stretch here, USC has the horses to get past Arizona yet again and become a legitimate bid-steal candidate.

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