THE BOARD
UConn Big East Champions +210
Creighton Big East Champions +250
Villanova Big East Champions +350
Xavier Big East Champions +470
Seton Hall Big East Champions +775
St. John’s Big East Champions +2000
Providence Big East Champions +3000
Georgetown Big East Champions +6000
Marquette Big East Champions +6000
Butler Big East Champions +8000
DePaul Big East Champions +30000
BEST BETS
Bobby
Georgetown Big East Champions +6000
Marquette Big East Champions +6000
Any bet for anybody on the UConn side of the bracket seems unadvisable. The Huskies have won 6 of their last 7 and are playing as a complete team with Bouknight back in the lineup. I’m of the opinion that Coach Hurley deserves Big East Coach of the Year, and I bet that their team is ecstatic to be back playing in the Garden. Granted, this is the Big East, so I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody took their knees out on their way to the final, but I don’t like the math of betting on anybody on their side of the bracket.
Here’s a stat you will only find on Bet the Blue and Gray… Georgetown and Marquette are a combined 8-3 in their last eleven games, but ALL THREE OF THOSE LOSSES CAME AGAINST UCONN. One of these teams has significant value at +6000 especially given the substantial probability that UConn slips up in at least one of their games en route to the final. By betting on these two teams, Atlantic City is only putting the odds of either the Golden Eagles or Hoyas a mere 3.3% chance to win the Big East Tournament. You can’t honestly look me in the eyes and tell me that it would take over 30 simulated Big East tournaments for just one of these two teams to win. Again, I’m not expecting it to happen, but the value is sort of insane. Just hope the championship game doesn’t involve anybody named Akok Akok.
Jake
Seton Hall Big East Champions +775
St. John’s Big East Champions +2000
Yes, I am aware that these two teams play each other in the first round of the Big East Tournament. In my mind, the winner of this game has a legitimate shot of winning it all. The winner faces either a hobbled Villanova, Georgetown or Marquette. Am I crazy for thinking at least a path to the finals is in play for either team? Does anyone else see the value in these odds?
I would like it on record that Posh Alexander was my Big East Freshman of the Year Pick. He also belongs on the First-Team All-NCAA Names list. I am not sure if he’ll be playing in the Big East Tournament, but he is a spark plug for the Red Storm. Julian Champagnie is also a certified bucket, simple as that. St. John’s has beaten every Big East team except Creighton at least once, so this scenario is not implausible. Now, James Bougknight did not play in their win against UConn, however I feel as though they’re bound to fall. Everyone is hot on the Huskies but after all, this is March. St. John’s is also a different team in Madison Square Garden. Keep your eyes open.
Seton Hall ended the season on a four-game losing streak. That does not bode well for a team looking to make a run in the Big East Tournament. If they can outlast St. John’s though, the door is open. This team has underperformed all season. I called them underrated prior to their last matchup with Georgetown, only for them to drop four consecutive games. Ignore the recency bias, and consider the depth, talent, and experience of this Seton Hall team. Almost all of their contributors are juniors and seniors, hungry to make a statement after a disappointing end to the season. Kevin Willard is the last coach not named Jay Wright to win the Big East Tournament as well. Just food for thought.
Value, value, value…
Armen
UConn Big East Champions +210
Today, my friends, we’re basically betting on horses. If Secretariat was racing, would you listen to the idiots telling you to bet on the +2000 underdog in gate 8? No. You simply cannot tell me that there is any team in this conference playing better than UConn right now. Just look at what they’ve done to the Hoyas. They just can’t be stopped. Sure, they don’t have the greatest odds, but who cares. Who needs value when you can just pick the winner?
John
Creighton Big East Champions +250
Were Greg McDermott’s comments despicable? Probably. Do I think it’s somewhat of a smoke screen to take the Bluejays off the public eye to win the Big East tourney? ABSOLUTELY. Creighton already beat UConn twice this season, once with Bouknight and once without. In the loss, Bouknight dropped 40, and he can’t do more than that for the Huskies. Villanova without Gillespie and Moore is a bettor’s hell. You probably can’t find a team colder than Xavier at the moment, except for maybe DePaul and Butler. I don’t necessarily dislike Seton Hall and St. John’s, but they’re playing each other and the game is going to come down to the wire, so that’s a no no. Give me Creighton in a rout over Georgetown in the championship game. I’m attaching my bracket below.
*** All bets are completely theoretical and based on delusion. This column is for entertainment purposes only.
