Conference Tournament Time 🏀

March is in full swing now with conference championship week! This is the appetizer to the NCAA Tournament. It’s also the start of the two best gambling weeks of the year!

Here are my picks for the bigger conference tournaments. Happy March!

Conference Tournament Best Bets and Picks 🍿

Big 12

Iowa State vs Kansas (-4.5): This game is going to be a slugfest because of how good Iowa State is on defense. Kansas is more talented and is up for the #1 overall seed in the tournament. Jalen Wilson is the difference for the Jayhawks. Kansas wins and covers the 4.5-point spread, setting them up for a rematch with Texas.

TCU vs Texas (-2.5): This game is also going to be a slugfest with how physical each team is. Mike Miles Jr. might be the best point guard in the country, but TCU doesn’t have much after him. Texas has a ton of guards and at points plays 4 at a time. That’s the difference in this game. Texas wins and covers the 2.5-point spread.

Conference Winner: Texas is the pick. Their guard play is just too good and too deep. They also have the motivation to do it after what they dealt with this season and after Kansas already won the regular season. Texas beats Kansas in a thriller.

Big East

UConn (-3.5) vs Marquette: No team is hotter than UConn right now in the Big East. They’ve won 9 of their last 10 games and have recovered a bit after a slow start to Big East play. Marquette is the regular season champion, but had a scare last game against St. John’s. UConn is the pick in this spot because of their consistency. UConn wins and covers the 3.5-point spread.

Creighton vs Xavier: Creighton might be the most talented team in the Big East. They just need to be more consistent. Xavier is probably the best offensive team in the Big East too. Creighton should win and pull away in a close game. Creighton wins and covers the 3.5-point spread.

Conference Winner: Creighton wins this tournament. They’re talent is the difference, while UConn is the hotter team, Creighton’s talent wins out and they’re Big East Champs.

ACC

Duke (-2.5) vs Miami: Duke is not the normal team they usually are this year. They’re insanely talented, but haven’t been able to be consistent enough. They’re playing well right now, but Miami has been the opposite. They’ve been the most consistent team in the ACC thanks to their guards. Miami is the pick in this spot. Miami covers 2.5 points and wins outright.

Clemson vs Virginia (-3): Clemson has been good this season, but the question is how good they really are. With Virginia, you can count on their defense to be elite like it has been a season. Virginia is the pick in this spot. You can count on their defense a ton. They cover 3 points and win outright.

Conference Winner: Miami is the only team in the ACC that has been consistent this year. They have great guards with Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, and that’s the difference. Miami wins a close game against Virginia.

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Pac-12

Oregon vs UCLA (-6): This is an underrated matchup in the Pac-12. These two teams are very physical and it should lead to a slugfest. Oregon has the size to bother UCLA, but UCLA is more talented overall. Guard play is the difference, and that favors UCLA. Oregon covers this 6-point spread, but UCLA wins this game close.

Arizona State vs Arizona (-7.5): These two rivals hate each other. Arizona State is a feisty team that’s on the bubble, and could use another win to feel safe. Arizona is one of the best offensive teams in college basketball and this is a revenge game too after the crazy half-court buzzer-beater that Arizona State hit. Arizona covers and wins in this revenge spot.

Conference winner: Arizona wins this tournament. UCLA is missing Jaylen Clark, their best defender, and Arizona can take advantage of that. Arizona has the better offense and better front court. The crowd also favors Arizona. Wildcats win the title in Vegas.

SEC

Mississippi State vs Alabama (-8): Mississippi State struggles to score, while Alabama doesn’t and does most things well. Alabama wins and covers.

Tennessee (-5.5) vs Missouri: Tennessee is the better team and is elite on defense. Missouri can score, but will struggle against Tennessee. Tennessee wins and covers.

Arkansas vs Texas A&M (pick’em): These two teams are very evenly matched. The difference is A&M’s backcourt with Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford. A&M wins here.

Vanderbilt vs Kentucky (-8.5): Vanderbilt is a surprise to be here, while Kentucky would like to win here and the rest of the tournament. Kentucky wins and covers and gets revenge after Vanderbilt beat them on a buzzer-beater.

Conference Winner: Texas A&M is going to win this conference. They have the best backcourt in the conference. They should beat Alabama in the final.

Big Ten

Rutgers vs Purdue (-5.5): Rutgers is on the bubble and should be safe. Purdue is a very good team and is lead by Zach Edey down low. Purdue wins and covers.

Ohio State vs Michigan State (-4.5): Ohio State is lucky to be here, but this is where the run ends. Tom Izzo is too good in March. Michigan State wins and covers.

Penn State vs Northwestern (-2): These two teams are very even. Penn State is on the bubble and is going to be more motivated, while Northwestern is happy to be there. Penn State covers and wins outright.

Maryland vs Indiana (-2): Maryland is underrated, but Indiana is the best team in the Big Ten, thanks to Trayce Jackson-Davis. Indiana wins and covers a close game.

Conference Winner: Indiana is the best team in the Big Ten. They should win another thriller against Purdue in the championship game. The Hoosiers are set up to make a run in March too.

The World Baseball Classic is Here 😎

The WBC is finally here. I was going to break down each team, but instead, I just want to highlight the Czech Republic...

They are not full time ball players, but in fact, a bunch of average dudes who work normal jobs. Teachers, Sales Managers, Auditors, and more. It’s pretty awesome to represent your country on the world stage as a normal guy. It’s the honor of a lifetime. That being said, they should get smashed.

Anyway, go USA!

Bet w/ Your Head 🧠

• Remember to bet responsibly

• Bet with your head and not over it

• Take breaks

• Use money you can afford to lose

• Set limits for yourself

• 😭 Ouch. KD is out because of this 

• 😂 Jake Paul ran away from Floyd Mayweather

• 🤔 What’s up with Dillon Brooks?

• 😳 Shawn Kemp is in trouble

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