It’s the most wonderful time of the year as we enter conference tournament week.
In a taste of the ghosts of college basketball’s past, the Big East is among the most competitive conferences in all of college hoops.
The Big East features three teams ranked inside the top 25, including the UConn Huskies, who are ranked No. 2 and are the clear favorite to win the NCAA Tournament later this month.
Unsurprisingly, they are also favorites to win a competitive Big East Tournament, with the top seed coming in at -165 at BetMGM Sportsbook.
They are followed by second-seeded Creighton (+375), third-seeded Marquette (+600) and sixth-seeded Villanova, a distant fourth (12/1).
St. John’s, the No. 5 seed, has the fifth-best odds at 14/1.
It is worth noting that if you’re located in the same state as a college sports team, in most cases, you will not be able to bet on them.
For instance, if you’re in Connecticut, you won’t be able to bet on the Huskies, meaning if you bet on another team and UConn wins the Big East Tournament, you will get your wager back.
It all kicks off on Wednesday when Xavier faces Butler and then concludes with the final coming March 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
Big East tournament odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| UConn Huskies | -165 |
| Creighton Bluejays | +375 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | +600 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 12/1 |
| St. John’s Red Storm | 14/1 |
| Seton Hall Pirates | 40/1 |
| Providence Friars | 80/1 |
| Xavier Musketeers | 100/1 |
| Butler Bulldogs | 150/1 |
| DePaul Blue Demons | 250/1 |
| Georgetown Hoyas | 250/1 |
Don’t look too closely at any of the long shots further down the board, as this conference is extremely top heavy and unlikely to see many upsets.
Followers of the conference remember that Creighton upset UConn earlier in the season with a blowout victory.
But Creighton lacks the necessary size and its 3-point variance can only take them so far.
Betting on College Basketball?
It’s not the sexy pick, but its all about the Huskies and their well-rounded squad in this one.
Dan Hurley’s group is a force.
PICK: UConn Huskies win the Big East Tournament (-165, BetMGM)