Predictions and Odds for College Basketball Conference Tournaments

• College basketball conference tournaments are starting this week and next week
• Odds are out now for who will win multiple conference tournaments
• Keep reading for my college basketball conference tournament picks, predictions, and odds

One of the best two-week spans for sports bettors is upon us. Yes, March Madness is amazing, but don’t sleep on the conference tournaments. Teams are battling for their NCAA Tournament lives, and this is where the midmajor teams start to distance themselves and prepare to pull off potential Round of 64 upsets.

The Power 5 conference tournaments start next week, but the midmajor conferences are beginning over the next few days. This article will be updated as more odds are released for conference tournaments, so be sure to come back for my latest picks.

See below for the latest conference tournament odds and predictions.

Sun Belt Conference Tournament Odds

All odds as of March 4 at DraftKings Sportsbook

As you can see, the odds to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament drop dramatically after the first four favorites. That is mostly due to the way the bracket is set up.

This conference tournament is a gauntlet. the 11-seed plays the 14-seed and the 12-seed and 13-seed play each other in the first round. Then the winner of each game moves to play the 8 and 9 seeds respectively. IT moves like that so on and so forth. Because of this layout, the 3 and 4 seeds are locked into the quarterfinals, and the 1 and 2 seeds are guaranteed to play in the semifinals.

That is a huge advantage for South Alabama and James Madison. They just need to win two games to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Despite that, the 3-seed Arkansas State is actually the odds-on favorite to win the tournament. The Red Wolves are ranked 87th in KenPom, the highest rating of any team in the conference.

Sun Belt Conference Tournament Predictions

When making my prediction for who will win this tournament, I am looking at the 2-seed James Madison. They offer value with the fourth-best odds to win at +380. They just need to win two games, and they are on the other side of the bracket than the surging 5-seed Marshall and the odds-on favorite Arkansas State. The Dukes won the tournament last season and went 2-1 in the regular season against Troy, Arkansas State, and South Alabama. James Madison will likely play Troy in their semifinal matchup, who they beat 64-61 back in early February.

Their head coach has tournament experience, and James Madison won five of their last six games to end the regular season. In the month of March, it is important to look at guard play, and the Dukes have a great duo in Mark Freeman and Bryce Lindsay. They are great from behind the arc and don’t turn the ball over. Bet the Dukes to win their second straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament due to their coaching, talent, and being on the favorable side of the bracket.

• Sun Belt Conference Tournament Pick: James Madison (+380)

Horizon League Conference Tournament Odds

The Horizon League tournament tips off on March 4 and is wide open. Any of the top seeds have a good chance of winning and clinching a spot in March Madness. Last year’s winner Oakland made some noise in the tournament on the back of Jack Gohlke, but the Golden Grizzlies are +1400 to win the Horizon League this year.

Horizon League Conference Tournament Prediction

Oakland beat Milwaukee in the Horizon League final last season, so the Panthers are out for revenge this season. They are the highest KenPom-rated team in the conference and can attack you in a number of ways with five players averaging at least 11 points per game this season. The Panthers also have an advantage on the glass with Jamichael Stillwell who averages just under 11 rebounds per game. Milwaukee went 14-6 in conference play and won five of their last six games.

I can see any of the top five teams winning this tournament, but I am rolling with the only team that is in the top four in the conference in both scoring offense and defense.

• Horizon League Conference Tournament Pick: Milwaukee (+280)

Big South Conference Tournament Odds

In the Big South Conference Tournament that tips off on March 5, all eyes are on the favorite, High Point. The Panthers are 26-5 overall, lost just two conference games all year, and have won eleven games in a row.

As the college basketball odds suggest, there is a huge drop-off after High Point. If you are looking for a value pick, I would look at UNC Asheville at +750. The Bulldogs split the season series with the Panthers. UNC Asheville won the first meeting 103-99 but lost later in the season 104-100. Both were high-scoring, close games and if there is any team that can match up well with High Point, it is them.

Big South Conference Tournament Prediction

Still, I am betting on High Point to come out on top and reach the NCAA Tournament. According to KenPom, the Panthers are a top 90 team in the country and are 26th in offensive efficiency. This team can score at ease on any team they face and need to win this tournament to make the dance. Bet on High Point to keep rolling.

• Big South Conference Tournament Pick: High Point (-250)

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Odds

The OVC tournament starts on March 5, and just eight of the eleven teams in the conference make the tournament. Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) is the favorite after winning the regular season title. The Redhawks lost their regular season finale after clinching the 1-seed in this tournament, but before that, they rattled off ten straight wins.

OVC Tournament Prediction

This tournament is a two-horse race between the favorites: SEMO and SIU Edwardsville. The Redhawks swept the season series between the two schools, winning both matchups by at least 15 points. These two top seeds have a double bye and are guaranteed to play in the semifinals, so each team needs just two wins to clinch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

SEMO is first in the conference in offensive efficiency and second in defensive efficiency. Brad Korn took over as the head coach in 2020 and won the OVC Tournament in 2023 with the Redhawks, but this appears to be the best team he has had to date. Their offense is led by Rob Martin and Teddy Washington, who combine for almost 30 points per game. Take the most complete team to win the OVC.

• Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Pick: Southeast Missouri State (+150)

West Coast Conference Tournament Odds

As it is every year, the WCC tournament that tips off March 6 is basically a tournament between two teams. Gonzaga and Saint Marys have played each other in the tournament final in seven of the last nine years, and the Bulldogs have reached the final in the last 27 WCC tournaments. With the tournament format, both Gonzaga and Saint Marys are guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

WCC Tournament Prediction

Santa Clara and San Francisco have gotten better and can cause problems for the top two teams in the regular season, but they cannot seem to get past the Bulldogs or Gaels in the tournament. If you are looking for a value, you could do worse than Santa Clara, but the winner will likely be Saint Marys or Gonzaga.

This might not be the Gonzaga team of years past, but I still like the Bulldogs to win this tournament. With head coach Mark Few and guard Ryan Nembhard, the Bulldogs will be a tough out. Not only are they trying to reach their 28th straight WCC final, but they are also trying to keep their Sweet 16 streak alive. Gonzaga has reached nine straight Sweet 16s.

Gonzaga also has Graham Ike who has tournament experience, is dominant down low, and can knock down jumpers. They lost twice to Saint Marys in the regular season, but I like for them to get their revenge when it matters the most. Santa Clara is the biggest threat to either of these teams, and Gonzaga is on the other side of the bracket. Bet on Gonzaga to win the WCC tournament, no matter how boring it is.

• West Coast Conference Tournament Pick: Gonzaga (-125)

As college basketball conference tournaments approach, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating the excitement and drama that comes with these high-stakes games. With teams vying for a spot in the NCAA tournament, every game becomes crucial in determining their postseason fate.

One of the key aspects of conference tournaments is predicting which teams have the best chance of coming out on top. While some favorites may seem obvious based on regular season performance, upsets are always a possibility in the world of college basketball.

In terms of odds, sportsbooks and analysts will be closely monitoring the performances of teams leading up to the tournament to determine which teams are the most likely to win. Factors such as overall record, strength of schedule, and recent performance will all play a role in determining a team’s odds of success.

In addition to predicting the winners of conference tournaments, analysts will also be keeping an eye on potential dark horse teams that could make a surprise run. These teams may not be the favorites on paper, but they have the talent and potential to make a deep run in the tournament.

Ultimately, college basketball conference tournaments are unpredictable and full of excitement. As fans gear up for the action, they can expect to see thrilling games, unexpected upsets, and intense competition as teams battle it out for a chance to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.