Posted on 10/23/2007 3:55:12 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting: Previewing the Big East Conference

By D.S. Williamson

College basketball is just around the corner and the BetUS NCAA basketball odds are out on who has the best chance of winning their respective conference. Today’s preview is all about the Big East where two extremely talented teams, Louisville and Georgetown, and three teams that have a huge shot to upset the proverbial apple-cart, are the primary contenders.

Here are the BetUS college basketball odds and true chances for those five teams to win the Big East Conference.

Louisville – BetUS NCAA Basketball Odds of + 250

Wow, those seem like low odds, but, in all honesty, this is Coach Rick Pitino’s best teams since he took over the reigns at Louisville. They return all five starters from last years’ team including their point-guard, Edgar Sosa. Pitino has a ton of confidence in Sosa. Sosa has a ton of confidence in that front-court made up of Juan Palacios, David Padgett, and Terence Williams. Throw Derrick Carter into that front-line, who averaged over 8 points a game last season, and suddenly Pitino’s got perhaps the best front-court in college basketball.

Chances to win Big East - + 250 is almost a gift on this team.

Georgetown – NCAA Basketball Odds of + 175

They return Roy Hibbert, Patrick Ewing Jr., Jonathan Wallace, Jessie Sapp, and Dajuan Summers. In fact, they return everyone from last years’ team save for Jeff Green. No worries. Coach John Thompson Jr. went out and grabbed two terrific Freshman guards in Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. With all of the good things being said, the odds are just too low to recommend. They have to get through Louisville and that won’t be easy no matter who you’ve got in the back-court.

Chance to win Big East - + 175 is too low in the Big East to recommend a future wager. Now, if the Hoyas’ odds were to flip-flop with Louisville…

Marquette – NCAA Basketball Odds of + 500

Marquette brings back their three guard line-up of Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal. That means they have the guns to be tough in an up and down game the entire season. One thing to note, though, is that this team has absolutely nobody close to sticking with Louisville’s front-court or Georgetown’s front-court.

Chance to win Big East – Not good at + 500. Still, once they get into the NCAA Tournament, teams are going to find it tough to deal with them. They are a better wager to win it all than to win the Big East.

Pittsburgh – NCAA Basketball Odds of + 1000

A solid team with great coaching and very good guards, the Panthers has what it takes to surprise in the Big East. The problem isn’t so much that the Panthers couldn’t surprise in the Big East, they definitely could, it’s that the odds should be somewhat higher for them to win the Big East. Still, 10 to 1 on a team that will has the guards to play against Marquette and a young front-court that should keep them in games versus Louisville and Georgetown means that they have the strength to maybe upset the Big East Conference this year…maybe.

Chance to win Big East – Wait for odds closer to + 1200. That extra 200 is a better reflection of their chances.

Providence – NCAA Basketball Odds of +1000

They also return three guards and that means that they might be a good play in the NCAA Tournament. But, to win the Big East Conference you have to play against the front-courts of Louisville and Georgetown and, unfortunately, Providence has no real front-line to speak of. Sure, they will stay in games because they’re tough, but they can’t win the Big East and they can’t win the Big East at odds of + 1000.

Chances to win Big East - + 1000 is just too low on a team that didn’t even make the NCAA Tournament last year and Louisville and Georgetown are just too good. Don’t even consider a wager unless you’re getting at least + 1600 on this team to win the Big East.

Go to the BetUS.com online sportsbook today to bet on NCAA basketball. We have the most current NCAA basketball odds and lines, as well as player and game props. Join BetUS.com to experience the best in online sports betting action!