Posted on
3/10/2008 4:57:37 PM
Endzone - NCAA Hoops March Madness
By Eric Williams
Okay BetUS.com NCAA Basketball Betting Community, after an absolutely thrilling weekend of college basketball action that cleared up the overall picture a bit as far as the annual NCAA National Tournament scene is concerned, it’s time to get geared up for some even more serious college hoops wagering in the BetUS.com Sportsbook as several ‘bubble teams’ get set for the start of their respective conference tournaments that will take place with the start of Championship Week games and all week prior to the annual NCAA ‘Selection Sunday’ event that kicked off Sunday, March, 9.
While many teams have already earned their respective places in the national tournament and several others are ‘locks’ to get in, numerous teams still need to pick up wins to solidify their chances of getting in.
With what looks like six to eight ‘bubble’ spots available this year, some deserving teams that have been featured in the BetUS.com Locker Room this season will be left on the outside looking in, as usual, while others make an emphatic case for their inclusion in the tournament.
Here is a look at some of the top ‘Bubble teams’ in the nation and a look at their respective chances of getting into the annual national tournament.
After last weekend’s games, my top ‘bubble’ teams in the nation are, Ohio State, which may have assured itself an appearance in the tournament by emphatically beating No. 18 Michigan State 63-54 at home on Sunday.
The Buckeyes have posted a respectable 19-12 overall record this season and have gone 13-13-1 against the spread in the BetUS.com Sportsbook this season despite losing Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. to the NBA Draft.
Three Pac-10 teams are also on the bubble, though only one might make it in after UCLA, Stanford and Washington State gain entry.
The Arizona State Sun Devils, (19-11 SU, 14-11-1 ATS), Oregon Ducks, (18-12 SU, 14-11-3 ATS), and Arizona Wildcats, (18-13. 15-13-1 ATS), will fight to the finish in the Pac-10 tourney that starts on Wednesday.
My personal pick of the three is the Sun Devils, but that certainly isn’t etched in stone.
Other bubble teams that I like are the Kentucky Wildcats, (18-11 SU, 14-11-1 ATS) who may have knocked out fellow SEC and bubble team, Florida, (21-10 SU, 11-11 ATS), out of the tourney picture with their 75-70 home victory over the two-time defending champs on Sunday.
The UMass Minutemen, (21-9 SU, 14-12-1 ATS), also have an excellent shot at getting in and could help themselves with another victory or two in this week’s A-10 tournament scheduled to start on Wednesday, while also knocking out another A-10 bubble team, the Temple Owls, one of the best ATS bubble teams in the country,(18-12 SU, 19-11 ATS).
The Texas A&M Aggies, (22-9 SU, 12-13 ATS), are another team with a solid overall record that remains sitting on the fence and will need another victory or two in this week’s Big 12 Tournament though they have been mediocre at best against the spread this season.
Maybe it’s me, but something tells me that if the Syracuse Orange, (19-12 SU, 14-15 ATS), get in to the NCAA Tournament, they could catch fire and win a few games before bowing out.
Another Big East team that is sitting on the fence is the Villanova Wildcats, (19-11 SU, 11-16 ATS). Though they haven’t performed well against the spread all season and have been an inconsistent bunch five wins in their last seven games – and another one or two in the Big East tournament – could get them in.
Another bubble team that I think could cause some teams problems in the NCAA Tournament and one of the better ATS bubble teams in the country, is the UAB Blazers, (22-9 SU, 15-10-1 ATS), who are in second place in the competitive Conference USA. One more victory in the conference tournament which begins on Wednesday and this team should definitely be in.
Another solid ATS Team that has posted a stellar overall record this season and should find its way into the national tournament is the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, (25-5 SU, 15-12 ATS).
The Virginia Tech Hokies are another bubble team that has performed solidly against the spread this season, (16-11 ATS), and has approached 20 wins by going 18-12 straight up this season. The Hokies may have helped their cause a bit by beating fellow ACC rivals, Clemson 70-69 on Sunday.
One of the best ATS teams in the nation and one of the best bets to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament is the New Mexico Lobos, (24-7 SU, 22-7-1 ATS). While I think this team should already be in the tournament, one more win in this week’s Mountain West Conference Tournament, should secure their place in the National Championship Tournament.
Davidson, (25-6 SU, 19-10 ATS), looks like another NCAA team that should likely be in the tournament and is undoubtedly one of the best ATS teams in the nation while Dayton, (20-9 SU, 11-13 ATS), Houston, (22-8 SU, 13-12 ATS), and VCU, (24-7 SU, 17-10-1 ATS) also are possibilities to gain entrance into the NCAA Tournament as well.
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