NCAAB Power Rankings - Conference Championship Week

NCAAB Power Rankings:  Pitt and NC Tops Going into Conference Tournaments

After a terrific weekend in college basketball, it’s time for gamblers to take a step back, take a long look at the top squads in each conference, and plan for the Big Dance.

By the end of this Selection Sunday, some hearts will be broken and some dreams will come true as the field for March Madness will be decided.

Let’s take a look at the top teams in the BetUS NCAAB Power Rankings going into conference tournament week.

NCAAB Power Rankings

1. Pittsburgh Panthers, 16-8-1 ATS - - The Panthers beat the Connecticut Huskies again, this time at home and by 10 points as 4 ½ point underdogs, to secure the top spot in the power rankings.  Pitt is going to be extremely difficult in both the Big East tournament as well as the NCCA Tournament.  They’ve been the most consistent team in college basketball this season.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels, 11-17 ATS - - Their against the spread record is terrible, but things change gong into conference tournaments.  The pre-season #1 is going to be a bull in the Big Dance. They got the ball rolling after stomping the Duke Blue Devils 79 to 71 this past Sunday to capture the ACC title.

3. Memphis Tigers, 20-10 ATS - - Memphis may not have done enough this season, even after winning 22 games in a row, to garner a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.  That’s what happens when you play in a week conference.  Make no mistake, this team is very good.  Just ask Gonzaga who the Tigers roared past on the road by 18 points in February.

4. Kansas Jayhawks, 18-6-1 ATS - - After their stunning loss to Texas Tech, the Jayhawks got back into the groove and beat-up on the Texas Longhorns.  They covered in that game and now turn their attentions to the Big-12 tournament where they will have to take down Blake Griffin and the Oklahoma Sooners. 

5. Oklahoma Sooners, 13-12-1 ATS - - Speaking of the Sooners, they’ve gone 1 and 4 against the spread in their last 5 games.  Granted, Blake Griffin has been hurt, but now is not the time to slow down.  Did the Sooners peak too soon?  Bettors are going to find out very soon.

6. Louisville Cardinals, 18-12 ATS - - Connecticut is going to get a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament, no matter what happens in the Big East tourney, but it’s hard for me to look past Louisville who has won 7 games straight-up and has done so by covering against the spread.  This is a dynamite team, watch out!

7. Connecticut Huskies, 11-13 ATS - - The second straight loss to Pitt is striking because it sums up what I’ve been saying all season.  As good as Connecticut is, they don’t match-up well with Pitt.  Hopefully, these two teams meet in the Big East tournament championship, and then down the line in the Big Dance.  I’d be ecstatic to watch Pitt vs. UConn two more times this season.

8. Michigan State Spartans, 15-11-1 ATS - - They’ve won 5 games in a row, including beating Illinois on the road and taking down Purdue at home to solidify themselves as the best team in the Big Ten going into their conference tournament.  Should they win the Big Ten tourney, a top 2 seed is possible in the Big Dance.  They’re coached by Tom Izzo…yeah, this team is starting to look good.

9. Duke Blue Devils, 15-14-1 ATS - - They have to play well in the ACC Tournament, starting this Wednesday, if they hope to secure a top 3 seed on Selection Sunday.  Duke is a good team, but like Connecticut, they just don’t match-up well against their chief rival in their conference.

10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 15-10 ATS - - It’s going to be interesting to see how the young Demon Deacons perform in the ACC Conference tourney later on this week.  If Wake can somehow upset both Duke and NC, and take home the conference trophy, then a top 2 seed in the Big Dance is likely.