I've been doing this for a few years now and enjoy putting my thoughts to proverbial paper and hearing views from other forum members, whether in agreement or conflicting. It's a forum so post your opinion, but please let's keep this to college hoops.
This thread will solely contain conference tournament notes, bracket predictions, potential sleepers and future bets. For individuals game bets, I will make those within my daily threads.
I've been doing this for a few years now and enjoy putting my thoughts to proverbial paper and hearing views from other forum members, whether in agreement or conflicting. It's a forum so post your opinion, but please let's keep this to college hoops.
This thread will solely contain conference tournament notes, bracket predictions, potential sleepers and future bets. For individuals game bets, I will make those within my daily threads.
And as an added preface, most future bets will in here will be value based where I'm playing a + odds team not favored to win but who I think has potential to hoist the conference crown.
And as an added preface, most future bets will in here will be value based where I'm playing a + odds team not favored to win but who I think has potential to hoist the conference crown.
Iona is the team to beat here and Vegas has them listed currently as a +130 favorite to win the MAAC. It may seem odd to have the favorite not at less than 1:1 to win, but 11 teams in the bracket and things tend to get a bit peculiar in some years for the MAAC. I think, for the most part, this goes relatively to form with the potential for some early round chaos to make things interesting.
Potential Upsets - Fairfield over Saint Petes and Rider; Quinnipiac over Manhattan; Monmouth over Iona
Crazy things have happened in the MAAC and Fairfield reaching the semifinals would certainly qualify as just that. I'm not saying they will get there, but the Stags have 10 losses by 7 points or less, so they tend to hang around and in a one and done that carries some weight. Quinnipiac knows how to beat Manhattan and the Jaspers aren't as good as in years past; I think seeds 2-6 in this conference are close to interchangeable with some being better defensively and others better offensively than those defensive minded clubs.
Darkhorse - Monmouth
I don't like seeing them on Iona's side of the bracket but they beat them once this year and lose by one in the other meeting. They can shoot the ball and clearly they have enough swagger to believe they belong on the court with Iona.
Predicted Winner - Iona
I think the winner of Iona-Monmouth takes the MAAC and for purposes of this thread and picking a winner I'll go with the Gaels. I'm not overly confident in this to play them @ +130, so for now, a pass on the MAAC
Iona is the team to beat here and Vegas has them listed currently as a +130 favorite to win the MAAC. It may seem odd to have the favorite not at less than 1:1 to win, but 11 teams in the bracket and things tend to get a bit peculiar in some years for the MAAC. I think, for the most part, this goes relatively to form with the potential for some early round chaos to make things interesting.
Potential Upsets - Fairfield over Saint Petes and Rider; Quinnipiac over Manhattan; Monmouth over Iona
Crazy things have happened in the MAAC and Fairfield reaching the semifinals would certainly qualify as just that. I'm not saying they will get there, but the Stags have 10 losses by 7 points or less, so they tend to hang around and in a one and done that carries some weight. Quinnipiac knows how to beat Manhattan and the Jaspers aren't as good as in years past; I think seeds 2-6 in this conference are close to interchangeable with some being better defensively and others better offensively than those defensive minded clubs.
Darkhorse - Monmouth
I don't like seeing them on Iona's side of the bracket but they beat them once this year and lose by one in the other meeting. They can shoot the ball and clearly they have enough swagger to believe they belong on the court with Iona.
Predicted Winner - Iona
I think the winner of Iona-Monmouth takes the MAAC and for purposes of this thread and picking a winner I'll go with the Gaels. I'm not overly confident in this to play them @ +130, so for now, a pass on the MAAC
I honestly don't see how the finals isn't a 1 vs. 2 battle of Wichita State and Northern Iowa, but I'll expand my mind a bit and try and see if an alternative, even a remote one exists.
Potential Upsets - Evansville over Wichita State
I personally think Wichita State, less so than Northern Iowa, has the potential to be vulnerable. Now even with that, their talent might still be superior to carry them to the finals. Evansville may not even get past Illinois State, but if they do they may be able to shock the Shockers.
Darkhorse - Evansville
The repetition should tell you how remote I think any chaos is possible in the Valley.
Predicted Winner - Northern Iowa
I think Wichy has less of a chance than Northern Iowa to get to the finals noting that it's like 98% to 99%. However, in gambling, it's always about finding the edge, and at +150 I feel I have it.
I honestly don't see how the finals isn't a 1 vs. 2 battle of Wichita State and Northern Iowa, but I'll expand my mind a bit and try and see if an alternative, even a remote one exists.
Potential Upsets - Evansville over Wichita State
I personally think Wichita State, less so than Northern Iowa, has the potential to be vulnerable. Now even with that, their talent might still be superior to carry them to the finals. Evansville may not even get past Illinois State, but if they do they may be able to shock the Shockers.
Darkhorse - Evansville
The repetition should tell you how remote I think any chaos is possible in the Valley.
Predicted Winner - Northern Iowa
I think Wichy has less of a chance than Northern Iowa to get to the finals noting that it's like 98% to 99%. However, in gambling, it's always about finding the edge, and at +150 I feel I have it.
Ryno - thanks bud, Monmouth at that price looks real tasty especially with their season success vs Iona. Makes sense to play them to win it all vs just beating Iona.
Ryno - thanks bud, Monmouth at that price looks real tasty especially with their season success vs Iona. Makes sense to play them to win it all vs just beating Iona.
This should be a competitive tournament as I can see six teams with the potential to cut down the nets and earn the automatic bid. Though six with potential, some obviously with a stronger chance than others.
Potential Upsets - Charlotte over MTSU; WKent over UAB and LA Tech
With the view that six teams can win this tournament and with the basement dwellers not very good basketball teams, there isn't much to contribute to many upset.
Darkhorse - UAB
UAB hasn't lost a conference game by double digits all year, so at the very least they should be in every game. They aren't flashy like some of the other top teams in this conference, but thats why I like them.
Predicted Bracket Outcome
UTSA over FIU
Charlotte over MTSU
WKent over Marshall
Rice over North Texas
UTEP over UTSA
Old Dominion over Charlotte
UAB over WKent
La Tech over Rice
Old Dominion over UTEP
UAB over La Tech
Old Dominion +225 to win Conference USA (40 units to win 90)
This should be a competitive tournament as I can see six teams with the potential to cut down the nets and earn the automatic bid. Though six with potential, some obviously with a stronger chance than others.
Potential Upsets - Charlotte over MTSU; WKent over UAB and LA Tech
With the view that six teams can win this tournament and with the basement dwellers not very good basketball teams, there isn't much to contribute to many upset.
Darkhorse - UAB
UAB hasn't lost a conference game by double digits all year, so at the very least they should be in every game. They aren't flashy like some of the other top teams in this conference, but thats why I like them.
Predicted Bracket Outcome
UTSA over FIU
Charlotte over MTSU
WKent over Marshall
Rice over North Texas
UTEP over UTSA
Old Dominion over Charlotte
UAB over WKent
La Tech over Rice
Old Dominion over UTEP
UAB over La Tech
Old Dominion +225 to win Conference USA (40 units to win 90)
I was eager for this tournament last year and I'm 100x more amped for it this year. This tournament is going to put out as i see everyone game, say from quarterfinal on to be an absolute battle.
Potential Upsets - Air Force over New Mexico; UNLV over San Diego State; Wyoming over Boise State;
I was eager for this tournament last year and I'm 100x more amped for it this year. This tournament is going to put out as i see everyone game, say from quarterfinal on to be an absolute battle.
Potential Upsets - Air Force over New Mexico; UNLV over San Diego State; Wyoming over Boise State;
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