NCAA Tournament Field Predictions: Yes or No Betting Odds
Conference tournaments are already kicking off this week, and you know what that means. March Madness is upon us. Selection Sunday is just days away. We will likely use the word "Bubble" more in the next few weeks than we do for the remainder of the year.
The NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament field has mostly been set. We will know in a few days about some of the smaller conferences' winners who will get automatic Tournament berths.
By Sunday night, the selection committee will have all the information they need to get the teams who deserve it the most into the Big Dance.
Today, I wanted to share with you guys some betting odds for teams to make the tournament. These are bubble teams, of course, including the former National Champion Villanova Wildcats and Larry Bird's alma mater of Indiana State.
Along with those two schools, we have betting odds for a couple of other well-known programs. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are (+168) to make the NCAA Tournament, while we can get plus money odds (+135) on the Lobos of New Mexico.
All four of these teams have their next game coming up soon in the first rounds of their respective conference tournaments. Each squad is an underdog to make the tournament. Will any of them be one of the last teams in?
Let’s break down their chances and make some picks for these teams to make the NCAA Tournament.
Doc’s Sports offers college basketball expert picks for every game on our NCAA basketball predictions page.
Villanova
Yes: -105
No: -125
The Vilanova Wildcats have had a down year in the 2023-2024 regular season. A team that usually contends for the Big East title only managed a 10-10 conference record and an abysmal 17-14 overall.
They will need one win in the Big East Tourney and maybe two to be considered as one of the last four teams to make the NCAA Tournament.
Nova is the 6th seed, though, and will be playing Depaul in the first round, a team with a 0-20 conference record this year! I can't imagine the Cats' odds will move much after that win, but we would still be getting some great line value to play them now.
The big game will be against Marquette on Thursday. Marquette got them both times this season, but the second contest was much closer. With wins over Creighton and the UNC Taheels this season, along with playing in the Big East, I think Nova can get in with a good showing in the quarterfinals.
Pick: Yes
New Mexico
Yes: +135
No: -165
The Los Lobos or should I say Los Lobos of New Mexico may have missed their opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament with a loss in their final regular season game against the ranked Utah State State Aggies, now the 1st seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
Los Lobos beat the Aggies this year and took two from Nevada in close contests. Outside of those games, though, New Mexico has zero other big wins. Granted, they didn't play many tough teams, but I can't get behind them here.
The Air Force Falcons are waiting for them in the first round, and the boys from Colorado Springs just beat New Mexico just a couple of weeks ago. New Mexico would have to make a run in their tournament to make the Big Dance. It's possible, and they are on the favorable side of their conference bracket.
I am taking this (-165) while it’s still there, though.
Pick: No
Indiana State
Yes: +195
No: -255
Indiana State is currently 28-7! Why are they nearly a 2-1 underdog to make the NCAA Tournament?
Well, we wouldn't have had the chance to bet on them, but after securing a #1 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, they fell in the finals to Drake, the #2 seed. The Sycamores stormed back in the second half, but a 13-point deficit proved to be 4 too many to make up down the stretch.
Typically, this conference only sends one team to the dance, but I am hoping and likely betting for them to give Indiana State a break this year. They are done playing, of course, so we would need some things to go our way but I like the (+195) for a 28-win team.
This conference puts some bracket-busters into the tourney seemingly every season. Remember Valparaiso? Or what about Murray State, who seem to be the most feared 12th seed of all time, at least in the first round?
This team was 4 points from going. Let’s hope some other bubble teams turn to fizz and the selection committee respects the 28 victories.
Pick: Yes
Wake Forest
Yes: +168
No: -230
The last team we will talk about today is Wake Forest. They are obviously coming from an outstanding conference in the ACC.
The 5th-seed Demon Deacons will play the winner of Notre Dame and Georgia Tech on Wednesday. They will likely be favored in that game, and a win there would put them at 20-12 for the year.
Next up would be the Pitt Panthers, a team they beat by 23 points less than a month ago. If they can get to 21-12 and have a good showing the following round in a likely matchup against North Carolina, I can see Wake Forest getting in.
Here is the problem. They went 16-1 playing on their home court this season. While this is impressive, 2-9 on the road is terrible! There is obviously something to this. We are fading Wake.
Pick: No
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