By Chris Havlicek
Updated 3/13/24 6:36am ET
Conference tournament season is in full swing, with a few tournaments already done and a handful more underway. The final 17 tournaments get started this week, so it’s a great time to schedule a medical procedure or call out sick.
The six major conference men’s tournaments kick off this week, giving bubble teams a chance to make their case. With Selection Sunday just days away, let’s take a look at who oddsmakers think will take home the hardware.
ACC Tournament
When: March 12-16
The ACC went through Raleigh-Durham again this year and could lead to a third battle between Duke and North Carolina for the title. The Tar Heels, who swept Duke this season, won six straight games to close out the year and are the No. 1 seed. Duke lost two of its last five games but snagged the No. 2 seed, while Pittsburgh and Virginia also received the coveted “double byes.”
Odds: UNC (+160), Duke (+180), Wake Forest (+800), Clemson (+1000), Pittsburgh (+1500), Virginia (+1600), Virginia Tech (+3300), Syracuse (+5500), NC State (+6000), Florida State (+7000), Miami (+9000), Notre Dame (+19000), Boston College (+19000), Georgia Tech (+25000), Louisville (+25000)
Big 12 Tournament
When: March 12-16
Houston made a statement to close out the regular season, its first in the Big 12, with a 30-point win over Bill Self and Kansas. The Cougars, who closed the season as the No. 1 team in the country, are a heavy favorite to win the Big 12 tournament this week in Kansas City. Iowa State, Baylor, and Texas Tech also received double-byes and will challenge the Cougars for the title.
Odds: Houston (+100), Iowa State (+430), Baylor (+600), BYU (+1100), Kansas (+1300), Texas Tech (+1800), Texas (+2400), TCU (+3600), Cincinnati (+7000), Oklahoma (+8000), Kansas State (+10000), UCF (+16000), Oklahoma State (+25000), West Virginia (+25000)
Big East Tournament
When: March 13-16
UConn dominated the Big East this season and is trying to become the first repeat national champion since Florida did so in 2006 and 2007. It’s worth mentioning that they did not win this tournament last year. The Huskies hold the top seed at Madison Square Garden, though both Creighton — which snapped UConn’s two-month win streak — and Marquette are both capable and worthy contenders.
Odds: UConn (-160), Creighton (+390), Marquette (+600), St. John’s (+1300), Villanova (+2000), Providence (+7000), Xavier (+13000), Butler (+10000), Georgetown (+25000), DePaul (+25000)
Big Ten Tournament
When: March 13-17
Purdue ended the regular season on a five-game win streak, beating both Illinois and Wisconsin. The Boilermakers are a +100 favorite to win a second straight Big Ten tournament. Illinois holds the No. 2 seed and both Nebraska and Northwestern — who both stunned the Boilermakers during the regular season — received double byes.
Odds: Purdue (+100), Illinois (+310), Nebraska (+900), Wisconsin (+1200), Michigan State (+1400), Northwestern (+1700), Ohio State (+3000), Iowa (+3600), Indiana (+4000), Maryland (+6500), Minnesota (+10000), Penn State (+11000), Michigan (+25000)
Pac-12 Tournament
When: March 13-16
Even with Arizona getting upset on Saturday at USC, the Wildcats are still the odds-on favorite to win the Pac-12 tournament for a third straight season in Las Vegas. Washington State, which entered the national rankings this season for the first time since 2008, holds the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
Odds: Arizona (-150), Colorado (+480), Washington State (+700), Oregon (+1200), Utah (+1800), USC (+2000), Washington (+3000), UCLA (+4000), Stanford (+6000), California (+10000), Arizona State (+15000), Oregon State (+25000)
SEC Tournament
When: March 13-17
The SEC is loaded with dangerous teams, but Tennessee has an easier path to the championship game. Keep an eye on Kentucky – who upset the Vols to end the regular season, and an athletic Alabama team – either of which could make it out of the other side of the bracket in Nashville.
Odds: Tennessee (+175), Auburn (+240), Kentucky (+400), Alabama (+500), Florida (+1600), South Carolina (+5000), South Carolina (+5000), Texas A&M (+5000), Mississippi State (+5000), Ole Miss (+10000), LSU (+25000), Arkansas (+25000), Missouri (+25000), Vanderbilt (+25000), Georgia (+25000)
Photo Courtesy: Icon Sportswire
