The madness of March encompasses the entire month of great basketball action and not just the NCAA tournament, and the opening of the conference tourneys, even the mid-majors, should get most bettors excited. I know many in the industry prefer the volume of games, as well as the familiarity of opponents that the conference tournament weeks bring. In fact, some professional bettors spend much more time, resources, and bankroll on the conference tourneys than they do on the NCAA’s, NIT, CIT, and CBI combined. For those of you that might behave similarly, I offer up the following betting data for every conference tournament about to occur, featuring team performance records, trends, and systems.
This will be a three-part series, with the mid-major conferences starting tournament games on dates of this week (2/27-3/5) included in this article and those playing next week in the next piece. The third and final part will include all of the key info for the power conferences, starting on March 7th.
The angles that I have chosen focused on three key areas, with combinations of each in some cases. Those areas were bye games, rounds, and line ranges.
As a general thought, bettors should understand the value of having a bye in conference tournaments is typically significant, especially when they are believed to be the better team. In fact, conference tournament favorites off a bye are 552-174 SU and 345-299-17 ATS (53.6%) over the last nine seasons against teams that played earlier in that tournament. That is a winning wager without anything else considered. Remember that when you try to project chances for upsets earlier in these tournaments, especially if you are led to believe the underdog may have picked up momentum from beating a lesser team in a “play-in” type of game.
Note: All of these betting systems included games heading into the respective 2023 tournaments.
The leagues covered in this first piece include:
AMERICA EAST
ATLANTIC SUN
BIG SKY
BIG SOUTH
COLONIAL ATHLETIC
HORIZON LEAGUE
MISSOURI VALLEY
NORTHEAST
OHIO VALLEY
PATRIOT LEAGUE
SOUTHERN
SOUTHLAND
SUMMIT
SUN BELT
WEST COAST
For my latest strength ratings, including Power Ratings, Effective Strength indicators, Bettors’ Ratings, Recent Ratings, and Schedule Strengths, visit the NCAAMBB TEAM POWER RANKINGS page on VSiN.com, sortable by conference.
AMERICA EAST
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
MAINE: 0-7 SU and 5-2 ATS (71%), no semifinal appearances
MD-BALT COUNTY: 8-8 SU and 10-6 ATS (63%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
BINGHAMTON: 2-7 SU and 4-4 ATS (50%), 2 semifinal appearances
ALBANY: 9-7 SU and 8-8 ATS (50%), 2 titles, 3 championship berths, 3 semifinals
VERMONT: 17-5 SU and 9-12 ATS (43%), 3 titles, 5 championship berths, 9 semifinals
UMASS-LOWELL: 3-5 SU and 3-4 ATS (43%), 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
NEW HAMPSHIRE: 3-8 SU and 4-7 ATS (36%), 3 semifinals
BRYANT: 5-6 SU and 4-7 ATS (36%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
NEW JERSEY TECH: 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS (25%), 1 semifinal appearance
Key Trends
- Double-digit road underdogs in the quarterfinal round of the America East tourney are on an 8-3-1 ATS (72.7%) surge
- Small favorites of -4.5 points or more are 13-3 SU and 12-4 ATS (75%) in the America East tournament since ’15.
- Six of the last eight America East championship games went UNDER the total
ATLANTIC SUN
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
BELLARMINE: 3-1 SU and ATS (75%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
N ALABAMA: 2-4 SU and 4-2 ATS (67%), 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
STETSON: 4-8 SU and 7-4 ATS (64%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
AUSTIN PEAY: 7-5 SU and 7-4 ATS (64%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 4 semifinals
E KENTUCKY: 5-4 SU and 5-3 ATS (63%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 4 semifinals
JACKSONVILLE ST: 7-5 SU and ATS (58%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 5 semifinals
LIPSCOMB: 11-8 SU and ATS (58%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 6 semifinals
FLA GULF COAST: 13-7 SU and 11-9 ATS (55%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 6 semifinals
N FLORIDA: 9-8 SU and 8-8 ATS (50%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 6 semifinals
KENNESAW ST: 2-7 SU and 4-5 ATS (44%), 1 semifinal appearance
C ARKANSAS: 3-4 SU and 2-3 ATS (40%), no semifinal appearances
JACKSONVILLE: 3-8 SU and 3-5 ATS (38%), 1 championship berth, 2 semifinals
LIBERTY: 12-6 SU and 5-12 ATS (29%), 3 titles, 4 championship berths, 5 semifinals
Key Trends
- Single-digit underdogs in the Atlantic Sun tournament are 18-16 SU and 22-10-1 ATS (68.8%) since 2014, while double-digit favorites are on a 31-2 SU and 17-14-2 ATS (54.8%) surge in that same span.
- Home teams in the Atlantic Sun semifinal games are 9-7 SU but just 5-11 ATS (31.3%) in their last 16 tries.
BIG SKY
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
E WASHINGTON: 13-5 SU and 12-6 ATS (67%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 5 semifinals
SACRAMENTO ST: 6-8 SU and 8-5 ATS (62%), 1 semifinal appearance
IDAHO: 4-9 SU and 7-5 ATS (58%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
N ARIZONA: 2-9 SU and 6-5 ATS (55%), 1 semifinal appearance
N COLORADO: 6-7 SU and ATS (46%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
MONTANA ST: 6-5 SU and 5-6 ATS (45%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 2 semifinals
WEBER ST: 9-7 SU and 7-9 ATS (44%), 2 titles, 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
PORTLAND ST: 6-8 SU and ATS (43%), 2 semifinal appearances
MONTANA: 12-6 SU and 6-12 ATS (33%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 5 semifinals
IDAHO ST: 1-6 SU and ATS (14%), no semifinal appearances
Key Trend
- Single-digit favorites in the Big Sky tourney are on an amazing 41-10 SU and 35-15-1 ATS (70%) run since 2015, including a perfect 7-0 SU and ATS in the title contest.
BIG SOUTH
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
LONGWOOD: 8-8 SU and 11-5 ATS (69%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
GARDNER WEBB: 11-8 SU and 13-6 ATS (68%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 6 semifinals
WINTHROP: 19-6 SU and 14-10 ATS (58%), 3 titles, 7 championship berths, 8 semifinals
CHARLESTON SO: 7-8 SU and 7-7 ATS (50%), 1 semifinal appearance
PRESBYTERIAN: 2-9 SU and 5-6 ATS (45%), no semifinal appearances
RADFORD: 9-8 SU and 7-9 ATS (44%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
CAMPBELL: 7-9 SU and ATS (44%), 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
USC UPSTATE: 5-9 SU and 6-8 ATS (43%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
UNC-ASHEVILLE: 7-8 SU and 6-8 ATS (43%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
HIGH POINT: 3-9 SU and 2-10 ATS (17%), 1 semifinal appearance
Key Trends
- Single-digit favorites have been very successful in the Big South tourney since 2014, going 53-14 SU and 44-21-2 ATS (67.7%), highlighted by a 16-1 SU and 13-4 ATS (76.5%) surge in the opening round.
COLONIAL ATHLETIC
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
DELAWARE: 10-7 SU and 13-4 ATS (76%), 2 titles, 2 championship berths, 4 semifinals
WILLIAM & MARY: 8-9 SU and 10-7 ATS (59%), 2 championship berth, 5 semifinals
NORTHEASTERN: 14-7 SU and 11-9 ATS (55%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 7 semifinals
MONMOUTH: 9-8 SU and ATS (53%), 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
DREXEL: 6-8 SU and 7-7 ATS (50%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
UNC-WILMINGTON: 11-7 SU and 9-9 ATS (50%), 2 titles, 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
HAMPTON: 13-7 SU and 10-10 ATS (50%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 4 semifinals
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 9-8 SU and 7-9 ATS (44%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 4 semifinals
HOFSTRA: 10-8 SU and 8-10 ATS (44%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
ELON: 6-9 SU and 6-8 ATS (43%), 1 championship berth, 2 semifinals
STONY BROOK: 10-7 SU and 4-11 ATS (27%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 6 semifinals
N CAROLINA A&T: 5-7 SU and 3-9 ATS (25%), 2 semifinal appearances
TOWSON ST: 3-9 SU and 2-9 ATS (18%), 3 semifinal appearances
Key Trend
- This is a strange one, and a tight line scenario, but in the last eight years of the CAA tourney, there have been 19 favorites of -2.5 to -3.5, and those teams boast a perfect 19-0 SU and 18-0-1 ATS (100%) record in those games!
HORIZON LEAGUE
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
WI-MILWAUKEE: 11-6 SU and ATS (65%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 4 semifinals
WRIGHT ST: 13-7 SU and ATS (65%), 2 titles, 5 championship berths, 6 semifinals
ROBERT MORRIS: 12-7 SU and ATS (63%), 2 titles, 3 championship berths, 6 semifinals
N KENTUCKY: 11-5 SU and 9-7 ATS (56%), 3 titles, 4 championship berths, 5 semifinals
YOUNGSTOWN ST: 4-9 SU and 6-6 ATS (50%), 1 semifinal appearance
PURDUE FT WAYNE: 7-9 SU and 8-8 ATS (50%), 1 championship berth, 5 semifinals
WI-GREEN BAY: 8-8 SU and ATS (50%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
CLEVELAND ST: 8-7 SU and 7-8 ATS (47%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
IUPUI: 1-9 SU and 4-6 ATS (40%), 1 semifinal appearance
OAKLAND: 7-9 SU and 4-11 ATS (27%), 1 championship berth, 4 semifinals
DETROIT: 4-8 SU and 3-9 ATS (25%), no semifinal appearances
Key Trends
- Teams playing as underdogs of 6 points or more and having played already in the Horizon League tournament are on an amazing 9-6 SU and 11-4 ATS (73.3%) run against teams that enjoyed a bye!
- Nine of the last 10 Horizon League Tournament semifinal games have gone UNDER the total (90%).
- Home favorites of 5 points or less are on an incredible 16-0 SU and 15-0-1 ATS streak in the Horizon League tourney since ’14!
MISSOURI VALLEY
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
S ILLINOIS: 5-9 SU and 9-5 ATS (64%), 3 semifinal appearances
DRAKE: 6-9 SU and 8-6 ATS (57%), 2 championship berth, 4 semifinals
IL-CHICAGO: 7-9 SU and 9-7 ATS (56%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
N IOWA: 11-6 SU and 9-8 ATS (53%), 2 titles, 3 championship berths, 4 semifinals
BRADLEY: 9-7 SU and 8-8 ATS (50%), 2 titles, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
MISSOURI ST: 7-9 SU and 7-8 ATS (47%), 5 semifinal appearances
EVANSVILLE: 4-9 SU and 6-7 ATS (46%), 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
VALPARAISO: 8-8 SU and 7-9 ATS (44%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
ILLINOIS ST: 8-9 SU and 7-10 ATS (41%), 3 championship berths, 3 semifinals
MURRAY ST: 11-6 SU and 7-10 ATS (41%), 3 titles, 5 championship berths, 7 semifinals
BELMONT: 10-7 SU and 6-11 ATS (35%), 2 titles, 6 championship berths, 9 semifinals
INDIANA ST: 4-9 SU and 3-10 ATS (23%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
Key Trends
- Only two of the 33 underdogs of 6.5 points or more in the MVC tourney have won outright, and have gone 12-21 ATS (36.4%) in those games.
- The MVC tourney is typically a low-scoring bracket, and over the last nine seasons, on totals of 131.5 or higher, UNDER is on a 30-12 (71.4%) run.
- Favorites in the MVC tournament championship game have won the last 11 games outright and are 10-0 ATS since ’13!
NORTHEAST
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
FARLEIGH DICKINSON: 7-5 SU and 9-3 ATS (75%), 2 titles, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
ST FRANCIS-PA: 8-8 SU and 9-7 ATS (56%), 3 championship berth, 5 semifinals
C CONN ST: 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS (50%), no semifinal appearances
WAGNER: 8-8 SU and 6-10 ATS (38%), 3 championship berths, 6 semifinals
LONG ISLAND: 7-6 SU and 5-8 ATS (38%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 5 semifinals
ST FRANCIS-NY: 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS (33%), 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
SACRED HEART: 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS (25%), 2 semifinal appearances
Key Trends
- Underdogs in the Northeast Conference tourney championship game are on a 13-3 ATS (81.3%) run, including 11 outright upsets.
- Overall favorites of 4.5 points or less are just 4-13 ATS (23.5%) in their last 17 Northeast Conference tourney games.
- 10 of the last 12 quarterfinal games in the Northeast Conference tourney went UNDER the total.
OHIO VALLEY
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
TENNESSEE TECH: 3-5 SU and 5-3 ATS (63%), no semifinal appearances
SE MISSOURI ST: 3-5 SU and 5-3 ATS (63%), 1 semifinal appearance
ARK-LITTLE ROCK: 4-6 SU and 6-4 ATS (60%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
MOREHEAD ST: 10-7 SU and ATS (59%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
TENN-MARTIN: 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS (57%), 2 championship berths, 2 semifinals
SIU EDWARDSVILLE: 0-6 SU and 2-4 ATS (33%), no semifinal appearances
E ILLINOIS: 3-6 SU and ATS (33%), no semifinal appearances
TENNESSEE ST: 2-5 SU and ATS (29%), no semifinal appearances
Key Trend(s)
- Ohio Valley Conference title game underdogs are on an 11-1 ATS (91.7%) run.
- Nine of the last 12 OVC tournament semifinal games have gone UNDER the total (75%).
- Laying 3 points or more in the OVC tournament has been risky over the last eight years, as these favorites are just 12-24-1 ATS (33.3%).
PATRIOT LEAGUE
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
COLGATE: 15-6 SU and 14-7 ATS (67%), 3 titles, 4 championship berths, 6 semifinals
NAVY: 6-9 SU and 9-6 ATS (60%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
AMERICAN: 7-8 SU and 9-6 ATS (60%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
BUCKNELL: 13-7 SU and 11-9 ATS (55%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 6 semifinals
HOLY CROSS: 8-7 SU and ATS (53%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
LAFAYETTE: 6-8 SU and 7-7 ATS (50%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 2 semifinals
LOYOLA-MD: 4-9 SU and 6-7 ATS (46%), 1 championship berth, 1 semifinal
BOSTON U: 10-8 SU and 8-10 ATS (44%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
LEHIGH: 7-9 SU and 5-11 ATS (31%), 2 championship berths, 4 semifinals
ARMY: 4-9 SU and 3-10 ATS (23%), 3 semifinal appearances
Key Trends
- Although they have lost the last 16 games outright, double-digit Patriot League tourney underdogs have proven profitable, 16-9 ATS (64%) since 2012.
- The quarterfinal round of the Patriot League tourney has trended OVER on totals, 23-9 (71.9%) in the last 32.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
THE CITADEL: 5-9 SU and 10-4 ATS (71%), no semifinal appearances
WOFFORD: 15-6 SU and 13-7 ATS (65%), 3 titles, 4 championship berths, 7 semifinals
E TENN ST: 13-7 SU and 11-8 ATS (58%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 7 semifinals
SAMFORD: 6-9 SU and 8-6 ATS (57%), 2 semifinal appearances
FURMAN: 8-9 SU and 9-8 ATS (53%), 2 championship berths, 5 semifinals
W CAROLINA: 5-9 SU and 6-8 ATS (43%), 1 championship berth, 4 semifinals
VMI: 4-9 SU and 5-7 ATS (42%), 2 semifinal appearances
MERCER: 9-8 SU and 7-10 ATS (41%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
UT-CHATTANOOGA: 8-7 SU and 5-9 ATS (36%), 2 titles, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
UNC-GREENSBORO: 11-7 SU and 6-11 ATS (35%), 2 titles, 4 championship berths, 4 semifinals
Key Trends
- Single-digit favorites in the opening round of the Southern Conference tournament are on a 19-8 SU and ATS (70.3%) run since 2011.
- The Southern Conference tourney semifinals are on a 12-6 OVER the total run (66.7%).
SOUTHLAND
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
NORTHWESTERN ST: 4-4 SU and 5-2 ATS (71%), 3 semifinal appearances
SE LOUISIANA: 5-8 SU and 8-5 ATS (62%), 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
NEW ORLEANS: 8-6 SU and ATS (57%), 1 title, 2 championship berths, 3 semifinals
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN: 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS (50%), 1 semifinal appearance
LAMAR: 5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS (44%), 1 semifinal appearance
NICHOLLS ST: 3-6 SU and 4-5 ATS (44%), 1 championship berth, 3 semifinals
MCNEESE ST: 2-6 SU and 3-4 ATS (43%), no semifinal appearances
TEXAS A&M CC: 6-7 SU and 5-8 ATS (38%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 5 semifinals
INCARNATE WORD: 0-2 SU and ATS (0%), no semifinal appearances
Key Trends
- The Southland Conference tourney has been a favorite-dominated bracket of late, with the Chalk currently on a 36-11 SU and 30-17 ATS (63.*%) run since ’15.
- The favorite in the Southland Conference tourney title game is on an 11-3 SU and 10-4 ATS (71.4%) run dating back to ’08.
- OVER the total is 10-3-1 (76.9%) in the last 14 Southland tourney semifinal games, but both went UNDER a year ago.
SUMMIT LEAGUE
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)
Conference Tournament Performance (since ’14)
N DAKOTA: 10-6 SU and 11-5 ATS (69%), 1 title, 3 championship berths, 4 semifinals
N DAKOTA ST: 18-5 SU and 14-7 ATS (67%), 4 titles, 7 championship berths, 8 semifinals
NEBRASKA-OMAHA: 4-7 SU and 6-5 ATS (55%), 2 championship berths, 2 semifinals
DENVER: 3-7 SU and 5-5 ATS (50%), 3 semifinal appearances
S DAKOTA ST: 16-5 SU and 9-11 ATS (45%), 4 titles, 5 championship berths, 7 semifinals
ORAL ROBERTS: 7-7 SU and 6-8 ATS (43%), 1 title, 1 championship berth, 4 semifinals
MISSOURI-KC: 3-8 SU and 4-6 ATS (40%), 3 semifinal appearances
S DAKOTA: 6-9 SU and ATS (40%), 1 championship berth, 5 semifinals
W ILLINOIS: 1-7 SU and 3-5 ATS (38%), 1 semifinal appearance
Key Trends
- Favorites of 5.5 points or more are on a current Summit League tournament run of 28-3 SU and 18-12-1 ATS (60%).
- The most extreme of totals in the Summit League tournament of late have trended UNDER, with totals >=155 at 9-3 UNDER, and totals <=130 at 9-2 UNDER, both since ’14.
SUN BELT
Teams in SM Power Rating Order
Team, Power Rating (Rank), Effective Strength (Rank), Recent (Rank)