College Hoops Conference Championship Gambling Guide: March 16 (Big East, Big 12, ACC)

It’s conference tournament time. So like I’ve done the last few years I will be making picks for every conference title game. I’ll put these in separate blogs opposed to any preview or full on blog just so it’s easier to find. After going 27-20-1 in the regular season on the blog, let’s have a week.

Reags Recommendations (Conference Championship Record: 8-6)
Seton Hall +4
Iowa State +2.5
Duke -8

Big East Championship
No. 3 Seton Hall vs No. 1 Villanova (MSG) – 6:35pm, FOX
Villanova -4/137
Previous matchups: Villanova 80-52 (at Nova), Seton Hall 79-75 (at Seton Hall)

Alright, we get Myles Powell vs Nova. It’s getting to the point that I don’t care how bad Nova looks at any point in the season, they are just going to get to the Big East title game. It’s just what they do now. Obviously, this year is a bit different. They are so reliant on the 3pt line and really reliant on Booth and Paschall. The real key is going to be getting shots from Cremo, Samuels or Gillespie. When one of them – especially Samuels – hit shots it just opens it up a bit more. Xavier dared Samuels to shoot yesterday. He has to keep rotating to the top of the key and look to shoot if teams are going to sag.

For Seton Hall it’s going to be getting Powell open looks. He can create for himself and make tough shots, but getting him off of a screen and ISO’d on the wing is the key. If Powell gets going it makes up for the disparity behind the 3pt line. That’s always going to be the key playing Nova. That and look for Seton Hall to try and get to the rim. We saw Xavier get the ball to Hankins in the post and then let Scruggs attack off the bounce. Don’t be surprised to see Mamu/Nzei get touches early at the rim with lobs.
Pick: Seton Hall +4

Big 12 Title Game
No. 5 Iowa State vs No. 3 Kansas (Kansas City) – 6pm E*PN
Kansas -2.5/147
Previous Matchups: Iowa State 77-60 (at Iowa State), Kansas 80-76 (at Kansas)

There are no two teams that make less sense than these two teams. I’ve said it before but Iowa State is probably the most talented team in the Big 12. They have the perfect roster setup. A bunch of athletic wings. A bunch of guys that can create. You can switch a bunch. The problem is they seem to always be fighting and can’t figure out roles exactly. Then there’s Kansas. I mean who knows what to expect with Kansas. Dedric Lawson is an All-American. They’ve had suspensions all year. Lagerald Vick, who won games for them earlier this year is gone. Quentin Grimes has been very up and down. And here they are in the Big 12 title game.

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Look for Talen Horton-Tucker to have a big game for Iowa State. He seems to love this big setting type as a freshman, plus he’s a mismatch for Kansas. I’m not sure who Kansas can throw on him. He’s too strong for Grimes. He’s too quick for one of the bigs. He’s a mismatch pretty much everywhere. Look for him to get ISO’d at the top of the key and let him attack from there.
Pick: Iowa State +2.5

ACC Championship
No. 4 Florida State vs No. 3 Duke – 8:30 pm E*PN
Duke -8/147
Previous Matchups: Duke 80-78 (at Florida State)

Well, guys and gals, Zion is back.

We get to see Duke for another game and really what it did was lock up a No. 1 seed for Duke. They go up against a Florida State team that Duke beat without Zion playing in the second half. Florida State does have the length to bother Duke and keep them off the glass – how Zion won the game for Duke yesterday.

Don’t be surprised to see Florida State sag defensively. They’ll pressure Duke and then back into a sagging defense to challenge at the rim. We saw Reddish hit the game winner in Florida State and he’s going to be key to hit a few shots tonight. We could see Alex O’Connell get a bit more run too because of the shooting.

Again, this is Duke on a mission. They have a chance to get the No. 1 overall seed with a win here and there’s no doubt Zion is trying to kill during the ACC Tournament.
Pick: Duke -8