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Mid-Major Report
March 12, 2011
Saturday’s Update
This column will provide daily betting updates from the Atlantic 10, Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (CUSA) throughout Championship Week.
CUSA Championship
On Tuesday, we looked at the future odds for this tournament at Sportsbook.com and we weren’t surprised that UTEP (+125) was deemed the favorite, considering they were hosting the event. What was a little strange is that Memphis (+800) has such high odds. Houston captured the conference tournament last year but the Tigers did win the previous four championships. On Saturday, those two will meet in El Paso, Texas for what looks like the one and only bid for Conference USA. After 10 matchups, favorites have gone 6-4 both SU and ATS. The ‘over’ has produced a 6-4 ledger as well.
(4) Memphis vs. (3) UTEP
These two teams squared off a couple weeks ago and the outcome was nothing short of a blowout. UTEP dominated Memphis 74-47 as a five-point home favorite from start to finish, outscoring the Tigers by 13 in the first and 14 points over the final 20 minutes. Memphis shot 33 percent from the field and was just 1-of-18 from 3-point land in the setback. The combined 121 points never threatened the closing number of 136 points, which was helped with a combined 56 percent (28-of-50) from 3-point land.
A10 Semifinals
The venue for this tournament is Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which has a capacity of roughly 12,000. This will be the fifth year that the conference holds its postseason event here and lately it’s been all about Temple. The Owls have captured the last three championships and their only two wins away from making it four straight.
Second-seed Temple and third-seed Richmond both lived up to their billing on Friday by notching double-digit victories in the quarterfinals. While those schools held their form, the top side of the bracket featured a pair of upsets. Ninth-seed Dayton nipped top-seed Xavier (68-67) and the lowest ranked school, St. Joseph’s, kept its Cinderella story alive by downing No. 4 Duquesne (93-90) in overtime. We know whoever advances to the finals out of aforementioned upset clubs they’ll be catching points in the championship on Sunday.
(12) St. Joseph’s vs. (9) Dayton
Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. EST
(3) Richmond vs. (2) Temple
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. EST
MAC Championship
It was déjà vu in Cleveland on Friday during the MAC semifinals. Akron defeated Western Michigan 79-68 in the first semi and shortly after Kent State knocked off Ball State by the same exact score (79-68). The duo helped the favorites push their numbers to 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the first 10 MAC tournament games. The ‘under’ was on a 6-2 run but both contests went ‘over’ last night. Tip-off for tonight’s title game is set for 6:00 p.m. EST with ESPN2, providing national coverage.
(6) Akron vs. (1) Kent State
Analysis to be posted when lines available
March 12, 2011
Saturday’s Update
This column will provide daily betting updates from the Atlantic 10, Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (CUSA) throughout Championship Week.
CUSA Championship
On Tuesday, we looked at the future odds for this tournament at Sportsbook.com and we weren’t surprised that UTEP (+125) was deemed the favorite, considering they were hosting the event. What was a little strange is that Memphis (+800) has such high odds. Houston captured the conference tournament last year but the Tigers did win the previous four championships. On Saturday, those two will meet in El Paso, Texas for what looks like the one and only bid for Conference USA. After 10 matchups, favorites have gone 6-4 both SU and ATS. The ‘over’ has produced a 6-4 ledger as well.
(4) Memphis vs. (3) UTEP
These two teams squared off a couple weeks ago and the outcome was nothing short of a blowout. UTEP dominated Memphis 74-47 as a five-point home favorite from start to finish, outscoring the Tigers by 13 in the first and 14 points over the final 20 minutes. Memphis shot 33 percent from the field and was just 1-of-18 from 3-point land in the setback. The combined 121 points never threatened the closing number of 136 points, which was helped with a combined 56 percent (28-of-50) from 3-point land.
A10 Semifinals
The venue for this tournament is Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which has a capacity of roughly 12,000. This will be the fifth year that the conference holds its postseason event here and lately it’s been all about Temple. The Owls have captured the last three championships and their only two wins away from making it four straight.
Second-seed Temple and third-seed Richmond both lived up to their billing on Friday by notching double-digit victories in the quarterfinals. While those schools held their form, the top side of the bracket featured a pair of upsets. Ninth-seed Dayton nipped top-seed Xavier (68-67) and the lowest ranked school, St. Joseph’s, kept its Cinderella story alive by downing No. 4 Duquesne (93-90) in overtime. We know whoever advances to the finals out of aforementioned upset clubs they’ll be catching points in the championship on Sunday.
(12) St. Joseph’s vs. (9) Dayton
Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. EST
(3) Richmond vs. (2) Temple
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. EST
MAC Championship
It was déjà vu in Cleveland on Friday during the MAC semifinals. Akron defeated Western Michigan 79-68 in the first semi and shortly after Kent State knocked off Ball State by the same exact score (79-68). The duo helped the favorites push their numbers to 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the first 10 MAC tournament games. The ‘under’ was on a 6-2 run but both contests went ‘over’ last night. Tip-off for tonight’s title game is set for 6:00 p.m. EST with ESPN2, providing national coverage.
(6) Akron vs. (1) Kent State
Analysis to be posted when lines available
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