Much like Monday, the Tuesday college basketball odds market belongs almost entirely to the little guys — and to the best mid-major conference out there.
The West Coast Conference tournament final takes place Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Top-ranked Gonzaga faces St. Mary’s in a highly anticipated third meeting this season. There are also NCAA bids on the line in the Atlantic Sun, Northeast, Colonial, Horizon, and Summit finals.
Multiple oddsmakers provided insights on opening/current lines and action in the Tuesday college basketball conference tournament betting market. Check back throughout the day for action updates.
West Coast Conference Tournament Odds and Betting Action
St. Mary’s vs Gonzaga (9 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 8:15 P.M. ET: Forty-five minutes before tipoff, WynnBet has Gonzaga laying 12.5 points, which is where the number has been since late this morning, after opening Zags -13. Double-digit-dog St. Mary’s is collecting 61% of tickets and 77% of money on the spread. The total opened at 142 and by midmorning fell to 140, where it remains now. That dip notwithstanding, the Over is attracting 73% of tickets/69% of money.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: It was a West Coast Conference championship-game collision course many expected — and desired. And it has materialized, as top seeds Gonzaga and St. Mary’s meet in a rubber match to determine which squad receives the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. (Of course, the loser is a lock for an at-large berth.)
Gonzaga (25-3, 14-12-2 ATS) reached the tournament title game for the 25th consecutive year by holding off No. 4 seed San Francisco 81-71 in Monday’s first semifinal in Las Vegas. After trailing big midway through the second half, the Dons made a late charge and easily covered the 14.5-point closing number. With that, the Bulldogs fell to 1-4-1 ATS in their last six outings.
No. 2 seed St. Mary’s had a much tougher go of it in its semifinal contest, squeaking past No. 3 Santa Clara 75-72 but falling short as a 4.5-point chalk. Despite that non-cover, the Gaels (25-6 SU, 19-10-1 ATS) still own the nation’s fifth-best point-spread record.
Gonzaga is 18-1 SU dating to Dec. 4, its lone loss coming 10 days ago at St. Mary’s in the regular-season finale for both teams. That night, the Gaels snapped the Bulldogs’ 17-game winning streak with an impressive 67-57 victory catching 10.5 points at home.
In the first meeting this season, Feb. 12, Gonzaga rolled 74-58, pushing as a 16-point home chalk. Since that contest, the Gaels have won five in a row (3-2 ATS).
This marks the fifth time in the last seven years that these rivals have faced off for the tournament championship. Gonzaga is 3-1 SU/2-2ATS in the last four title-game clashes. Overall, the Zags have won 13 of the last 16 meetings, going 11-5-1 ATS. They’re also 18-5 SU in WCC championship games since 1999.
Gonzaga opened as a 13.5-point favorite at DraftKings and is now down to -12.5 (-115). Underdog St. Mary’s is taking 55% of early tickets and 79% of early cash. The total has dropped a point from an opener of 141 to 140, with 67% of tickets on the Over/54% of money on the Under.
Summit League Tournament Odds and Betting Action
North Dakota State vs South Dakota State (9 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 8:30 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA pegged South Dakota State a 5-point chalk to open in its Tuesday college basketball odds market. This morning, the Jackrabbits advanced to -6, where they remained all day. Ticket count is 2/1-plus on South Dakota State, but money is almost dead even, with a very slight lean to North Dakota State. The total opened at 154 and is all the way down to 148. However, contrary to the big dip, the Over is seeing 68% of tickets and 71% of money.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: The Summit League final features a matchup of the top two seeds, which just happen to be border rivals.
Top-seeded South Dakota State manhandled No. 5-seed South Dakota 83-60 on Monday laying 9 points at the tournament site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Jackrabbits are now tied with Murray State for the nation’s longest winning streak at 20 in a row (12-8 ATS). SDSU’s last loss was way back on Dec. 15, a 75-63 setback at Missouri State as a 3.5-point underdog.
In Monday’s other semifinal, No. 2-seed North Dakota State boat-raced third-seeded Oral Roberts 92-72, easily covering as a 1-point chalk. The Bison are on a 12-2 SU roll, cashing in 10 of those 14 contests.
South Dakota State took both regular-season meetings, each by a four-point margin. The Jackrabbits prevailed 90-86, barely covering as a 3-point road favorite on Dec. 30, then held on for an 80-76 victory on Jan. 29. However, North Dakota State got the money in that one as a 9-point road pup. The Over has hit in the last three series battles.
South Dakota State’s five NCAA Tournament appearances occurred during a seven-year stretch from 2012-2018. The Bison have earned tickets to the Big Dance four times, most recently in 2019.
DraftKings moved South Dakota State out to -6.5 from a -5 opener in the Tuesday college basketball odds market. Ticket count is 6/1 and money 7/1 on the Jackrabbits. The total plunged from 154 to 149 (Over -120) this morning, then rebounded to 150 at noon. Splits for the total were unavailable.
Northeast Conference Tournament Odds and Betting Action
Wagner at Bryant (7 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 5:15 P.M. ET: Bryant has bounced around a bit in PointsBet USA’s Tuesday college basketball odds market. The Bulldogs opened at -3.5 Monday morning, dipped to -3 soon thereafter, then rose to -4 Monday evening. By late this morning, the number returned to -3, where it remains less than two hours before game time. Underdog Wagner is landing 62% of bets and 71% of cash on the spread. The total dipped from 150.5 to 148.5 Monday morning, then rebounded to 150 by early this afternoon, and it’s now at 149. The Under is netting 58% of bets and 84% of money.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Top-seeded Bryant (22-9 SU, 15-13-1 ATS) has won six in a row and 15 of its last 16 on the court (11-5 ATS) — and 16 of 17 if you count a Jan. 8 COVID-related forfeit win over Fairleigh Dickinson. In Saturday’s Northeast semis, the Bulldogs barely survived against Mount St. Mary’s, winning 70-69 as 7-point home favorites. Bryant also failed to cover in the quarterfinals, topping Central Connecticut State 73-59 as a 16.5-point home chalk.
No. 2 seed Wagner (22-6 SU, 14-10-1 ATS) easily won and cashed both its conference tourney games. On Saturday, the Seahawks flattened Long Island 82-62 giving 6 points at home.
Wagner and Bryant just met in the Feb. 26 regular-season finale, with the host Bulldogs winning 78-70 as 4.5-point faves. On Jan. 6, Wagner nabbed an 84-81 overtime win, but Bryant covered as an 8-point road pup. In fact, the Bulldogs are 7-1 SU and a perfect 8-0 ATS in the last eight meetings.
The Seahawks are on an 8-3 ATS run as underdogs but are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games. The Bulldogs are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall, but all four point-spread setbacks came in their last seven contests (including, as noted, both conference tourney games).
The Under is 4-1 in Bryant’s last five at home, including in the regular-season closer vs. Wagner (total 154.5).
Bryant has never appeared in the NCAAs, while Wagner’s lone appearance came way back in 2003.
This line has been on a ride at DraftKings, opening at Bryant -3, going straight to -4, working its way down to -2.5 and now back at -3. Bryant is taking 60% of spread tickets, while Wagner is getting 57% of spread cash. Likewise, the total bounced around, from 149 to 149.5, then down to 148, then up to 150 (Under -115). The latest splits on the total weren’t available.
Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Odds and Betting Action
Delaware vs UNC-Wilmington (7 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 5:15 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA toggled between Delaware -2.5 and -2 multiple, and the line is currently -2 (-115), less than two hours before tipoff. North Carolina-Wilmington is getting 56% of spread bets and 71% of spread dollars. The total tumbled to 133 from a 136.5 opener, with the Under nabbing 55% of bets/77% of money.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: No. 5-seed Delaware busted the Colonial Athletic Association bracket Monday, scoring a convincing 69-56 victory over top-seeded Towson as a 5-point underdog in Washington, D.C. The Blue Hens (21-12 SU, 14-18 ATS) closed the regular season with consecutive upset home losses to College of Charleston and UNC-Wilmington. But they knocked off Drexel 66-56 as a 2-point chalk in their opening-round CAA tourney game Sunday before taking down Towson.
Despite being the No. 2 seed, UNC-Wilmington went off as a 2-point underdog against sixth-seeded College of Charleston on Monday, but the Seahawks bucked the oddsmakers with a 60-57 victory. UNC-Wilmington (23-8 SU, 19-10 ATS) enjoyed a 12-game SU winning streak from Dec. 15-Jan. 31, going 11-0 ATS in lined games. The Seahawks are 8-3 SU/7-4 ATS since.
In addition to beating the Blue Hens in the regular-season finale, UNC Wilmington edged Delaware 70-68 as a 4.5-point home underdog on Dec. 29. Prior to this season, Delaware had been on a 7-2 SU/7-1-1 ATS run in this rivalry.
The under is 7-2 in Delaware’s last nine games (3-0 last three), while UNC Wilmington has stayed low in five straight contests.
With a victory, the Blue Hens would reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history (first in 2005). The Seahawks are seeking their seventh Tournament trip (first since 2017).
Delaware dipped from -2.5 to -2 this morning on DraftKings’ Tuesday college basketball odds board, and the number remains -2 now. Ticket count is dead even, but the large majority of early money is on underdog UNC-Wilmington. The total tumbled from 136.5 to 133 (Over -115), then rebounded to 134. Current splits on the total were unavailable.
Horizon League Tournament Odds and Betting Action
Wright State vs Northern Kentucky (7 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 5:15 P.M. ET: Wright State hit PointsBet USA’s Tuesday college basketball odds board as a 1.5-point favorite, and the line jumped the fence to Northern Kentucky -2 by this morning. The Norse are now 1-point favorites while taking 63% of spread tickets and 60% of spread cash. The total is yet another one on the decline today, dropping from 138 to 134.5, where it’s been pretty much all day. However, tickets and money are in the 2/1 range on the Over.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Despite both being seeded lower than their opponents, No. 4-seed Wright State and No. 3-seed Northern Kentucky went off as scant favorites in Monday’s semifinals of the Horizon League tourney in Indianapolis. And both got the job done in a convincing fashion.
Wright State (20-13 SU, 14-18 ATS) dominated top-seeded Cleveland State 82-67 as a 1-point chalk, while the Norse (20-11 SU, 16-13 ATS) rolled past second-seeded Purdue-Fort Wayne 57-43 laying 1.5 points.
The Red Raiders have followed a 1-3 SU/ATS slump by winning four in a row (3-1 ATS). Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky enters the title game on a five-game SU/ATS winning streak. Going back to Jan. 20, the Norse are 14-2 SU/ATS, and the straight-up winner has covered the spread in each of their last 16 contests.
Northern Kentucky’s hot streak includes a pair of upset victories over Wright State: 73-63 as a 2-point home pup on Jan. 25, and 75-71 catching 6 points on the road on Feb. 13. The Norse have cashed in each of the last four meetings, and the underdog is 4-1 SU/5-0 ATS in the last five.
The Over is 5-2 in the Red Raiders’ last seven overall and 6-2 in the last eight head-to-head meetings.
Wright State is looking to return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2018 and the fourth time in school history. Northern Kentucky has previously made the Tournament twice (2017 and 2019).
Wright State opened -1.5 at DraftKings, and the line jumped the fence to Northern Kentucky -2 this morning, then receded to Norse -1. The total plunged from 138 to 133, but bounced back to 135 by midmorning. DK didn’t have splits available for either the spread or the total.
Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Odds and Betting Action
Jacksonville at Bellarmine (5 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 4 P.M. ET: An hour before tipoff, Bellarmine is a 2.5-point favorite on TwinSpires’ Sportsbook’s Tuesday college basketball odds board. That matches the opening number, though the Knights spent some time at -3 before going back to -2.5. Jacksonville is taking 54% of spread tickets, while 56% of spread money is on Bellarmine. “Good two-way action on this title game,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said. The total is down a tick from 122 to 121.5, with 63% of tickets on the Over/59% of money on the Under. “Sharp play on Under 122,” Lucas said.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: The Atlantic Sun tourney is unique in that it has two brackets, with the winner of each facing off in the championship game. And the No. 1 seeds in each bracket tumbled in Saturday’s semifinals.
Co-No. 2 seed Bellarmine (19-13 SU, 14-12-2 ATS) upended Liberty 53-50 as a 7-point road underdog, avenging a 66-53 regular-season loss catching 4 points at home. The Knights are 6-2 SU in their last eight outings (4-3-1 ATS). But in a fit of typical NCAA stupidity, Bellarmine can’t compete in the NCAA Tournament, even if it beats fellow No. 2 seed Jacksonville. That’s because the Knights are only in their second year of the required four-year transition to NCAA Division I play.
Jacksonville (21-9 SU, 19-6-1 ATS) upset Jacksonville State 54-51 getting 6 points on the road. The Dolphins are 7-1 SU in their last eight outings and have been a great bet over the last six weeks, going 9-2-1 ATS. If Jacksonville wins tonight, it nabs the ASUN automatic NCAA bid. If the Dolphins lose, then ASUN regular-season champ Jacksonville State gets the bid, due to Bellarmine’s transitional status.
These two teams met once in the regular season, and it was a tight game. Bellarmine won 76-73 in overtime, but Jacksonville cashed as a 6-point road underdog. In three meetings over the past two seasons, Bellarmine is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS. The Dolphins are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games, while the Knights are 1-5 ATS in their last six home outings.
Jacksonville, which lost to UCLA in the 1970 NCAA championship, is looking to make its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance (and first since 1986).
Bellarmine opened as a 3-point favorite in DraftKings’ Tuesday college basketball odds market and made a couple of treks to -2.5, where the number sits now. Point-spread ticket count and money are both running almost dead even. The total is down to 121.5 from a 123 opener, though updated betting splits were unavailable.
