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2008 BIG 12
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
MARCH 13-16
SPRINT CENTER - KANSAS CITY , MO
The Big 12 Conference is the strongest conference in College Basketball according to the Pomeroy Ratings. There are 4 teams in the conference in the top 13, and 8 in the top 50. Using these ratings, Kansas and Texas would be the top two picks to win the tournament. Followed by a log jam of teams plenty capable after them. Kansas is 26-3 on the year overall while Texas is 25-4. Both teams are 12-3 in conference. Kansas is rated number one by Pomeroy and Texas is ranked number 9. Texas. played a tougher schedule than Kansas did, and they knocked of Kansas by 3 in the comfort of their home surroundings. Things might be different on a neutral court.
But, as with the other tournaments, our real value in handicapping these tournaments is not picking the winner of the tourney before it starts, but rather handicapping individual games and looking for some nice upset picks. To do that, we take a glance at who's hot and who's not. Right off the bat we can start with Kansas and Texas. Texas is 9-1 straight up over their last 10 games while Kansas is 7-3. But take a look at the ATS records. Texas is 8-2 against the spread while Kansas is 3-7 ATS. 10 games ago Kansas was 20-0. Sharp players that knew the oddsmakers would inflate Kansas lines down the stretch and applied that to their handicapping went 7-3 against the spread betting against Kansas the last 10 games.
The above handicapping angle doesn't just work with good teams. It works in reverse as well. Take a look at Colorado. They sit at the bottom of the big 12 standings. They are 10-18 overall, 3-12 in conference and 2-8 straight up over their last 10 games. But guess what? They are 7-3 against the spread their last 10. So you see, there is much more to handicapping these tournaments successfully. You have to be aware of the under valued and over valued team. There is a true point differential between teams, and a perceived differential. Comparing the difference is what shows a profit handicapping these tournaments.
We hope to find some nice spots to step in and profit this year in the Big 12 Tournament. You can check out our Free Tournament Picks each day throughout March Madness!
2008 Big 12 Men's
Basketball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, March 13
Game 1: No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed (ESPN2) 11:30 a.m.
Game 2: No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed (ESPN Plus and ESPNU) 2:00 p.m.
Game 3: No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed (ESPN Plus)
6:00 p.m.
Game 4: No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 seed (ESPN2)
8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 14
Game 5: No. 1 seed vs. Game 1 Winner
(ESPN Plus and ESPNU)
11:30 a.m.
Game 6: No. 4 seed vs. Game 2 Winner
(ESPN Plus and ESPNU)
2:00 p.m.
Game 7: No. 2 seed vs. Game 3 Winner (ESPN Plus) 6:00 p.m.
Game 8: No. 3 seed vs. Game 4 Winner (ESPN Plus) 8:20 p.m.
Saturday, March 15
Game 9: Friday afternoon winners (ESPN Plus & ESPN2*) 1:00 p.m.
Game 10: Friday evening winners (ESPN Plus & ESPN2*) 3:20 p.m.
Sunday, March 16
Game 11: Semifinal winners (ESPN) 2:00 p.m
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