Conference Tourney Guide

Conference Tournament Previews:

ACC

North Carolina enters as the 1-seed and Virginia as the 2-seed as both enter as favorites to get to the Championship. 

Favorite: Virginia- The Cavaliers have been pretty solid all year long and can clinch a #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament with an ACC Tournament Championship. 

Sleeper: The Techs (Virginia & Georgia)- Virginia Tech comes in at the #6 Seed and starting to gain momentum. Coming off wins over Pittsburgh and Miami to end the season. They will likely start with Florida State. If they get by FSU, they get Miami. Georgia Tech is the #10 Seed also beating Pittsburgh to end the season has might get another match up with Virginia, who they already beat once. What happens if both upset Miami and Virginia? 

Bubble Teams:

Syracuse

Pittsburgh

Florida State

Georgia Tech

Upset Pick: Georgia Tech over Clemson

Our Pick: Virginia over North Carolina

American Athletic Conference

Favorite: There is no one that stands out as the favorite.

Sleeper: Houston- Even though they are the #2 seed, they are currently on the outside looking in, but appear to arguably playing the best of any of the teams eligible for the AAC Conference Tourney.

Bubble Teams:

Cincinnati

Temple

Tulsa

Connecticut

Houston:

Upset Pick: Memphis over Tulsa

Our Pick: Houston over Cincinnati

Atlantic-10

Favorite: Dayton. They have struggled lately, but they are still the team to beat in the A-10.

Sleeper: George Washington. The Colonials have lots to play for as making the finals is a must to have any shot at an at-large. They should have a quarterfinal match-up against a limping St. Joseph's squad and then a potential semifinal against a shorthanded Dayton team.

Bubble: 

St. Bonaventure

St. Joseph's

VCU

George Washington

Upset Pick: George Washington over Dayton

Our Pick: VCU over George Washington

Big Ten

Favorite: Michigan State- Hard to pick against Tom Izzo in March. The Spartans appear to have the pieces to win the tournament and claim a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Sleeper: Wisconsin- The last two months have been great for the Badgers, so if that is any indication, this roll could be continued.

Bubble:

Wisconsin

Michigan

Ohio State

Upset Pick: Wisconsin over Maryland

Our Pick: Michigan State over Indiana

Big 12

Favorite: Kansas. The #1 team in the land and regular season champs. No more explanation needed.

Sleeper: Texas. The Longhorns have proved they can beat anyone and with Shaka Smart in command, a run is possible.

Upset Pick: Oklahoma over West Virginia

Our Pick: Kansas over Oklahoma

Big East

Favorite: Villanova- Regular season champ and projected #1 seed has lots to play for.

Sleeper: Providence- Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil are players who are capable of a Kemba Walker like run.

Bubble:

Providence

Butler

Upset Pick: Creighton over Seton Hall

Our Pick: Xavier over Villanova

Pac-12

Favorite: Oregon. The Ducks finished first playing one of the toughest conference schedules.

Sleeper: Washington. The Huskies have the most to play for and had nothing but narrow defeats in the games they lost down the stretch.

Bubble: 

Oregon State

USC

Washington

Upset Pick: Arizona over Oregon

Our Pick: Arizona over Utah

SEC

Favorite: Kentucky. It is hard to pick against Coach Cal and the Cats in the SEC.

Sleeper: Georgia. The Bulldogs finished strong and have lots to play for.

Bubble:

South Carolina

Vanderbilt

Florida

Georgia

Alabama

Upset Pick: Georgia over South Carolina

Our Pick: Kentucky over Texas A&M