Views from 400’s Guide to College Basketball Championship Week, Mid-Majors Part 1

If you read yesterday’s blog you are well aware by now how much I truly love the prelude to March Madness. With that, I figured I’d share my love and offer some insight into when you should be turning your televisions (or computers/phones) onto ESPN+, Big 10+, (or maybe even Mountcock+) as we approach Selection Sunday.

Since we are a brand that loves giving out some spicy futures I’ll throw some of my favorites in as we go along too.

Anyway, here is every important date/game you should tune into over the next week and a half of the college basketball season.

OVC Championship

When/Where: March 9 at 7:00 PM EST ESPN 2

I understand the seeding of this tournament less than I understand the study of thermodynamics. Morehead State, who finished with the conference same record as Arkansas Little Rock and UT Martin, is the 3-seed despite having the best overall record in the league.

The team that took the gutter-minded country by storm is easily the best in this conference with a NET ranking nearly 70 points better than the next highest contender, 1-seeded Little Rock.

While you shouldn’t expect Morehead to upset a team in the NCAA Tournament, you can enjoy watching guard Riley Minix (20 points per game, 10 rebounds per game) carry his squad to an auto bid.

Conference Tournament Winner: Morehead State (+105)

Big South Championship

When/Where: March 10, Noon EST ESPN 2

The most interesting thing about the Big South Tournament was the fact they played at Bojangles Arena. Now they don’t.

I’m sorry High Point fans, but an 8-point loss to Georgia and a 5-point loss to Hofstra in the non-conference don’t move the needle for me. I’ve been trying to come up with a one-liner to make this section of the blog somewhat bearable for me to write but don’t care enough to keep wracking my brain.

The Big South should be called the “Small South” because they always come up small in the Big Dance, although that abbreviation may be problematic.

This championship is all but certain to come down to guard Duke Miles and High Point against forward Drey Pember and UNC Ashville. I’ll take the big man with a mullet to get some airtime on TruTv.

Conference Tournament Winner: UNC Ashville (+280)

Arch Madness (MVC Tournament) Championship

When/Where: March 10, 1 PM EST, CBS

Now this tournament is the first one that you should DEFINITELY keep an eye on. Drake and Indiana State are far and away the two best teams in the Missouri Valley, but both sit on the wrong side of the bubble with an auto-bid unlikely.

We all know about Indiana State’s Robbie Avila by now which makes it easy to forget Drake still has March-phenom Tucker DeVries. You don’t have to wait until Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson to see a welterweight battle. This one is going to be insanity. We can only pray one of these teams doesn’t slip up before the final.

I wouldn’t advise picking a winner, but I’ll give out Drake simply because Draymond Green just passed Larry Bird on the all time 3-point makes list.

Conference Tournament Winner: Drake (don’t bet it)

Atlantic Sun Championship

When/Where: March 10, 2 PM EST ESPN 2

I’ll preface this quickly by saying the semifinals of this tournament are taking place tonight so this could go to shit very quickly. I’ll also say the tournament winner has about as much chance to win a game in March as I do to run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash.

Either way, give me North Alabama because of K.J. Johnson’s story. If you haven’t seen it already, do yourself a favor and watch the final 30 seconds of North Alabama’s win over Johnson’s former team, Lispcomb, in the quarterfinals.

Tournament Winner: North Alabama (+550)

Fun Belt Championship

When/Where: March 11, 6 PM EST ESPN 2

Much like the MVC, the Sun Belt (no that title is not a typo) is a two-team race. This time we see James Madison, who happens to be the first college basketball bet I gave out this season, and Appalachian State, who beat my Auburn Tigers earlier this season.

Do I need to say more?

Conference Winner: James Madison (no line offered yet)

See you right back here tomorrow for the next 5 mid-major tournaments!

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