VCU Listed as Odds-On Favorite to Win Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament

• VCU (25-6, 16-2) had the best record in the Atlantic 10
• They are the clear favorites entering the conference tournament
• The tournament tips off Mar. 13th; VCU has a bye to the quarterfinals on Mar. 15th

The Atlantic 10 may be home to the least predictable conference tournament, with eight different winners the past nine years.

That makes it all the more important to do your research and analyze each tournament anew.

In this year’s tournament, there is a clear favorite you need to get your money on. First, the odds for all 14 A10 teams are as follows.

Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Odds

*odds taken 3/11

One major thing stands out when looking at the list of odds above and that’s a large gap between the top four programs and the rest of the conference. It only takes a cursory glance at the bracket to figure out why.

2019 A10 Tournament Bracket

The top-four seeds all get double-byes to the quarterfinals, meaning they are already just three wins away from a title. The #6-#10 seeds would have to win four games. The #11-#14 seeds would have to win five.

When this year’s tournament tips off on March 13th, expect the winner to come from the pack of VCU, Dayton, Davidson and St. Bonaventure.

Now, telling you to avoid the group of teams listed at +2200 or worse isn’t very helpful, so here’s the case for the one team you should focus on more than all the others when placing your bet.

Bet the Favorites in the Atlantic 10

VCU won the conference regular season title with a 16-2 record and finished 25-6 overall. Mike Rhoades has done a fantastic job in his second season and has the team entering the tournament on a 12-game win streak.

Marcus Evans scored 23 points and Issac Vann chipped in 15 points, as #VCU topped St. Joe's, 75-63. The 25 victories match the program record for wins in a regular season. The Rams assisted on 21 of their 27 field goals on the night. @NBC12 @VCU_Hoops pic.twitter.com/nKf7HBz1lt

— Marc Davis (@marcdavissports) March 9, 2019

Unlike many other top programs, the Rams are winning with a committee approach. They have 10 different players averaging more than 14 minutes per game, led by their high-scoring backcourt of Marcus Evans and De’Riante Jenkins.

Don’t dismiss how great this squad is just because it lacks star power; they are the favorites in this tournament for a reason and could definitely surprise with a run in the NCAA tournament later in March.

Can the Rams Win for 1st Time Since 2015?

History suggests picking a winner in this tournament can be tough with eight different winners over the last nine years. VCU is included in that group, capturing the tournament title back in 2015.

Watching the Rams as of late, it’s absolutely believable they’ll be at the top of this chart next year.  The five losses the team suffered this year were by a combined 29 points and only one was by double digits (62-52 at Old Dominion).

This team rarely loses and, when they do, it’s always a tight ball game. One of their most encouraging games of the year was actually an L: they fell 57-49 on the road to #1 Virginia in a game they led by five with under seven minutes to play.

Very few teams have been able to play the Cavaliers that close this year, especially in Charlottesville.

A unit that’s used to playing tight games under pressure is exactly what you’re looking for when betting on a team in single-elimination tournament play.

https://twitter.com/A10MBB/status/1104570548577882112

Futures bets often draw people into looking too far down the list to find “value”.  It’s not value when you’re betting on a team with little to no chance of success and, in this tournament, there really are only four contenders.

VCU is deserving of being well ahead of Dayton, Davidson and St. Bonaventure. The Rams are ranked 32nd at KenPom, while Dayton is 58th, Davidson is 75th, and the Bonnies are 133rd.

VCU also went 3-1 against the other three, combined, with the only loss coming on the road at Davidson. The Wildcats are on the opposite side of the bracket, along with the Flyers, a team that already beat Davidson on the road.

Take the Rams and enjoy what should be an awesome tournament.

SBD’s NCAA conference tournament coverage:

• 2019 Big East Conference Tournament Odds: Villanova Favored Over Slumping Marquette
• 2019 MEAC Tournament Odds: Norfolk State Listed as Favorites
• Lipscomb Odds-On Favorite to Win NCAAM Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament
• Colgate Odds-On Favorite to Win Patriot League Tournament
• 2019 Horizon League Tournament Odds: Northern Kentucky Favored
• 2019 Big South Tournament Odds: Radford Favored
• 2019 MAAC Tournament Odds: Iona & Rider Listed as Co-Favorites
• 2019 Colonial Conference Tournament Odds: Hofstra Given Edge Over Northeastern
• Saint Francis Red Flash Favored to Win 2019 Northeast Conference Tournament
• Belmont Favored Over Murray State in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
• 2019 West Coast Conference Tournament Odds: Should You Bet Against Gonzaga?
• 2019 Summit Conference Tournament Odds: South Dakota St Heavily Favored
• Wofford Listed as Odds-On Favorite in 2019 Southern Conference Tournament
• Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Odds: Loyola-Chicago Favored