Wofford Listed as Odds-On Favorite in 2019 Southern Conference Tournament
By Chris Amberley in College Basketball
Updated: April 1, 2020 at 2:22 pm EDTPublished:
- Wofford is a heavy favorite to win the Southern Conference tournament
- They are undefeated in Southern play, 9th in Kenpom.com’s offensive efficiency ratings, and shooting 42% from three
- Is Wofford the best bet on the board or could Furman, ETSU, or UNC-Greensboro pull an upset?
The Wofford Terriers aren’t a household name yet, but by the time March Madness rolls around, every office poolie in the nation will know about Fletcher Magee and company.
THE WORLD’S ABOUT TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE WOFFORD TERRIERS‼️@marchmadness @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/E6tvp7wUfH
— Wofford Basketball (@WoffordMBB) March 2, 2019
Wofford just completed an undefeated conference schedule (18-0) and are a heavy favorite to win the Southern Conference tournament when play begins this Friday (Mar. 8th) at US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC.
Odds to Win 2019 Southern Conference Tournament
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Wofford | -170 |
| Furman | +300 |
| East Tennessee State | +500 |
| UNC Greensboro | +600 |
| Samford | +5000 |
| Mercer | +15000 |
| The Citadel | +20000 |
| Chattanooga | +25000 |
| VMI | +25000 |
| Western Carolina | +25000 |
The Terriers have made the NCAA tournament four times in the last eight years, and are currently projected to be just the fourth single-digit seed ever from the Southern Conference.
.@WoffordMBB is up to No. 20!! https://t.co/PMkSlKa7hF
— Wofford Terriers (@WoffordTerriers) March 4, 2019
Small School, Big Punch
With an enrollment of just 1,600 students, Wofford is one of the smallest programs in Division 1 basketball. They’re just the fourth school to finish Southern Conference play undefeated, and the first since Steph Curry led Davidson to an unblemished record in 2007-08.
They’ve won 17 straight overall, and join number-one ranked Gonzaga as the only Division 1 programs to run the conference table this season .
PERFECTION‼️‼️‼️
No. 24 @WoffordMBB finishes the regular season a PERFECT 18-0 in the Southern Conference. #ConquerAndPrevail ? pic.twitter.com/duqjxTs7ci
— Wofford Terriers (@WoffordTerriers) March 2, 2019
Long-Range Assassins
The Terriers are one of the most prolific offensive teams in the nation. They are 9th in Kenpom.com’s offensive efficiency ratings, shooting an incredible 42% from beyond the arc.
EIGHTH #MageeForThree!!!
36 points (13-21 FG; 8-14 3FG) pic.twitter.com/5xtg8ultXs
— Wofford Basketball (@WoffordMBB) March 2, 2019
They have five players who shoot at least 39% from three, including senior Fletcher Magee, who has made the second-most three-point field goals in NCAA history.
FLETCHER MAGEE IS ON FIRE ? pic.twitter.com/qLZ2nXYNEC
— Wofford Basketball (@WoffordMBB) March 2, 2019
Fourteen of their 18 conference wins this season were by double digits, and they rank first in the Southern Conference in points, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and turnover differential.
Who Else Is in Play?
It’s hard to argue that Wafford isn’t the best bet on the board. They’re in midst of an incredible run and no team in the Southern Conference has proved they can keep pace with them offensively. However, if their price is too short to swallow, you might want to consider Furman.
With our win yesterday the DINS have set a NEW SCHOOL RECORD, achieving 2️⃣4️⃣ wins in a single season! Rewriting the record books! Join us in Asheville this weekend for the SoCon Tournament as we look to add to that number on Saturday! ? #AllDIN pic.twitter.com/p9EpH8KHsT
— Furman Basketball (@FurmanHoops) March 3, 2019
The Paladins are 52nd in KenPom’s efficiency ratings and have won seven of their last eight, with their lone defeat coming against the Terriers. They’re one of the best defensive teams in the conference, ranking first in 3-point field-goal percentage allowed and second in total points allowed.
Dominant Defense Powers @FurmanHoops To Third Straight Road Win, 64-45 https://t.co/87aTq8TH20 #Furman #ALLDIN pic.twitter.com/bR54Mqge9R
— Furman Paladins (@FurmanPaladins) February 8, 2019
They also have something on their resume that Wofford doesn’t: a signature win over a Top-25 opponent. Furman knocked off the defending champs in Villanova at the start of the year, and at +300, they represent the biggest threat to a Terriers conference title.
SBD’s NCAA conference tournament coverage:
- 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
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
