CBB: America East Conference Tournament Preview

Favorites (odds below +500)

Vermont Catamounts (-280): This is the usual perch for Vermont as they’ve ruled the America East for years. Vermont always plays solid ball and had a very good team once again. Back in December I got to see them play against the Miami Redhawks and Vermont lost on a last moment heave. It was fair to wonder at that time if the Catamounts could maintain their dominance over this conference. Vermont has lost once since that game, albeit an extremely random 2 point loss to NJIT but still. Vermont is hot and they’re experienced in this position. Vermont gets home field advantage throughout the tournament just to make things better.

UMass Lowell Riverhawks (+360): UMass Lowell looked like w worthy foe for Vermont earlier in the season. The Riverhawks made some headlines early on beating Georgia Tech and nearly following it up with a win at Arizona State 2 nights later. The Riverhawks couldn’t get past Vermont either time they faced them and they enter the conference tournament on a 2 game losing streak.

Sleepers (+500 or above)

Bryant Bulldogs (+1200): Bryant had a very tumultuous start to the season, not long before it started their head coach was suspended and eventually resigned just as the season began. Bryant started slow but eventually got going and even picked up one of the most random upsets of the year when they beat FAU. Bryant overall finished just short of 20 wins, they were good in conference play but just couldn’t get a win over Vermont or UMass Lowell which is why they have such long odds. Bryant does have March Madness hero Doug Edert on the team, he’s mostly an off the bench guy for them but you never know if he has some more match magic in him.

My Pick:

Vermont Catamounts (-280): This is like betting on Alabama or Georgia in college football. I’d rather bet with them and be wrong than take my chances betting against them.