Capping the NCAA Tournaments

By Tony George - Covers Experts

Handicapping College basketball takes a new twist now that Tourney time and March Madness is upon us. Forget all the hype and selection shows for a moment, this is a KEY time to make money-wagering basketball, but knowing what to look for is crucial when it comes to capping these games successfully. There are two Tournaments to look at here, from a totally different perspective, the NIT Tourney and of course the big daddy, the field of 64 in the Big Dance.

In the NIT tourney it is a valid point to note that all games, except for the final four played in Madison Square Garden, are played on home courts and not neutral sites. Using the home / road dichotomy charts and stat numbers for the regular season with home teams and away teams stays in place in this tournament. One thing I also look at is the strength of conference in which each team is from. This comes into play if you have a team from the MAC at 19-8 on the year for instance, playing a team from the Big 12 at lets say 15-13 on the year. If this Big 12 team is on the road in this game, based on the strength of their conference, and getting points against a team from a weaker conference, I will focus allot of attention of an underdog from a power conference. Remember in the NIT, home courts do make a difference, but watch out for this particular scenario.

In the Big Dance, I look at road records and road stats from each team. Throw out the home records and look at road records, how they shoot on the road, free throws on the road, points for and against, all on the road. It narrows the gap between teams, but odds makers will put premium numbers on highly ranked teams, but this is a system that has proven effective in beating the posted line with underdogs. I also concentrate on 3 conferences during the regular season, the Big 12, Mountain West and Missouri Valley, and I follow teams in those conferences who make it in either tourney, as we know them intimately. Specializing in these conference's and know these teams makeup helps us in singling out winners in the tourney as well.

In closing, look for reasons to take underdogs and small favorites in post-season action. Chances are your wallet will thank you.