Conference tournament season is ramping up.
With the Big 12 and ACC joining the mix on Tuesday, power conferences are ready to take center stage until Selection Sunday.
But, of course, there's much more to college basketball than power conferences. Along with the Big 12 and ACC, the A-10, Big Sky, Southland, MAAC and America East are all in action with multiple games taking place today.
And the best part is there are nine games tipping off before 5:30 p.m. ET. So, strap in and get ready for some early college basketball bets.
Our NCAAB writers came through with two picks for Tuesday's early games — Davidson vs. Fordham in the A-10 and West Virginia vs. Cincinnati in the Big 12 — and we'll also have plenty more best bets for Tuesday night's action.
Read on for both of our early Tuesday college basketball best bets — and check back later for even more NCAAB picks for Tuesday night's action.
Ready to get in on the sports betting action in North Carolina? As of Monday, NC sports betting is live.
College Basketball Conference Tournament Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from Tuesday's early slate of conference tournament games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 11:30 a.m. | |
  | 3 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Davidson vs. Fordham
By Kevin Rogers
The opener of the Atlantic 10 Tournament features a pair of teams that put together disappointing conference seasons.
Davidson enters as the 13th seed and is favored in this contest at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn over 12th-seeded Fordham.
The Wildcats swept the Rams this season, and both wins came by double digits. In the most recent 68-53 rout at home, Davidson erased a 32-25 deficit with over 16 minutes remaining and exploded for 43 points to grab the win.
However, since that victory, Davidson has gone dry by losing five straight games, although four of the losses came to the top four seeds in the conference tournament.
Fordham held its own against UMass in a two-point loss in its second-to-last game of the season but was promptly blown out by struggling Rhode Island in the regular-season finale.
The Rams pulled off six outright wins as an underdog in A-10 play, including four on the road. Fordham has the home-court advantage here, considering the Bronx is much closer than Davidson, North Carolina.
In the first round of this tournament, underdogs are 4-1 against the spread with three outright wins in the last two seasons.
Although Davidson beat Fordham twice this season, look for the Rams to put up a better effort against a Wildcats team that hasn’t won a game in over three weeks.
Pick: Fordham +3.5 (Play to +3)
| |
West Virginia vs. Cincinnati
By Greg Waddell
Early on in conference tournament week, you can often spot the teams that want to be there and the teams that…do not.
West Virginia would qualify for the latter category this year.
The Mountaineers’ collection of prized portalees has underwhelmed, and most everyone involved looks ready for what comes next.
As evidenced by West Virginia’s five-game losing streak to end the regular season, this team has not been good. It has gotten worse in its most recent performances, though, losing three consecutive games by 11 points or more and falling all the way to 142nd on KenPom.
Cincinnati faltered in February but spent large portions of the season looking like a team that was fit for the NCAA Tournament. It will need to make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament to re-enter bubble territory, but it should get off to a good start against WVU.
These two teams met just three days ago, with Cincy running West Virginia out of the gym en route to a 92-56 victory. The Bearcats forced 16 turnovers in the process, and not a single Mountaineer starter finished with double-digit points.
As crazy as it sounds, this one could be even uglier. West Virginia shot 8-of-19 from 3 in that 36-point loss on Saturday.
The Cats should jump all over the 'Neers again and create some separation to kick off their run in the Big 12 Tournament.
Pick: Cincinnati -9.5 (Play to -11)
