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March Madness betting: Despite losing season, Kentucky still among most popular conference tournament bets - Yahoo Sports

Kentucky may have had a miserable regular season, but it is still popular among bettors once the postseason rolls around.

With the SEC tournament set to begin on Wednesday, the Wildcats are receiving 37.8% of the bets and a whopping 41% of the money at BetMGM to win the conference title and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

Kentucky, with a 9-15 overall record and an 8-9 mark in SEC play, is the tournament’s No. 8 seed and currently has +1600 odds at BetMGM. UK will open postseason play on Thursday against No. 9 seed Mississippi State at noon ET. The winner of that game will move on to face No. 1 seed Alabama in the quarterfinals.

Alabama, with +250 odds, is the betting favorite, but is receiving just 12.5% of the bets and 16.9% of the money. Ahead of Alabama (and behind Kentucky) are Arkansas at +350 and Tennessee at +500. The Razorbacks, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, are receiving 15.3% of the bets and 16.9% of the money. Tennessee, the No. 4 seed, is receiving 13.6% of the bets and 14.5% of the money.

Sportsbook rooting against Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia

Any of those outcomes would be more favorable for the sportsbook than a run from Kentucky. Seamus Magee, a sports trader for BetMGM, said Kentucky, Michigan State and West Virginia winning their conference tournaments would be “three of the worst outcomes” for BetMGM.

Michigan State has +3500 odds to win the Big Ten tournament, but is receiving significant action. The Spartans have the highest ticket percentage of any Big Ten team, 17.3%. It makes sense, too. With such long odds, it’s worth throwing a little bit of money down (MSU has received just 11.8% of the money) on a program with such a sustained history of success in March. MSU has won four of the last eight Big Ten tournaments.

By comparison, Michigan — the top seed in the Big Ten tournament — is receiving 44.8% of the money at BetMGM but just 9.6% of the bets. Michigan is the betting favorite at +175 with Illinois (+300), Iowa (+450) and Ohio State (+800) right behind.

Behind Michigan, Purdue has the second-highest handle in the Big Ten with 12.2% of the money on the Boilermakers at +1200.

In the Big 12, West Virginia is a very popular play. The Mountaineers, the tournament’s No. 4 seed with +900 odds, are receiving 38.9% of the bets and 37.1% of the money at BetMGM. Next in line is No. 2 seed Kansas (+500) at 23.5% of the bets and 20.2% of the money. Baylor, the Big 12 regular season champion, is the favorite at -145 and is receiving 12.6% of the bets and 17.9% of the money.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo talks to team members during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo talks to team members during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Other noteworthy conference tournament betting action

In the ACC, Georgia Tech (+1000) has received the most bets (24.7%), but Florida State has received the most money (36.6%).

In the Big East, UConn (+250) is a very popular play. The Huskies have received 31.8% of the bets and 47.1% of the money to win the Big East tournament. St. John’s, at +1600, has also received plenty of action: 23.8% of the bets, 25.9% of the money. Creighton, the betting favorite at +225, has received just 7.9% of the bets and 4.5% of the money.

Oregon and Colorado are the most popular picks in the Pac-12. Both teams sit at +250 with Oregon garnering the most action — 38.7% of the bets and 38.9% of the money. Colorado has received 29.1% of the bets and 35.6% of the money. Interestingly, a long shot in Arizona State (+5000) has received 10.1% of the bets and 10.2% of the money while favorite USC (+225) has received just 8.5% of the bets and 5.9% of the money.

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March Madness betting: Despite losing season, Kentucky still among most popular conference tournament bets - Yahoo Sports
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