2013 College Basketball Picks: Mid-American Conference Tournamant Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – MAC Tournament Schedule and Tournament Bracket: The Mid-American Conference is one of the better mid-major leagues in college sports in general, and basketball is no exception. Don’t forget that just last year, the MAC had a team in the Sweet 16. This year, the conference might even get multiple teams into the NCAA Tournament. Overall, the MAC was a bit unbalanced this season with the two best teams residing in the East Division. Heck, Western Michigan took home the West Division crown with 10-6 record while Ohio settled for second in the East with a 15-2 mark. While the heavy hitters are both coming out of the East Division, there is enough talent in the MAC as a whole to produce some dangerous sleepers for the conference tournament title, as well. With that in mind, here is a closer look at which teams could emerge from the MAC Tournament as the champ.
2013 MAC Conference Tournament Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Contenders
They grabbed the top seed for the MAC Tournament via a tiebreaker, and the Akron Zips (24-6, 14-2 MAC) will try to add a conference tournament crown to their regular season title. Akron has excellence balance on both ends of the court, and they rank second in the MAC in both points per game and fewest points allowed. A big frontcourt led by center Zeke Marshall and forward Demetrius Treadwell are a big part of the Zips’ offensive and defensive success. The two rank first and second on the team in both scoring and rebounding, and Marshall averages an impressive 3.6 blocks per game. On the flip side, Akron recently suspended their point guard Alex Abreu because of a drug-related issue, and the Zips promptly lost their regular season finale without him. I was not exactly the best way to cap what has been an otherwise special regular season.
Although they came out on the wrong end of a tiebreaker for the top seed, the Ohio Bobcats (23-8, 14-2 MAC) could get the last laugh in the MAC Tournament. After all, the Bobcats lead the conference in scoring and are one of the better offensive teams nationally. Ohio ranks in the top 40 in the country in scoring, the top 25 in field goal percentage and first in assists per game. Point guard D.J. Cooper leads the attack, averaging 14.2 points, 7.1 assists and 2.1 steals, but there are multiple starters back from last year’s team that made a run to the Sweet 16. Experience and offensive firepower are both on the Bobcats’ side, but it is worth noting that they lost both regular season meetings with the top-seeded Akron Zips.
Momentum can always be an equalizer, the Kent State Golden Flashes (19-12, 9-7 MAC) are playing their best basketball at the right time. They have won five games in a row entering the conference tournament, and they also rank third in the MAC in points per game. Kent State has balance and experience on the offensive end with senior guard Randal Holt and senior forward Chris Evans averaging a combined 31.0 points per game. More importantly, the Golden Flashes held their own against the MAC Tournament’s two top seeds. Although Kent State went 1-3 against Akron and Ohio, all three losses came by four points or less, including a one-point defeat and an overtime loss.
Bottom Line
Akron’s frontcourt is intimidating, but the loss of Abreu and his 6.0 assists per game can’t be overlooked. It is also tough to overlook the experience that Cooper and the Bobcats bring to the table. Not only is he probably the best player in the MAC, but he and his teammates know what it takes to win big games both in the conference tournament but in the NCAA Tournament, as well. The battle-tested Bobcats will be able to outlast the surging Golden Flashes, get the better of a weakened Akron squad or handle whatever else the MAC Tournament throws their way as they get back to the Big Dance and try to go on another Cinderella run.
Prediction: Ohio Bobcats Win the MAC Tournament
2013 MAC Tournament Odds
Ohio -130
Akron +180
Kent State +650
Western Michigan +1200
Bowling Green +5000
Buffalo +5000
Eastern Michigan +20000
Ball State +20000
Miami Ohio +30000
Central Michigan +50000
Northern Illinois +100000
2013 MAC Conference Tournament Schedule
Monday, March 11
Game 1: No. 9 Central Michigan vs. No. 8 Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 10 Northern Illinois vs. No. 7 Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 11 Miami vs. No. 6 Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13
Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs. No. 5 Ball State, 6:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 3 Winner, 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 14
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 4 Kent State, 6:30 p.m.
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 3 Western Michigan, 9 p.m.
Friday, March 15 – Semifinals
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. No. 1 Akron, 6:30 p.m.
Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. No. 2 Ohio, 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 – Championship Game, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
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