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As the clock ticks toward Selection Sunday and programs learn their fate and path, there are many conference semifinal and championship matchups to finish.
These are the final college basketball bets we'll dish out before the NCAA Tournament officially begins Tuesday. We've been profitable on this forum this season, so let's finish the campaign on the right note. Without further ado, we present our Saturday conference tournament best bets.
Wisconsin vs. Purdue (-6, O/U 143)
Wisconsin skeptics have had justifiable reason to be bearish on the Badgers. After a stellar start to the season, Wisconsin finished 3-8 in its final 11 regular-season games. However, the Badgers appear to have reverted back to the team that started the season 16-4.
They dominated Maryland on Thursday, then pulled away late from higher-seeded Northwestern on Friday. The Badgers' prolific 3-point shooting and sound defense lifted them to the semifinals. If they can stay hot from long range, they have a decent chance to upset Purdue, which looked vulnerable against Michigan State.
Wisconsin lost to Purdue by six in February and finished the regular season with a road loss to the Boilermakers by eight. Despite the eight-point deficit, the Badgers competed with one of the country's best teams for most of the game.
Wisconsin has the perfect combination of solid guard play and frontcourt depth to battle Purdue.
Pick: Wisconsin +6
Umass Lowell vs. Vermont (-7.5, O/U 133.5)
Vermont has dominated the America East for the last few years, winning the conference championship in three of the last four tournaments. The winner of this championship affair will head to the Big Dance, while the loser's season will conclude.
Vermont finished 15-1 in conference play. The Catamounts steamrolled through the America East again for the third straight season. Few teams were even competitive.
The Catamounts have by far the conference's best adjOFF, according to ShotQuality. Their offensive efficiency has carried them throughout the season, and that should continue against UMass Lowell, which won't be able to keep pace with Vermont.
Vermont defeated UMass Lowell by 12 earlier this month and by seven in late January. The Catamounts will go dancing yet again after rolling past UMass Lowell.
Pick: Vermont -7.5
Temple vs. FAU ( -13.5, O/U )
Temple won five conference games this season and entered the American Tournament as the 11th seed. However, it won four straight contests, including three in the last three days, to earn a trip to the semifinals and a date with Florida Atlantic.
While the Owls are hot and on an improbable run, playing four basketball games in four days is challenging.
FAU played Friday night but hadn't played in almost a week previously. That's a major advantage for FAU, which is already the better and more talented team.
When these programs met Feb. 15, FAU controlled most of the game until Temple made a fierce comeback in the final minutes. However, FAU still won by 12. Temple will run out of gas as FAU easily slides into the championship.
Pick: FAU -12
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
