2024 Big South Conference Odds: High Point Big Favorites
Panthers Playing Conference Tournament at Home

The Big South Conference Tournament begins Wednesday in High Point, N.C. The bottom two teams in the conference, USC Upstate and Radford, meet to see who finishes its season first.
The winner of the game will most likely see its season end Friday against High Point. The 2024 Big South Conference odds have High Point as huge favorites, but the Panthers won’t run away with the title without a fight.
There are four other teams capable of winning the tournament, although things will have to go right for them.
High Point Panthers (-125)
It makes sense to have High Point as the favorite. Thanks to a late-game meltdown by UNC Asheville, the Panthers won the regular season title. The Panthers are also at home, where they have gone 15-1 during the season. The KenPom NCAAB rankings have High Point 4.5 points better than UNC Asheville0.
That might be a stretch after the two teams split their regular season games. Each team won by five points at home.
High Point has the No. 1 offense in the conference, scoring 84.6 points per game. The Panthers are the No. 1 free throw shooting team in the conference and do a solid job of getting there. The Panthers make the fewest turnovers in the Big South and are No. 2 in offensive rebounds.
High Point isn’t great from the field, however, ranking No. 5 in the KenPom rankings in effective field goal percentage.
The Panthers are a decent defensive team. They allow the fewest offensive rebounds in the Big South, but get dinged in the efficiency ratings for being last in forced turnovers. High Point is No. 4 in effective field goal percentage.
UNC Asheville Bulldogs (+350)
The 2024 Big South Conference odds on the Bulldogs are fairly generous. Asheville is about a 2.5-hour drive from High Point, so the Bulldogs should have some fans if they advance to the finals.
UNC Asheville did struggle on the road this season, going 5-7. The Bulldogs lost two of their last three games to finish a game behind High Point in the conference standings.
UNC Asheville is the best-shooting team in the conference. The Bulldogs are No. 2 in both 2-point and 3-point field goals. The team doesn’t get a lot of offensive rebounds, which hurts in the efficiency ratings a little bit. They may be closer to High Point than the numbers suggest.
The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Big South in defensive efficiency. UNC Asheville is No. 1 in 2-point field goal percentage and blocks. The 3-point defense isn’t bad and the Bulldogs do the other things well enough on defense.
Winthrop Eagles (+700)
The NCAAB scores show Winthrop was 8-8 in conference play, but the Eagles might be a little better than that. Winthrop lost six of its eight conference games by five points or less. The Eagles played tough against teams such as Florida State, South Carolina and Georgia, so they can play.
Winthrop is the best 2-point shooting team in conference play at 57.1%. The Eagles make too many turnovers and aren’t great from the outside. Winthrop gets to the line line more than any team, but don’t do a good job of converting.
The Eagles can play decent defense and are No. 2 in the efficiency ratings. Winthrop leads the conference in forced turnovers, although it allows too many offensive rebounds.
Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (+750)
The 2024 Big South Conference odds are giving a bit of respect to the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Gardner Webb was third in the conference standings and lives or dies with the 3-pointer.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs shot a conference-best 38.4% from 3-point range. The team is terrible from the foul line, making just 61.2% of free throws.
Gardner Webb can play some defense and is No. 2 in the Big South in 2-point field goal percentage. The team doesn’t block a lot of shots, but that’s really the only defensive drawback. The Runnin’ Bulldogs do the other things well enough for them not to be liabilities.
Longwood Lancers (+1200)
The Lancers are definitely longshots here, but they did beat both UNC Asheville and High Point during the season. Longwood does some things very well, but it also struggles in areas.
Offensively, the Lancers are best in the conference at grabbing rebounds, but are also last in turnovers. Longwood shoots the 3-pointer a little better than average and gets to the foul line.
The Longwood Lancers are last in the Big South in defensive field goal percentage, but No. 2 in turnovers forced and not allowing offensive rebounds. Longwood will have to tighten things up in order to make a run.
Who to Bet On?
Only the winner of the tournament will appear on the NCAA March Madness bracket. Either High Point or UNC Asheville could make one of the minor tournaments, although that’s likely it.
The Panthers are the best team in the field, but probably don’t deserve to go off at less than even money. They aren’t a sure thing.
The way the bracket is set up, High Point could face Winthrop in the semifinals and the Eagles are probably a better team than Gardner Webb. At least the KenPom rankings believe so.
That should give UNC Asheville an easier time advancing to the tournament finals. At +350, the Bulldogs deserve a look.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.