Defending Champ Grand Canyon Remains Team to Beat in WAC Tourney
2024 WAC Odds: Tarleton St. Ineligible for NCAA Auto Bid
The WAC Tournament tips off Wednesday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, with the four lowest seeds trying to advance to the quarterfinal stage. The top two seeds, defending champion Grand Canyon and Tarleton State, received double-byes to the semifinals. The final is slated for Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Being in its fourth year of NCAA Division I play, Tarleton State is eligible to receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament should it win this weekend. The conference’s three worst teams, Utah Tech, Southern Utah and UT Rio Grande Valley, did not qualify.
As was the case last season, teams were seeded based on a computer formula.
What should bettors expect? Read on as we break down each team and assess the 2024 WAC odds.
THE FAVORITE
Grand Canyon (-175)
Grand Canyon — who else? — is the heavy favorite after rolling to the regular-season title. Bryce Drew’s crew went 27-4, including 17-3 in conference play. The Antelopes’ resume includes quality non-conference wins over San Francisco and San Diego State.
The Antelopes — +30000 odds to win March Madness — have one of the nation’s best homecourt advantages, which they obviously will not be able to rely on in Las Vegas.
Grand Canyon continues to lean on the inside-outside duo of Tyon Grant-Foster and Gabe McGlothan. Grant-Foster — playing for his third different school in four years — is the WAC’s top scorer at 19.4 points per game, while McGlothan averages 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. As a team, the Antelopes rank in the top 70 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
With Tarleton State being ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, Grand Canyon — or anyone else, for that matter — would earn the league’s automatic bid if they were to meet in the final.
TOP CONTENDERS
Tarleton State (+500)
Tarleton State crushed expectations, going 23-8, including 16-4 in conference play, to finish with its first winning record in four seasons at the Division I level. The second-seeded Texans are still ineligible for the Big Dance because of NCAA transition rules, so there’s only so much to be gained this week.
Billy Gillespie’s team is balanced offensively. Four players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by forward Jakorie Smith (15.8). The 6-foot-6 forward had 24 points and seven rebounds in a 77-74 victory over Grand Canyon on Feb. 22.
Grand Canyon is 11-1 over its last 12 games, with the only blemish a 63-60 loss to Utah Valley on March 7. It went 8-4 ATS during that span. Keep that in mind when making your college basketball predictions for today.
Seattle (+700)
Seattle needs to turn around its fortunes in a hurry to stay in the mix for the automatic bid. The Redhawks (18-13, 11-9) have lost three straight and are just 1-5 this season against the three teams seeded above them.
Fortunately, they have one of the WAC’s top scorers in fifth-year senior Cameron Tyson, who is averaging 17.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. Tyson had six 20-point games and twice surpassed 30.
With only one player on its roster taller than 6-8, Seattle is often at a disadvantage against big lineups. So, the matchups will have to be right for the Redhawks to make the most of their time in Las Vegas.
UT Arlington (+700)
UT Arlington won 18 games under new coach KT Turner, a seven-game improvement from each of the last two seasons. The Mavericks also went 13-7 in WAC play, earning the No. 3 seed.
At 21-8 ATS, the Mavericks produced the country’s fourth-highest cover rate (72.4%).
Led by guards Phillip Russell (13.5 PPG) and DaJuan Gordon (12.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG), UT Arlington is rated by KenPom as the second-best team in the WAC and 128th nationally. It’s 33rd in adjusted tempo, meaning it plays at a speed faster than most.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Stephen F. Austin (+2300)
After winning five of its first seven WAC games, Stephen F. Austin went 5-8 down the stretch to drop to 17-14, including 10-10 in conference play. Thus, the Lumberjacks are slotted as the No. 6 seed and will play No. 7 Abilene Christian in Wednesday’s first round.
As they proved in their non-conference win over Missouri Valley powerhouse Drake, the Lumberjacks have potential. But consistency (5-6 since Feb. 1) remains an issue.
LONGSHOT
Utah Valley (+5000)
Utah Valley (16-15, 11-9) is one of the conference’s hottest teams. It has won seven of its last eight games and is right on the right side of .500 under new coach Todd Phillips.
Still, as the No. 5 seed, it faces the prospect of needing to win four games in four days to earn an automatic bid. It’s no wonder its 2024 WAC odds are 50/1.
Austin Peay transfer Caleb Stone-Carrawell is the team’s top scorer at 11.8 points per game.
Remaining 2024 WAC Odds: Abilene Christian (+6000), California Baptist (+8500)
For NCAAB News, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
