Northeast Conference Tournament Odds, Schedule & Picks 2023
By Chris Amberley in College Basketball
Updated: March 1, 2023 at 9:08 am ESTPublished:
- Merrimack is the favorite to win the Northeast Conference Tournament which begins on Wednesday, March 1st
- The Warriors are not eligible for the NCAA Tournament, meaning the runner-up will get an automatic bid if Merrimack wins the NEC
- See the latest NEC Tournament odds, plus analysis and predictions
The Northeast Conference Tournament tips off on Wednesday, March 1st, with quarterfinal action under some unique circumstances.
Top seed Merrimack remains ineligible for the NCAA Tournament for one final year as it transitions from the DII ranks. That means if the Warriors win this week’s conference tournament, the automatic bid for March Madness will go to the runner-up.
Northeast Conference Tournament Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| #1 Merrimack | -120 |
| #2 Fairleigh Dickinson | +270 |
| #3 Saint Francis PA | +700 |
| #4 Sacred Heart | +1200 |
| #5 Wagner | +1200 |
| #6 Central Connecticut State | +3000 |
| #7 Saint Francis Brooklyn | +7500 |
| #8 LIU | +30000 |
Online sportsbooks are expecting a Warriors conference title, as Merrimack opened with the shortest odds to win at -120. The Warriors are followed by Fairleigh Dickinson, the 2016 and 2019 champion, while the price tags of the rest of the NEC programs drop off significantly after that.
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Odds as of Feb. 27, 2023, at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Northeast Conference Tournament Schedule
All seven NEC Tournament games will take place at the campus site of the higher seed, with the semifinals tipping off on Saturday, March 4th, and the championship game set for Tuesday March 7th.
No byes are granted for this tournament, and the teams will be reseeded after the quarterfinals. That ensures the highest remaining seed will meet the lowest come semifinal time.
The semis will be broadcast on ESPN3 and SNY, while the final will be showcased on ESPN2.
Northeast Conference Tournament Betting Trends
No NEC team has ever won three straight road games to win the conference tournament. Merrimack won its second regular season title in four years, but is postseason eligible for the first time in 2023. The only other team to secure the top-seed in their first ever NEC Tournament and win it all was Rider back in 1993.
Number one seeds have been far from locks to win the NEC over last decade, as just three of them have done so in the last 10 conference tournaments.
Isn't she lovely? 😍
The #NEC23 field is set. #NECMBB | #NEChoops pic.twitter.com/BaW34gatyN
— Northeast Conference (@NECsports) February 25, 2023
The road team has won the championship game in six of the past nine seasons, but whoever earns the automatic bid isn’t expected to make a deep run in the March Madness odds.
That’s because the NEC champ is slated to take part in a First Four game per the projected March Madness bracket. Should they get through that contest, the Midwest Region likely awaits, which is projected to be full of college basketball powerhouses.
Northeast Conference Tournament Prediction
Merrimack’s incredible form down the stretch earned them the conference’s top seed. The Warriors closed with an eight-game winning streak, racking up three straight double-digit wins to cap off the campaign.
Merrimack earned the NEC’s highest defensive rating per KenPom since they began tracking data in 2002. The Warriors yielded less than 60 points in each of their last four outings, and in five of six overall.
Offensively, it’s a different story. The Warriors were the lowest scoring team in the conference, averaging 61 points per game. They were able to overcome their offensive ineptitude versus more NEC foes, but not against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Merrimack vs Fairleigh Dickinson H2H This Season
| Date | Away Team | Home Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2023 | Fairleigh Dickinson | Merrimack | FDU, 78-71 |
| Dec. 29, 2022 | Merrimack | Fairleigh Dickinson | FDU, 71-63 |
The Knights took down Merrimack in both meetings, and were one of only two NEC schools, along with Wagner, to finish with a winning overall record.
Fairleigh Dickinson is the most decorated program remaining in the conference, with six conference championships and 11 finals appearances. They’ve been dancing in March twice in the last six NCAA Tournaments and feature by far the best offense in the conference.
The Knights average 78 points per game, five more than anyone else, and 17 more than the Warriors. The FDU backcourt of Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton were both first-team all-NEC selections, while Roberts is arguably the best player in the conference. The 5’8 senior finished second in league scoring, and first in assists.
1,585 points at STAC
+ 418 at FDU
= 2,003 points and counting for Demetre RobertsCongratulations! pic.twitter.com/znkofUPFVZ
— FDU Men's Basketball (@FDUKnightsMBB) February 4, 2023
If Merrimack and Fairleigh Dickinson meet in the final, the Knights will advance to March Madness regardless of the outcome. However, I like targeting them to take down the NEC Tournament. They’ve already proven twice they can outlast the Warriors, and it is unlikely Merrimack can summon the firepower to keep up with the more talented offensive team.
Pick: Fairleigh Dickinson (+270)
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Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
