Coronavirus NCAA Conference Tournament Cancellation Props Released; +125 Odds on NCAA Tournament Games Being Played in Closed Stadiums
- You can be on +125 odds of any NCAA Tournament games playing to an empty stadium due to the coronavirus
- The Ivy League cancelled its conference tournament on Tuesday, and a total of 1.5 on conference tournaments being cancelled has been released. Should you play the over?
- Analysis of all of the odds, picks and best bets on these wagers follows below
Coronavirus precautions are increasing with the NCAA Tournament on the horizon.
On Tuesday, the Ivy League became the first to take action, as they announced that they are taking the decision to cancel both the men’s and women’s conference tournaments.
Prop wagers on the total number of conference tournaments that will be cancelled promptly were released following the decision, with a total set at 1.5.
In a separate prop +125 odds are being offered that any NCAA Tournament games will be playing to an empty stadium due to the Coronavirus.
Odds NCAA Tournament Games Played in Closed Arenas
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +125 |
| No | -165 |
Odds taken Mar. 10. Event must be closed to paying spectators for Yes to be graded a winner.
In Italy, the government has postponed all sporting events until April 3rd. That includes every match in Serie A, the country’s top soccer league.
Meanwhile, the German Hockey League called off the remainder of its season. They will not be declaring a champion this season.
“The German Ice Hockey League feels compelled to end the 19/20 season effective immediately. There will be no playoffs and no champion. The DEL is following the recommendations of Chancellor Merkel and Health Minister Spahn.” https://t.co/WtSRNEnvMo
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) March 10, 2020
In Paris, Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Paris’s Parc des Princes stadium will be contested inside an empty stadium. France is banning all gatherings of over 1,000 people throughout the country. This decision was taken in the hopes of stemming the spread of the Coronavirus.
Coronavirus Closes Down California
The County of Santa Clara (California) Public Health Department has followed France’s lead. They are banning all public gatherings of more than 1,000 people. That could mean the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, and the San Jose Earthquakes of the MSL might be left playing home games within empty stadiums.
This weekend’s BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. is cancelled. It’s the largest international tennis tournament outside of the sport’s four Grand Slam events.
What are the chances that such measures might impact the NCAA Tournament? At this point, not much.
FWIW, #NCAA has a significant “rainy day” fund AND insurance to cover the cost of having a total March Madness tournament cancellation. One that takes into account total lost revenue and not just lost ticket revenue. Food for thought as it presses forward in spite of Coronavirus. https://t.co/Xi3pspvkti
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 10, 2020
The NCAA recently formed a coronavirus advisory panel. This group stated that it would follow the recommendations of the Center For Disease Control. Currently, the CDC’s public policy is that they are considering the dangers to the health of the general public from the coronavirus to be low.
Unless that opinion dramatically changes, NCAA Tournament games will go on as usual.
Pick: No (-165).
Odds on Multiple Conference Tournaments Being Cancelled Due to Coronavirus
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 1.5 | +275 |
| Under 1.5 | -400 |
The Ivy League is always viewed as being different than the rest of the NCAA landscape. With just four schools participating in the conference tourney, cancelling it isn’t a major cost to the hosts.
That won’t be the case with other conference tournaments.
The Ivy League has decided to cancel the League's upcoming Basketball Tournaments and implement highly-restrictive, in-venue spectator limitations for all other upcoming campus athletics events.
? » https://t.co/Y4nEjbsh0N pic.twitter.com/8zsrweXVXo
— The Ivy League (@IvyLeague) March 10, 2020
The NCAA is leaving it up to the individual conferences in regards to making the determination whether cancelling their conference tournament is in the best interests of the people involved.
Most of the smaller conferences have already held their conference tournaments. All of the Power Six conferences will be getting their tourneys underway later this week. None of those are likely to be cancelled.
Pick: Under 1.5 (-400).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
