Tag: Asheville

COVID-19 restrictions move Maui Invitational to Las Vegas

No Hawaii experience for the Irish this year.

Players on teams invited to the annual Maui Invitational usually consider themselves lucky. They get to play basketball at a popular destination that not everyone has a chance to go to. That didn’t happen last year as COVID-19 relocated the event to Asheville, North Carolina. It won’t happen this year, either, as continued strict pandemic restrictions and protocols in Hawaii mean the tournament will be played in Las Vegas.

Over the summer, it was announced that Notre Dame will play in the tournament for the first time since winning it in 2017. Its opponent in the first round will be St. Mary’s. Depending on the result of the game, the Irish next will play the winner or loser of the game between Oregon and Chaminade. They will know which team awaits afterwards because they play the last game of the round.

While it’s disappointing that the Irish won’t get to go to Hawaii and Asheville is fine in its own right, Las Vegas is a nice alternative. Plus, Las Vegas is considered the “Ninth Island” because of its strong embracing of all things Hawaii. It will be a nice opportunity for Hawaiians on the mainland to attend the tournament for once.

SoCon Final: East Tennessee State vs. Wofford odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Southern Conference final between East Tennessee State and Wofford, with college basketball betting odds, picks and bets

The Wofford Terriers (19-15) battle the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (29-4) in the Southern Conference title game Monday at 7 p.m. ET at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, NC. We analyze the Wofford-East Tennessee State odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

East Tennessee State vs. Wofford: Three things you need to know

  1. The 7-seeded Terriers of Wofford have been here before, but they’re heavy underdogs this time around against the top-seeded Buccaneers of ETSU. The Bucs were 16-2 in conference play during the regular season, while the Terriers went 8-10.
  2. ETSU swept the two regular-season meetings, but both games were close. On New Year’s Day, the Bucs topped the Terriers 49-48 in Johnson City, and 60-54 in Spartanburg Feb. 26 in the most recent battle.
  3. The Buccaneers ranked 27th in the country with 63.1 points per game allowed, while the Terriers ranked just 158th in scoring offense at 71.7 PPG.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

East Tennessee State vs. Wofford: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

East Tennessee State 62, Wofford 59

Moneyline (ML)

East Tennessee State (-278) is our pick to win this Southern Conference final, but there’s no value in the chalky odds. PASS and look to the spread for better value.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WOFFORD +6.5 (-115) has been here before, and won’t be intimidated. The Terriers have posted a 3-0 straight up/2-0-1 ATS mark in the SoCon tourney so far, and have one more game to finish off another improbable run to the Big Dance. They finished the regular season losing their final seven games, and they ended 2-6 ATS in the final eight. Yet, here they are.

East Tennessee -6.5 (-106) has been a tremendous team for many years. You might remember Keith ‘Mister’ Jennings from 1987-91. The Buccaneers have been a thorn in plenty of teams’ sides in the past, and one made it to the Elite Eight (1968). This is a proud team who will go dancing, but Wofford won’t go without a fight.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 133.5 (-110) cashed in each of the two regular-season battles, and another defensive game should be on tap here. While Wofford hit the Over in the first three SoCon tournament games, this one will go well Under.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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