American Conference Tournament Preview

After a long season in the American Athletic Conference, the South Florida Bulls pulled away late in the race for the regular-season crown. The Charlotte 49ers put together a better season than many anticipated and finished right in the middle of the standings with a 9-9 conference record.

Action for the American Conference Tournament will get underway Wednesday evening in Birmingham, Alabama, where we will see the Tulane Green Wave take on the Memphis Tigers in the opening round. The second round begins Thursday, marking the first appearance for Charlotte, who will face the winner of that Memphis–Tulane matchup.

When looking at potential tournament champions, there is a legitimate argument to be made for several teams in this field — something that cannot necessarily be said for some other conferences. Let’s take a look at each team’s odds to win the tournament and the implied probability attached to those odds.

American Conference Tournament Winner Odds & Implied Probability (per DraftKings)

Final Thoughts

As we get closer to tip-off for the American Conference Tournament, there is clearly a favorite in the field, but the Bulls are far from a guaranteed champion. South Florida enters with the inside track after an impressive regular season, though teams like Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Wichita State Shockers are right behind them and ready to capitalize on any slip-up.

All it takes is one off night from the Bulls, and another team could find itself cutting down the nets. Even some of the longer-shot teams have a realistic chance of making a run, especially compared to conferences that are more top-heavy.

With Charlotte waiting to learn its first opponent and several capable contenders in the field, the stage is set for what should be a competitive and somewhat unpredictable American Conference Tournament.