NCAA Basketball: Top 10 “Win Total” bets to avoid for 2021-22 season
By Ian Mumm
10. St. Bonaventure Bonnies: Line = 29.0
The Bonnies return easily the most experienced group in the A-10 next season. All five starters are back for another season following their 16-5 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2020. St. Bonaventure is the favorite to bring home the conference title next season and Vegas has confirmed those high expectations by placing the line at 29 wins.
The senior quintet of Kyle Lofton (14.4 PPG), Jaren Holmes (13.8 PPG), Jalen Adaway (12.2 PPG), Dominick Welch (11.4 PPG), and Osun Osunniyi (10.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.9 BPG) give the Bonnies a high floor to operate this season and continue their momentum from 2020. Without a true non-conference schedule last season, it’s difficult to compare exactly how well this group would have fared last season. However, the only games canceled on the team’s schedule in 2020 were St. Francis (PA) and Buffalo prior to their conference slate.
This season’s schedule is much tougher outside of conference play with slated games against Boise State (and likely Clemson in the 2nd round) at the Charleston Classic, UConn, and Virginia Tech. While the Bonnies’ experience and productivity on both ends of the floor put the team in a position to make these games winnable, this is a large step up in competition from their normal non-conference slate that could add some unexpected losses to their tally.
This wouldn’t be such a concern in a 30-game season, along with conference and NCAA Tournament potential, however, the conference slate has typically been tough for the Bonnies to navigate. Since joining the A-10, St. Bonaventure has not made it through league play with less than 4 losses in a season. Competition is fierce and there are many hurdles for this group to navigate despite the familiarity of its roster, roles, and rotation.
St. Bonaventure is still a team to watch in the conference title race, as well as an NCAA Tournament berth, but expecting this season to surpass 29 wins is a bit steep.
Avoid Over 29.0