The Basketball Tournament has been whittled down to seven teams from 64. The six-round, single-elimination tournament with the unique Elam Ending has been going on every day for nearly two weeks, and we’re approaching the crowning of a new champion The AfterShocks (+200), a (mostly) Witchita State alumni team, is sitting as the betting favorites on the odds board.
Championship Week (quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship) tips off Thursday night with Florida TNT (-5.5, -225), facing off against Americana for Autism (+5.5, +190). All games will be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2 and can be streamed via the ESPN app or through Sling TV.
The Basketball Tournament 2022 betting odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
| Team | Odds to win TBT |
| AfterShocks | +200 |
| Florida TNT | +300 |
| Blue Collar U | +550 |
| Best Virginia | +550 |
| Heartfire | +650 |
| Red Scare | +800 |
| Americana for Autism | +1400 |
The Basketball Tournament 2022 betting odds: Favorites
AfterShocks +200 (implied probability 33.33 percent)
The AfterShocks are the first team to punch its ticket into the semifinals, having defeated the Gutter Cat Gang, 74-67, Wednesday night in Wichita. While the majority of the team is comprised of former Wichita State Shockers, not every player played their college ball at WSU. Former Oklahoma Sooners guard Jordan Woodard scored the game-winning basket to cap off the AfterShocks quarterfinal victory. Shocker fans can certainly root for a Sooner when he helps your team get one step closer to the $1 million grand prize.
What. A. Win. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1vuy1raoh9
— TBT (@thetournament) July 28, 2022
The AfterShocks have now advanced into the regional final round for a second straight year. They were unable to clinch a spot in the semifinals last year after losing 92-63 to Florida TNT. Luckily for them, Florida TNT sits on the other side of the bracket, and they will only match up in a potential championship game.
With the Wichita State alums already into the semifinals, they are warranted as the odds-on favorite at the moment. The AfterShocks will play the winner of Best Virginia-Red Scare on Saturday night for a chance to advance to the championship game.
The AfterShocks are led primarily by former Shockers Conner Frankamp, Markis McDuffie, and Rashard Kelly. They have ample depth in both the backcourt and frontcourt that could lead them to its first-ever TBT championship.
Florida TNT +300 (implied probability 25 percent)
Florida TNT was so close from reaching the TBT Championship in ‘21, losing 66-64 to the eventual champion Boeheim’s Army. If Florida TNT defeats Americana for Autism tonight, expect them to leapfrog the AfterShocks in becoming the odds-on favorites.
IT’S CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK IN DAYTON 🏀🏆
— TBT (@thetournament) July 28, 2022
One Quarterfinals game tonight followed by the @PUMAHoops 33-Point Contest, live on ESPN2 & @Sling! pic.twitter.com/kxqpqsRlda
Florida TNT sports an impressive +70 point differential over its first three games. Outside of its narrow 76-72 victory over Zip ‘Em Up in the third round, Florida TNT's had little trouble playing its brand of basketball. This team is hungry for the chance to split $1 million among its members, and it looks like the team to beat.
The most notable players on Florida TNT’s roster are former University of Florida guard Kenny Boynton, former University of Houston guard Rob Gray, and former Liberty University forward Scottie James.
The Basketball Tournament 2022 betting odds: Sleepers
Best Virginia +550 (implied probability 15.38 percent)
Best Virginia, a West Virginia alumni team, advanced into the quarterfinal round after Mountaineer legend Kevin Jones sank a game-winning shot to reach the target score on Wednesday night. With Best Virginia sitting at +550 to win TBT, they profile as a sleeper team with a realistic chance to win it all.
KEVIN JONES DID IT!!!!!!!!!! @finalfourcast
— TBT (@thetournament) July 28, 2022
THE WEST VIRGINIA LEGEND HIT THE @SLING SHOT TO SEND BEST VIRGINIA TO DAYTON!!!!! 🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️ pic.twitter.com/lPv3yn1tDP
Almost the entire roster played under Bob Huggins at West Virginia, and this team takes on the identity of Huggins’ coaching style. After made baskets, they tend to pick up the lead ball handler full-court, but they don’t always deploy a full-court press like some West Virginia teams of the past. Best Virginia will now face the Red Scare Friday night in a quarterfinal matchup between two college alumni teams.
Heartfire +650 (implied probability 13.33 percent)
Former Notre Dame and Denver Nuggets guard LaPhonso Ellis is the head coach of Heartfire, a talented team composed of numerous successful former college hoopers. Three members of Heartfire, Ryan Boatright (Connecticut), Brandon Rozell (VCU), and DeAndre Liggins (Kentucky) all played in the 2011 NCAA Final Four and hope to lead Heartfire into the TBT Final Four.
Given their current odds, Heartfire is the best value pick on the TBT odds board. This team is tough to keep off the glass and has multiple guards and wings capable of creating for themselves on the offensive end. Heartfire had a 30-plus-point lead in its last game against the L.A. Cheaters but was unable to keep their foot on the gas during the Elam Ending.
How to watch The Basketball Tournament Championship Week
- When: July 28 through Aug. 2
- Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
- TV Channel: ESPN, ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app | Sling TV
The Basketball Tournament Championship Week will be televised on ESPN, and ESPN2, as well as the ESPN app. You can also stream The Basketball Tournament on Sling TV, the official streaming partner of TBT.
Viewers who sign up for Sling TV get half off the first month with no long-term contracts. Watch The Basketball Tournament live on ESPN and enjoy access to sports programming on the ESPN family of networks.
