Big East Tournament 2012 Predictions: Championship Odds for Every Team

The 2012 Big East Tournament kicks off on Tuesday, and it's sure to be a thriller with so many talented teams going head-to-head. 

Big East basketball is the best in the country, so it's only right that the tournament is held in the best stage ever for basketball: Madison Square Garden. 

A total of 16 teams will give it their all, but realistically, the top few seeds have the best chance at winning. 

Of course, one team could get on a magical run, which is something that has occurred in the past. However, the elites of the Big East will likely prevent that from happening. 

With that said, let's take a look at some specifics for the 2012 Big East Tournament. 

Odds 

*No sports book odds currently available. Odds below are strictly my views.

Syracuse: 2-to-1

This is Syracuse's tournament to lose. The Orange are head and shoulders above everyone else in the Big East, and if not for a fluke game in late January, they would be undefeated. 

Being able to rest longer than most will greatly benefit Syracuse, and since the Orange are the best team in the conference, they won't have much trouble taking down whichever teams they have to face. 

Notre Dame: 10-to-1 

The only team to beat Syracuse on the year, the Fighting Irish are definitely a team to watch out for in the Big East Tournament. 

Even though they're the third seed and have had a few bad losses, the Fighting Irish will be strong contenders this week. Notre Dame is capable of beating anyone in the conference, which is why I give them the second-best odds to win it all. 

Marquette: 15-to-1

The Golden Eagles gave Syracuse a tough challenge two months ago, and since then, they have greatly improved. 

Marquette has a strong chance to come out on top, but it won't be easy. Still, the Golden Eagles have a much better shot at winning it all than several others in the Big East. 

Cincinnati: 20-to-1

The main reason the Bearcats get higher odds than Georgetown is because they get the extra bye.

Having that extended rest will give Cincinnati a huge boost for the tournament, resulting in a strong performance. 

Georgetown: 25-to-1

The Hoyas have had some rough losses on the year, but playing in the extremely tough Big East will do that to a team. 

Georgetown gets a first-round bye, but since it isn't one of the top four seeds, winning it all will be much harder for the Hoyas. 

The rest: 50-to-1 or worse 

South Florida and West Virginia are really the only other teams with a legitimate chance at pulling off an amazing run to win it all. 

Still, their odds at winning aren't very strong, and it gets worse as you go further down the bracket.

Teams like DePaul, Providence, Pittsburgh, Villanova, St. John's and Seton Hall don't stand much of a chance against the mighty Big East teams. 

Schedule 

*All games played in Madison Square Garden in New York City. All times ET.

First Round—Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 

Game 1: No. 16 DePaul vs. No. 9 Connecticut, 12:00 p.m on ESPN2 

Game 2: No. 13 Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 St. John's, 2:00 p.m on ESPN2

Game 3: No. 15 Providence vs. No. 10 Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m on ESPNU

Game 4: No. 14 Villanova vs. No. 11 Rutgers, 9:00 p.m on ESPNU 

Second Round—Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 

Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. No. 8 West Virginia, 12:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. No. 5 Georgetown, 2:00 p.m. on ESPN 

Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. No. 7 Louisville, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 6 South Florida, 9:00 p.m. on ESPN

Quarterfinals—Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Syracuse, 12:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Cincinnati, 2:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 Marquette, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Notre Dame, 9:00 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinals—Friday, March 9th, 2012

Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN

Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 9:00 p.m. on ESPN

Championship—Saturday, March 10th, 2012 

Semifinal Winners, 9:00 p.m. on ESPN 

Prediction 

This is clearly a no-brainer. Syracuse is perhaps the best team in the country, and the Orange should easily cruise through the 2012 Big East Tournament. 

Of course, there are always surprises, but Syracuse is too talented to let the conference championship slip away.