March Madness 2013: Mid-Major Conference Winners Most Likely to Make a Run

It's Conference Championship Week in college basketball and multiple mid-major conference winners have already earned automatic bids into the NCAA tournament.  

Every year, the mid-majors surprise the power conferences with early upsets and some deep runs in March Madness.

This year, one mid-major conference winner happens to also be the No. 1 team in the country, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.  Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's easily in the WCC championship game and is poised to land a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they could potentially make a strong run for a NCAA championship.

Other mid-major conference winners, outside of Gonzaga, could turn some heads during March Madness. 

Here are three mid-major conference winners most likely to make a run in the 2013 NCAA tournament.  

Creighton Bluejays

Creighton is currently ranked No. 23 in the AP poll and has been solid all season despite a small rough patch through the midway point of the season.  

The Bluejays are set up to make a strong run thanks to its star forward Doug McDermott.  The junior is having yet another spectacular season, averaging 23.1 points per game while maintaining a high field-goal percentage of 49.7.  McDermott does it all for Creighton by also rebounding and having an impressive inside-outside presence on the court.  

The Bluejays are also experienced since Creighton made the tournament last season and picked up a win over Alabama before losing to North Carolina.  

With McDermott leading the way, anything is possible for the Bluejays who will test whoever they play and make a run in the tournament.  

Belmont Bruins

Shoot a lot and you may make a lot.  Belmont lives by this philosophy.  

The Bruins also live and die by the three.  Yet, that is what can make them so deadly as a giant killer that can make a run.  

With the nation's fourth highest field goal percentage of 49.4, Belmont is extremely dangerous.  Add in 1.38 points per shot, good for ninth in the country, and the Bruins mean business.  

This team is an offensive juggernaut within its own conference, but can also score against anyone in the country.  

Led by senior guard Ian Clark who shoots 46.3 percent from three-point land, Belmont is the definition of a mid-major threat.  

Clark and his teammates will fire away as many shots as they can and push opponents to the brink during March Madness.  

Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles

Call me crazy, but this team could make waves.  

Florida Gulf Coast University earned its first ever tournament bid in just its second year of D-I eligibility and has only been around since 1991 as a university.  

Early on in the season, the Eagles beat the impressive Miami Hurricanes, but that was before Miami emerged as one of the nation's best teams.  

Florida Gulf Coast will probably wind up facing a top-three seed in the tournament, though its fast-paced tempo could present some issues for opponents.  

This team knows how to score, plays exceptionally quick basketball and will not be afraid in the tournament despite it being the school's first trip to the Big Dance.  

Look out for the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University.