2013 College Basketball Picks: Big Ten Conference Tournamant Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Big Ten Tournament Schedule and Tournament Bracket: The Big Ten Conference was absolutely loaded this season, and heading into the conference tournament, five teams are ranked in the top 25. These same teams all finished within two games of each other, and there are even more teams that could earn bids in the NCAA Tournament. Plain and simple, the battle for the Big Ten regular season crown was one of the most entertaining in the country, and the conference tournament should be something special, as well. Here is a closer look at the top contenders for the Big Ten Tournament title.
2013 Big Ten Tournament Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Contenders
They emerged from the loaded Big Ten with the outright regular season crown, and the Indiana Hoosiers’ (26-5, 14-4 Big Ten) offensive firepower is unmatched in the conference. In fact, Indiana ranks second in the country in scoring and seventh in field goal percentage. Big man Cody Zeller and slasher Victor Oladipo give the Hoosiers a pair of Wooden Award candidates, but there are six players on the roster that can go for double figures on any given night. Aside from being beat up at times by physical teams, Indiana doesn’t have many weaknesses.
After facing 11 teams ranked in the top 25 of the RPI this year, no team is more battle tested in the Big Ten than the Michigan State Spartans (24-7, 13-5 Big Ten). A frontcourt featuring two big men with back-to-the-basket games and a stout defense have been the building blocks for Michigan State’s success. The Spartans have lost four games since January, losing three on the road and all four to ranked opponents by an average of just 4.5 points. They are going to be a factor in the Big Ten Tournament and one heck of a tough out.
An inexplicable loss to Penn State and a rash of missed free throws against Indiana in the closing weeks of the season cost the Michigan Wolverines (25-6, 12-6 Big Ten) the regular season conference crown, but they can make up for it in the Big Ten Tournament. Point guard Trey Burke leads an offense that ranks in the top 25 in the country in scoring and in the top 10 in field goal percentage, and while the Wolverines’ inexperience has led to some late-game miscues, their explosive frontcourt gives them a chance against any opponent.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (23-7, 13-5 Big Ten) spent most of the season losing every big game they played. However, OSU came alive down the stretch, winning five straight and finishing just one game back for the conference crown. Point guard’s Aaron Craft’s sudden emergence on the offensive end has been just what the doctor ordered for a team that was living and dying with the play of elite scorer Deshaun Thomas. If Craft can continue to stay aggressive and provide support for Thomas in the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes could stay hot.
While their style of play is kind of like watching paint dry, the Wisconsin Badgers (21-10, 12-6 Big Ten) know how to control the tempo against any opponent and win behind the strength of the conference’s top scoring defense. The Badgers bleed the shot clock on offense and force opponents to play at their methodical pace. As a result, Wisconsin is usually in striking distance in every game. If the Badgers are knocking down shots during the Big Ten Tournament, they can beat anyone.
Bottom Line
Outside of the Big East, there isn’t another conference in the country that can claim to have as many elite teams as the Big Ten. The conference tournament is going to be brutal, and when it comes to surviving several games in the span of a few days, Michigan State has an edge. For one, they play a physical style on both ends of the court and will be able to wear down opponents that will become progressively more exhausted as the tournament goes along. Meanwhile, the Spartans played more top competition than any other team in the Big Ten so the brutal stretch of games that they would have to survive to win the conference tournament is nothing new. Last but not least, MSU’s coach Tom Izzo has a proven history of getting his team to play well at the right time. Izzo’s teams live for this type of stage, and they will deliver.
Prediction: Michigan State Spartans Win the Big Ten Tournament
Odds to Win Big 10 Tournament
1681 Illinois +1800
1682 Indiana +125
1683 Iowa +2500
1684 Michigan +250
1685 Michigan State +250
1686 Minnesota +2500
1687 Nebraska +10000
1688 Northwestern +10000
1689 Ohio State +250
1690 Penn State +12500
1691 Purdue +2500
1692 Wisconsin +800
2013 Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule
First Round, Thursday, March 14
Game No. Matchup Time (ET) TV
1 Illinois vs. Minnesota 12 p.m. BTN
2 Michigan vs. Penn State 25 min. after Game 1 BTN
3 Purdue vs. Nebraska 6:30 p.m. ESPN2
4 Iowa vs. Northwestern 25 min. after Game 3 ESPN2
Quarterfinals, Friday, March 15
Game No. Matchup Time (ET) TV
5 Indiana vs. Game 1 Winner 12 p.m. ESPN
6 Wisconsin vs. Game 2 Winner 25 min. after Game 5 ESPN
7 Ohio State vs. Game 3 Winner 6:30 p.m. BTN
8 Michigan State vs. Game 4 Winner 25 min. after Game 7 BTN
Semifinals, Saturday, March 16
Game No. Matchup Time (ET) TV
9 Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner 1:40 p.m. CBS
10 Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner 25 min. after Game 1 CBS
Championship, Sunday, March 17
Game No. Matchup Time (ET) TV
11 Semifinal Winners 3:30 p.m. CBS
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