The Big Ten Tournament bracket was finalized on Sunday, which means so were the lines in Vegas. Despite Wisconsin landing the one seed following a three-way tie for first place, the Badgers are nowhere near favorites to be the last team standing in Indy. Banker’s Life Fieldhouse will play host to the tournament that begins with a pair of games today. Let’s take a look at the full list of odds and find every gamblers favorite thing: value.
Here is the complete list of odds to win the Big Ten Tournament:
- Michigan State+250
- Maryland+500
- Wisconsin+500
- Illinois+800
- Michigan+1100
- Ohio State+1100
- Iowa+1200
- Penn State+1200
- Rutgers+1800
- Purdue+2500
- Minnesota+3000
- Indiana+3300
- Nebraska+25000
- Northwestern+40000
The Pick: Michigan State – The chalk is not always the play, but in the case of this tournament I think it has to be. Michigan State enters Indy on a role, and over their last five games they have looked like the team that was a preseason national championship favorite. March favors two things: electrifying guards and elite coaching. The Spartans check both boxes. Coming off of a 27-point outburst on his senior day, Cassius Winston will be a man on a mission this March. Sparty has a double-bye, which will be significant advantage for the top four seeds given how close many of these tournament games are sure to be. Throughout their five-game winning streak, Michigan State has won three of the five games on the road including wins at Penn State and a double-digit Maryland. Playing away from home effects the Spartans less than any other contender, as we have seen this year in conference play.
Sleeper: Iowa – The Hawkeyes provide the value at +1200, and anytime you have Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza you have a chance. Iowa fell short at Illinois on Sunday in an effort to claim a double-bye, but Garza showed us why he is the best big in the conference finishing with 28 points and eight boards. The Hawkeyes have an experienced leader in Fran McCaffery and the shooting to ignite a deep run in Indy.
Deep Sleeper: Indiana – No, the Hoosiers are not going to win the Big Ten Tournament, but winning multiple games seems like a real possibility. Indiana enters Indy with everything to play for, and a tournament site that is only about 50 minutes away from their home in Bloomington. You expect Archie Miller’s group to take care of Nebraska, a team that they swept in the regular season, and take of care of business in a must-win game. That would set up a matchup with Penn State, a squad that limps into Indy as losers of three straight including Saturday’s loss to a bottom feeder in Northwestern. The Hoosiers have their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line and a likely home crowd, so if you are really feeling lucky, dabble with +3300.
Homer Pick: The Badgers are the hottest team in all the land and the bracket works out nicely for them. Avoiding Michigan State until what would be the championship matchup feels like a major win given the way that the Spartans are playing. UW has a doable path to the final, and this team has refused to lose for over a month. The value is there if the Badgers make it to Sunday and you have the opportunity to hedge your bet.