The Big Ten Tournament’s top-seeded team and the nation’s number one team, the Ohio State Buckeyes , open quarterfinals play today at noon EST against arch-rival Michigan from the United Center in Chicago. The Wolverines earned the right to play the Buckeyes after defeating Minnesota in the tournament’s opening round on Thursday. Ohio State was installed as an – 8 ½ point favorite by most offshore sportsbooks with a 121 total.
Ohio State closed out its regular season schedule against Michigan on the road in Ann Arbor winning straight up 65-61 and covered the spread (ATS) as a -3 ½ point road favorite. The UNDER (127) cashed in totals betting. On Feb 6th the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines at home in Columbus 76-63 and managed a PUSH ATS. The OVER (129) cashed in totals betting for that game.
The fourth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes play number 5 Purdue in the tournament’s second game at 2:30 p.m. Though a lower seed, the Boilermakers are favored in the game by a -2 ½ point chalk with a 132 total. Iowa defeated the Boilermakers 78-59 (Feb. 21) in Iowa City in the only meeting during the regular season. Iowa closed the season with a 60-53 home win over Illinois. Purdue has won three straight games since the loss in Iowa City, including a 73-50 win over Northwestern to close the regular season. The winner of the Iowa vs. Purdue game will play at 12:40 p.m. Saturday in the semi-finals.
The rubber match between Michigan State and Wisconsin is set to take place tonight at approximately 6:30 p.m. The Spartans beat Northwestern, 62-57, Thursday to advance into the quarterfinals. Drew Neitzel hit his first four 3-pointers and had a game-high 20 points to pace MSU. In the game the Badgers are favored by -4.0 points with a 114 total.
Second seed Wisconsin and seventh seed Michigan State will play for the third time in 18 days The Spartans won the first match-up, 64-55, in East Lansing. The Badgers won the regular-season finale, 52-50, in Madison thanks to a late 3-pointer by Kammron Taylor. These two teams have met thrice before in the Big Ten tournament with MSU holding a 2-1 edge. Wisconsin won the last meeting, 68-66, in 2004 en route to winning its first Big Ten tournament title.
Number three seed Indiana is a -2 ½ point favorite against sixth-seed Illinois in the quarterfinals night cap tipping off at approximately 9:15 p.m. The Hoosiers and Fighting Illini split the season series with each team holding serve on its home court. The Hoosiers knocked off the Fighting Illini, 65-61, on Feb. 10 after dropping a 51-43 contest on Jan. 23.
All lines and totals on the Big Ten tournament can be found at Sportbet.com.
