Big 10 Trends and Angles
February 28, 2018
Venue: Madison Square Garden - New York City
Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS
Over/Under: 1-1
Thursday, March 1
SECOND ROUND
Matchup Records Skinny Projection
No. 9 Wisconsin
Overall: 14-17 SU, 14-15-1 ATS
Totals: 13-15-2 O/U
No. 8 Maryland
Overall: 19-12 SU, 15-11-1 ATS
Totals: 11-15 O/U
No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Maryland (BTN, 12:00 p.m. ET)
The Badgers have reached the Sweet 16 in each of the past four seasons, but their only ticket back to the NCAA tournament is running the table in New York City the next four days. Wisconsin started Big 10 play at 3-9, but put together a solid finish by winning four of the final six games. The Badgers have covered their last four contests, including underdog wins over Purdue and Northwestern.
The Terrapins never won more than two games in a row in Big 10 play, as they lost the season finale to Michigan by 24 points. Maryland held off Wisconsin in its only matchup this season in College Park, 68-63 in early February, but failed to cash as seven-point favorites. The Terps and Badgers have never met in the Big 10 tournament as Maryland is 2-1 SU/ATS in its opening round game in this tournament.
Wisconsin 64
Maryland 67
No. 12 Iowa
Overall: 13-18 SU, 10-15-2 ATS
Totals: 19-9 O/U
No. 5 Michigan
Overall: 24-7 SU, 19-10-1 ATS
Totals: 14-16-1 O/U
No. 12 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan (BTN, 2:30 p.m. ET)
Iowa extended its season by outlasting Illinois on Wednesday, 96-87, topping the 90-point mark for the fourth time against conference opponents. The Hawkeyes have won two straight since a six-game skid, while trying to avenge a pair of regular season losses to Michigan. Iowa won a Big 10 tournament game for the first time since 2013, as the Hawkeyes lost in the following game to Michigan State, but covered as six-point 'dogs.
The Wolverines are basically a lock for the NCAA tournament, as Michigan seeks its second consecutive Big 10 tournament championship. Since losing to Northwestern in early February, Michigan has run off five consecutive wins and covers, including road victories at Penn State and Maryland. The Wolverines covered in all four victories in last season's conference tournament, while facing Iowa in this tourney for the first time since 2010.
Iowa 79
Michigan 85
No. 10 Northwestern
Overall: 15-16 SU, 11-17 ATS
Totals: 11-17 O/U
No. 7 Penn State
Overall: 19-12 SU, 14-12-1 ATS
Totals: 13-14 O/U
No. 10 Northwestern vs. No. 7 Penn State (BTN, 6:30 p.m. ET)
The Wildcats reached their first ever NCAA tournament last season but are far from an at-large bid this time around. Northwestern could never create consistency during Big 10 play, punctuated by a six-game losing skid to close out conference play. In that stretch, the Wildcats posted a 1-5 ATS mark, including losses to Wisconsin, Maryland, and Rutgers as a favorite.
The Nittany Lions have plenty to play for this week at Madison Square Garden after suffering three straight losses to end Big 10 play. Penn State had won six of seven, including a sweep of Ohio State before setbacks to Purdue, Michigan, and Nebraska. The Nittany Lions and Wildcats split a pair of matchups this season with the home team winning each time, as neither team has ever won the Big 10 tournament.
Northwestern 71
Penn State 76
No. 14 Rutgers
Overall: 14-18 SU, 12-12 ATS
Totals: 10-13-1 O/U
No. 6 Indiana
Overall: 16-14 SU, 18-12 ATS
Totals: 12-17 O/U
No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 6 Indiana (BTN, 9:00 p.m. ET)
The Scarlet Knights picked up a win in the Big 10 tournament for the second straight season after downing Minnesota on Wednesday, 65-54. Rutgers won its first game away from Piscataway this season on Wednesday, while improving to 4-4 ATS in the last eight games. The Scarlet Knights are looking to avenge a 65-43 home loss to Indiana in early February, dropping to 0-5 against the Hoosiers since entering the conference in 2014.
Indiana was the top ATS team in the Big 10 down the stretch by covering 12 of its final 15 games, including a 6-0 SU/ATS mark as a favorite. The Hoosiers enter the Big 10 tournament off consecutive losses to Nebraska and Ohio State, while compiling a 3-6 record away from Bloomington in conference action.
Rutgers 68
Indiana 79
Wednesday, February 28
OPENING ROUND
Matchup Records Skinny Projection
No. 13 Illinois
Overall: 14-17 SU, 12-14-1 ATS
Totals: 11-15-1 O/U
No. 12 Iowa
Overall: 13-18 SU, 10-15-2 ATS
Totals: 18-9 O/U
No. 13 Illinois vs. No. 12 Iowa (BTN, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Following a 6-0 start to the season, Illinois won eight of its final 25 games, including four victories in Big 10 play. The Fighting Illini closed the season by splitting their last four games, capped off by a road victory over last-place Rutgers. Illinois suffered three overtime losses to conference foes, including a 104-97 home setback to Iowa on January 11 as 4.5-point favorites.
The Hawkeyes snapped a six-game skid by knocking off Northwestern in the season finale, 77-70. Iowa won only one road game in Big 10 action by beating Illinois, while compiling 1-8 ATS mark away from Iowa City in conference action. Both teams put together 4-14 conference marks as these teams are meeting in the Big 10 tournament for the first time since 2016 when the Fighting Illini edged the Hawkeyes, 68-66 as 10.5-point 'dogs.
Illinois 78
Iowa 76
No. 14 Rutgers
Overall: 13-18 SU, 11-12 ATS
Totals: 10-12-1 O/U
No. 11 Minnesota
Overall: 15-16 SU, 11-19 ATS
Totals: 15-15 O/U
No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 11 Minnesota (BTN, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Minnesota turned into the biggest disappointment in the Big 10 following a 24-win season in 2017 and an NCAA tournament appearance. The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 13-3 start prior to a dismal 2-13 finish, including one win since January 16. Minnesota wrapped up Big 10 play at 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS away from Minneapolis, but one of its four conference victories came against Rutgers in early December, 89-67.
For the third consecutive season, the Scarlet Knights finished in last place of the Big 10, but picked up their most wins in conference play with three. None of those victories came away from Piscataway, as Rutgers scored 60 points or less in seven of nine road conference contests. Rutgers has won only once in the Big 10 tournament in its three-year stay in the conference, upsetting Ohio State last season in the opening round. Minnesota defeated Rutgers in the opening game of the Big 10 tournament in 2015 as 10.5-point favorites, 80-68.
Rutgers 61
Minnesota 70
February 28, 2018
Venue: Madison Square Garden - New York City
Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS
Over/Under: 1-1
Thursday, March 1
SECOND ROUND
Matchup Records Skinny Projection
No. 9 Wisconsin
Overall: 14-17 SU, 14-15-1 ATS
Totals: 13-15-2 O/U
No. 8 Maryland
Overall: 19-12 SU, 15-11-1 ATS
Totals: 11-15 O/U
No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Maryland (BTN, 12:00 p.m. ET)
The Badgers have reached the Sweet 16 in each of the past four seasons, but their only ticket back to the NCAA tournament is running the table in New York City the next four days. Wisconsin started Big 10 play at 3-9, but put together a solid finish by winning four of the final six games. The Badgers have covered their last four contests, including underdog wins over Purdue and Northwestern.
The Terrapins never won more than two games in a row in Big 10 play, as they lost the season finale to Michigan by 24 points. Maryland held off Wisconsin in its only matchup this season in College Park, 68-63 in early February, but failed to cash as seven-point favorites. The Terps and Badgers have never met in the Big 10 tournament as Maryland is 2-1 SU/ATS in its opening round game in this tournament.
Wisconsin 64
Maryland 67
No. 12 Iowa
Overall: 13-18 SU, 10-15-2 ATS
Totals: 19-9 O/U
No. 5 Michigan
Overall: 24-7 SU, 19-10-1 ATS
Totals: 14-16-1 O/U
No. 12 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan (BTN, 2:30 p.m. ET)
Iowa extended its season by outlasting Illinois on Wednesday, 96-87, topping the 90-point mark for the fourth time against conference opponents. The Hawkeyes have won two straight since a six-game skid, while trying to avenge a pair of regular season losses to Michigan. Iowa won a Big 10 tournament game for the first time since 2013, as the Hawkeyes lost in the following game to Michigan State, but covered as six-point 'dogs.
The Wolverines are basically a lock for the NCAA tournament, as Michigan seeks its second consecutive Big 10 tournament championship. Since losing to Northwestern in early February, Michigan has run off five consecutive wins and covers, including road victories at Penn State and Maryland. The Wolverines covered in all four victories in last season's conference tournament, while facing Iowa in this tourney for the first time since 2010.
Iowa 79
Michigan 85
No. 10 Northwestern
Overall: 15-16 SU, 11-17 ATS
Totals: 11-17 O/U
No. 7 Penn State
Overall: 19-12 SU, 14-12-1 ATS
Totals: 13-14 O/U
No. 10 Northwestern vs. No. 7 Penn State (BTN, 6:30 p.m. ET)
The Wildcats reached their first ever NCAA tournament last season but are far from an at-large bid this time around. Northwestern could never create consistency during Big 10 play, punctuated by a six-game losing skid to close out conference play. In that stretch, the Wildcats posted a 1-5 ATS mark, including losses to Wisconsin, Maryland, and Rutgers as a favorite.
The Nittany Lions have plenty to play for this week at Madison Square Garden after suffering three straight losses to end Big 10 play. Penn State had won six of seven, including a sweep of Ohio State before setbacks to Purdue, Michigan, and Nebraska. The Nittany Lions and Wildcats split a pair of matchups this season with the home team winning each time, as neither team has ever won the Big 10 tournament.
Northwestern 71
Penn State 76
No. 14 Rutgers
Overall: 14-18 SU, 12-12 ATS
Totals: 10-13-1 O/U
No. 6 Indiana
Overall: 16-14 SU, 18-12 ATS
Totals: 12-17 O/U
No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 6 Indiana (BTN, 9:00 p.m. ET)
The Scarlet Knights picked up a win in the Big 10 tournament for the second straight season after downing Minnesota on Wednesday, 65-54. Rutgers won its first game away from Piscataway this season on Wednesday, while improving to 4-4 ATS in the last eight games. The Scarlet Knights are looking to avenge a 65-43 home loss to Indiana in early February, dropping to 0-5 against the Hoosiers since entering the conference in 2014.
Indiana was the top ATS team in the Big 10 down the stretch by covering 12 of its final 15 games, including a 6-0 SU/ATS mark as a favorite. The Hoosiers enter the Big 10 tournament off consecutive losses to Nebraska and Ohio State, while compiling a 3-6 record away from Bloomington in conference action.
Rutgers 68
Indiana 79
Wednesday, February 28
OPENING ROUND
Matchup Records Skinny Projection
No. 13 Illinois
Overall: 14-17 SU, 12-14-1 ATS
Totals: 11-15-1 O/U
No. 12 Iowa
Overall: 13-18 SU, 10-15-2 ATS
Totals: 18-9 O/U
No. 13 Illinois vs. No. 12 Iowa (BTN, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Following a 6-0 start to the season, Illinois won eight of its final 25 games, including four victories in Big 10 play. The Fighting Illini closed the season by splitting their last four games, capped off by a road victory over last-place Rutgers. Illinois suffered three overtime losses to conference foes, including a 104-97 home setback to Iowa on January 11 as 4.5-point favorites.
The Hawkeyes snapped a six-game skid by knocking off Northwestern in the season finale, 77-70. Iowa won only one road game in Big 10 action by beating Illinois, while compiling 1-8 ATS mark away from Iowa City in conference action. Both teams put together 4-14 conference marks as these teams are meeting in the Big 10 tournament for the first time since 2016 when the Fighting Illini edged the Hawkeyes, 68-66 as 10.5-point 'dogs.
Illinois 78
Iowa 76
No. 14 Rutgers
Overall: 13-18 SU, 11-12 ATS
Totals: 10-12-1 O/U
No. 11 Minnesota
Overall: 15-16 SU, 11-19 ATS
Totals: 15-15 O/U
No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 11 Minnesota (BTN, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Minnesota turned into the biggest disappointment in the Big 10 following a 24-win season in 2017 and an NCAA tournament appearance. The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 13-3 start prior to a dismal 2-13 finish, including one win since January 16. Minnesota wrapped up Big 10 play at 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS away from Minneapolis, but one of its four conference victories came against Rutgers in early December, 89-67.
For the third consecutive season, the Scarlet Knights finished in last place of the Big 10, but picked up their most wins in conference play with three. None of those victories came away from Piscataway, as Rutgers scored 60 points or less in seven of nine road conference contests. Rutgers has won only once in the Big 10 tournament in its three-year stay in the conference, upsetting Ohio State last season in the opening round. Minnesota defeated Rutgers in the opening game of the Big 10 tournament in 2015 as 10.5-point favorites, 80-68.
Rutgers 61
Minnesota 70
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