Big 10 Tournament Preview, Comments & Opinions Thread

[Taxman]

2011 Big Ten Tournament - First Round
March 10, 2011
Game 1: # 8 Northwestern vs. # 9 Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. ET ESPN2
This is a big game for both underachieving team. With Nolen's injury (losing 9 of 11 and 9 of L10) and NW getting healthier (Shurna). Project NW-4, NW will win by 6 or more

Game 2: #7 Michigan State vs. #10 Iowa, 25 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1 ESPN2
No room for error for Sparty, lose and bubble is bursted. It won't happen, Sparty too talented..Projected Sparty -9, Sparty to win by at least 10

Game 3: #6 Penn State vs. #11 Indiana, 25 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2 Big Ten Network
Penn St win and in scenario. Beat IU @ Bloomington by 9 in Big Ten opener. I have a feeling this will be an ugly low scoring game. Penn St will win, but if there is an under of 127

2010 Big Ten Basketball Tournament - Quarter Finals
March 11, 2011
Game 4: #1 Ohio State vs. Northwestern, Noon ET ESPN
Interesting rematch. Will Northwestern be able to control the pace? If it is close 10 minutes in, I can see it going down to the wire. Ohio State will win, not cover, and I would project no more than 125 points being scored. My play is under
Game 5: #4 Michigan vs. # 5 Illinois, 25 minutes after the conclusion of Game 4 ESPN
This is the game of the tournament. Michigan started out 1-5 in Big Ten, but finished 9-9 (10-1 ATS, L11). Illinois poster child of inconsistency and underachieving. I really think that IU game helped Illinois with confidence. Projected spread, PK, Illinois will win by 4. As we have been saying all year, just a too talented team. Illinois will be focused and ready to go in this tournament. Illinois wins.

Game 6: #2 Purdue vs. Michigan State, 6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Izzo will have Michigan State ready for this game, they win this and there is no doubt they are in. Purdue just ran out of gas in the last game. Boilers will be ready to bounce back. Sparty will definiately miss Lucious in this game. Purdue won both games this season rather convincingly. It will be a grind but Purdue will win by 6 or more.

Game 7: #3 Wisconsin vs. Penn State, 25 minutes after the conclusion of Game 6 Big Ten Network
Wisconsin on a solid run 8-2SU L10, however, 2-4ATS L6. Split with Penn St. Both winning at home. Just that Wisconsin is too talented and will more likely shut down Battle. Penn State is a strong home team but 3-6 on the road in the Big Ten, with wins @IU, NW, and Minny..I am hoping for a low line Wisc -6, but it will probably Wisc by 8 which I believe they will win by.

2011 Big Ten Basketball Tournament - Semi Finals
March 12, 2010
Semifinal 1 Ohio State vs. Illinois 1:40 p.m. CBS
The line should be interesting as Illinois has been hammered by 19 a couple of weeks ago. Illinois did lose by 5 @ home to Ohio State. I don't know about this one...Will Illinois finally gel and play their best game of the year. Ohio State is solid at home and the whipping lead to a high number, like Buckeyes by 8? If so, that is too much, Illinois is too good to get it handed to them again. Let's go out on a limb and call it an upset. Illinois will make a basket late to win by 1.

Semifinal 2 Purdue vs. Wisconsin, 25 minutes after the conclusion of the first semifinal game. CBS
Evenly matched game. Both strong on D. Both won at home against each other. However, don't forget in the Wisconsin home game, Purdue had the lead with a minute to go. Ball possession will be excellent as neither team turnovers the ball. I can see this game being a PK and can go either way. If I have to pick, I'll take my Boilers in an outstanding ball game!

2011 Big Ten Basketball Tournament 2011 - Championship
March 13, 2011
Championship Game Purdue vs. Illinois 3:30 p.m. CBS
I can see this game open at Purdue -5. I can see Illinois playing Purdue tough, the energy to take out the #1 team in the county will get to Illinois. Purdue by 5.


I appreciate your thoughts and opinions.


It will be fun to look back in a week and see how far off I was!

[Carpet]

Hey great thread Taxman

Let me chip away at this.

The game on the board is Penn State opening round vs Indy, State playing seniors led by Talor Battle will smoke Indy...Indy aint won a game on the road all year (have they?).

ILLINOIS has fared very well in this tourney over the years and I think they beat Michigan by 10.

Ohio State may stumble as all the big 10 teams are better at home than away, got to look at away records. Illinois has a chance to beat Ohio State in that vunerable 2nd game. I would think if I was Ohio State the last team I want to face early is a Illini Team starting to hit stride with the seniors

[woodee12]

I agree...Ohio State will not win this tourney. They pretty much already have a #1 seed locked up and why chance injury or fatigue on a run at a irrelevant tourney title.

I will go against them from the 2nd round on for sure.

Iowa sucks but they did get a huge win vs. Purdue. They may carry a little value as adog at some point possibly with that extra confidence.

[Taxman]

3-0 SU

Hit the NW ATS and IU/Penn St. U
Lost the Michigan St. ATS

So far, this is keeping my focused to not deviate from what I originally handicapped.

I really love U Ohio St/NW, right now is there a sportsbook that has O/U of 142.5! That cannot be right and will be interesting to see what comes online in the next hour.

NW really controlled the clock the first time out, second game NW was drilled but the total score was 132 (76-56).

If it comes up to 142 I must unload, as the NW has said they have to keep the game in the 50s if they have a chances of winning.

[widestrides]

Lines are:

NW/OSU O/U is 137.5

Purdue -7
Illinois -3
Whisky -7

Whaddyathink?

[Taxman]

Love the under in NW/Ohio St. Fortunate to get it when it open at 140

I think Purdue giving 7 is going to be too much IMO. Sparty really needs this, Purdue will be a 3 seed at worst and playing in Chicago. Probably will see the best effort out of State, however, they didn't look too good against IA.

I think WI will take Penn State to the woodshed. Penn State can't score and WI's D is there key.

That's my 2 cents.