Big Ten in the NCAA Tournament: Point spreads, totals set for every first round game

The Big Ten sent 6 teams to the NCAA Tournament — tying the Mountain West for the second most of any league. After a wild conference tournament, Michigan State made it off the bubble and into the 68-team field with some clearance. The 9-seed Spartans are joined by 9-seed Northwestern, 8-seed Nebraska, 5-seed Wisconsin, 3-seed Illinois, and 1-seed Purdue.

The First Four gets rolling on Tuesday. Purdue will have its eye on Dayton, as the winner of Wednesday’s Montana State-Grambling State game will be sent to Indianapolis to face the Boilermakers in the Midwest Region’s 1-16 matchup. Every other B1G program knows its first-round opponent.

With that, point spreads and totals have been set for 5 of the 6 games involving B1G schools. Those odds are below.

(All times Eastern; odds via DraftKings)

8 Mississippi State vs. 9 Michigan State (12:15 p.m. Thursday, CBS)

Spread: Michigan State -1.5
Total: 128.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -125, Mississippi State +105

3 Illinois vs. 14 Morehead State (3:10 p.m. Thursday, truTV)

Spread: Illinois -12.5
Total: 148
Moneyline: Illinois -950, Morehead State +625

8 Florida Atlantic vs. 9 Northwestern (12:15 p.m. Friday, CBS)

Spread: Florida Atlantic -2
Total: 140.5
Moneyline: Northwestern +110, FAU -130

8 Nebraska vs. 9 Texas A&M (6:50 p.m. Friday, TNT)

Spread: Nebraska -2
Total: 144.5
Moneyline: Nebraska -130, Texas A&M +110

1 Purdue vs. 16 Montana State/Grambling State (7:25 p.m. Friday, TBS)

Spread: not available
Total: not available
Moneyline: not available

5 Wisconsin vs. 12 James Madison (9:40 p.m. Friday, CBS)

Spread: Wisconsin -4.5
Total: 144.5
Moneyline: Wisconsin -175, James Madison +145

Purdue has the shortest odds among B1G schools to win the national title. DraftKings has the Boilermakers priced at +650. Ohio residents can get similar action at some of our best Ohio betting apps.

FanDuel is also offering odds to win each region.

Those are below.

East Region

Illinois +800
Northwestern +4800

South Region

Wisconsin +1200
Nebraska +2500

Midwest Region

Purdue +175

West Region

Michigan State +1200