Big Ten Tournament Day 3 preview: Full schedule, best bets

The Big Ten Tournament continues on Friday with 4 more matchups.

Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois and Nebraska are set to make their first appearances in this tournament on Friday. Purdue and Illinois began the week as the favorites to cut down the nets on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s a look at the slate for Day 3 at the tournament, followed by 3 picks:

(All times Eastern; spread and totals via FanDuel)

Game 7: No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Purdue – 11 a.m. CT (BTN)

Purdue’s march toward redemption starts on Friday afternoon as it tries to take home another Big Ten Tournament title. Michigan State is on the bubble and could really use a win over the Boilermakers to help its résumé. Purdue won a close game over Michigan State in West Lafayette earlier this month.

Spread: Purdue -7.5

Total: 142.5 points

Game 8: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Northwestern – 25 minutes following Game 7 (BTN)

Wisconsin absolutely housed Maryland on Thursday, winning by 31 points — and this game wasn’t nearly that close. This will be Northwestern’s first game of the Big Ten Tournament, and the Wildcats will be hoping to advance beyond the quarterfinals. Wisconsin won the lone regular season game between these programs earlier this year in Madison.

Spread: Wisconsin -4.5

Total: 135.5 points

Game 9: No. 10 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Illinois – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)

Ohio State has now won 6 of its last 7 games since parting ways with Chris Holtmann. As crazy as it is, a win over the Illini would put the Buckeyes on the bubble for an at-large berth. The Illini are fighting for seeding in the NCAA Tournament as well as a Big Ten Tournament title. Illinois won the previous meeting between these programs in Columbus earlier this year.

Spread: Illinois -4.5

Total: 153.5 points

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Game 10: No. 6 Indiana vs. No. 3 Nebraska – 25 minutes following Game 9 (BTN)

Indiana’s season is likely over with a loss to Nebraska, although the Hoosiers have won 5 straight games entering this contest. Nebraska has never reached the Big Ten Tournament title game, but would be within striking distance of getting there if it can beat IU for a 3rd time this season.

Spread: Nebraska -4.5

Total: 146.5 points

2 picks against the spread

Ohio State +5. I’m buying the Buckeyes in this spot. Since parting ways with Chris Holtmann on Feb. 14, Ohio State is the No. 12 team in the country according to BartTrovik’s efficiency ratings. OSU’s offense is 37th over that span and its defense is 17th. The 11 teams ranked higher than the Buckeyes over that stretch is basically a who’s who of Final Four contenders. Illinois’ defense over that same period ranks 177th nationally, per the metric. I think this one will come down to the end. Bet365 has Ohio State +5 listed at -110.

Northwestern +4.5. Wisconsin’s win over Maryland on Thursday was loud. The Badgers led by as many as 42 points in the second half before cruising to a 31-point victory. How much of it was real vs. how much of it was noise? I’m leaning toward noise. Wisconsin shot 64% from 3-point range against the Terps, resulting in its best offensive performance efficiency-wise in nearly 2 months. Wisconsin’s defense also had a great game against Maryland (.85 points per possession), but the Badgers rank 90th in BartTorvik’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric since Jan. 15. I’m betting on Wisconsin to come back down to earth vs. a fresh Northwestern team. FanDuel is offering Northwestern +4.5 at -115.

1 player prop

Coleman Hawkins over 19.5 points + rebounds. There’s a chance Hawkins gets to 20 points in this game without even accounting for his rebounding. He does need to stay out of foul trouble — he was limited to 25 minutes and thus went way under this number the last time Illinois faced Ohio State. Hawkins has gone over this number in 14 of 28 games overall this season, including in 8 of his last 10. FanDuel is offering this prop at -113.