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Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

Best bets Big Ten Tournament futures: Maybe we will learn who the best team really is

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 3/8/23

For most of the Big Ten season, Purdue has been considered the top team. Not just in the conference, but in the nation. Big man Zach Edey has been a monster this season and they wound up winning the league by a few games.

However, there are lots of quality teams in the Big Ten, including Indiana who beat the Boilermakers twice during the season. Even Ohio State, who slumped and won just five league games, has good efficiency numbers, so this event appears to be wide open with a number of teams who "need" to show well this week to secure an invite to the NCAAs.

There are lots of really good values in this group so let's take a closer look at the league to see if we can make some money to roll over into next week.

Big Ten Tournament Futures

Purdue Boilermakers +175
Indiana Hoosiers +450
Michigan State Spartans +650
Maryland Terrapins +850
Illinois Fighting Illini +1100

Note; The top four teams get double-byes (PUR, IND, MSU, NW) and teams five through 10 (MD, IOWA, ILL, RUTG, MICH, PSU) get single ones.

Best Bet: Purdue Boilermakers +175

I have been a fan of the Boilermakers all season. No, this is not a perfect team. They have very young guards, but upfront they are better than pretty much anyone and Edey is so hard to defend. I also like that they are entering the event with something to prove. In most bracket projections, they are off the No. 1 line right now, but at the same time, the pressure is totally off so they can play nice and easy. I wish there was more value than the current price, but I don't see another team getting hot enough to knock them off. Indiana has done it twice already, but are they really going to beat them a third time? That is rare.

Sleeper: Illinois Fighting Illini +1100

With high-level transfers, the Illini looked like they would continue the level of play they have had under coach Brad Underwood. They have shown flashes, but the consistency has not been there for the Illini this season. I do think they have enough talent to put together some level of a run. I like their side of the bracket too. They start with Penn State, and a potential path through Northwestern and Indiana is more than manageable.

and maybe the Wisconsin Badgers +5500

This is far from a great Wisconsin team but they do have one strength. They don't turn the ball over — top rate in the Big Ten. Valuing every possession is critical this time of year. So is great defense. They may not be a great team but they make you earn it.

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