2025 Big Ten Tournament Predictions: Who Wins Every Game & the Championship?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 3:44 AM ET

The Big Ten will get nine teams into the NCAA Tournament, and it could get a tenth if Ohio State does anything over the weekend. Meanwhile, Michigan State won the outright regular season title and is no worse than a 2 seed come Selection Sunday.

Penn State - who just beat Wisconsin in Madison isn't even in. Neither is a Nebraska team that was on the NCAA bubble as recently as last week, and neither is Washington, who just took Oregon to overtime.

Other than a miraculous run by an Iowa or USC to get into the NCAAs by winning out, for the most part - outside of what happens to the Buckeyes - this is all just for NCAA Tournament seeding.

With all of that said, on the plus side, this might be the most unpredictable of all the top conference tournaments.

The bigger game previews and detailed predictions will come this week, but for now, here are the first thought picks on every game of the Big Ten Tournament, and again, be prepared for wacky in this thing.

Predicting Every 2025 Big Ten Tournament Game

Big Ten Tournament First Round Predictions

Wednesday, March 12

(13) Northwestern vs (12) Minnesota
2:30 pm, Peacock
First Thought Prediction: Northwestern

(15) Iowa vs (10) Ohio State
5:00 pm, Peacock
First Thought Prediction: Iowa

(14) USC vs (11) Rutgers
7:30 pm, Peacock
First Thought Prediction: Rutgers

Big Ten Tournament Second Round Predictions

Thursday, March 13

(9) Indiana vs (8) Oregon
12:00 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Oregon

Northwestern or Minnesota vs (5) Wisconsin
2:30 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Wisconsin

Iowa vs Ohio State vs (7) Illinois
6:30 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Illinois

USC vs Rutgers vs (6) Purdue
9:00 pm, FS1
First Thought Prediction: Purdue

Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals Predictions

Friday, March 14
Based on predictions from the first two rounds - these aren’t the actual matchups yet

(8) Oregon vs (1) Michigan State
12:00 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Oregon

(5) Wisconsin vs (4) UCLA
2:30 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Wisconsin

(7) Illinois vs (2) Maryland
6:30 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Illinois

(6) Purdue vs (3) Michigan
9:00 pm, BTN
First Thought Prediction: Michigan

Big Ten Tournament Semifinals Prediction

Saturday, March 15
Based on predictions from the earlier rounds.

(8) Oregon vs (5) Wisconsin
1:00 pm, CBS
First Thought Prediction: Wisconsin

(7) Illinois vs (3) Michigan
3;30 pm, CBS
First Thought Prediction: Illinois

Big Ten Tournament Championship Prediction

Saturday, March 15
Based on predictions from the earlier rounds.

(7) Illinois vs (5) Wisconsin
3:30 pm, CBS
First Thought Prediction: Illinois

Conference Tournament Predictions
ACC | Big East | Big Ten
Big 12 | Mountain West | SEC