WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - MARCH 05: Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) hugs the Big Ten Regular Season Championship Trophy after a mens college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on March 05, 2023 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Big Ten Tournament 2023: Men's Bracket Seeds, Odds, Matchups and Predictions

Zach BuckleyMar 7, 2023

The Purdue Boilermakers were Big 10 champions of the regular season, but can they claim a second crown during the conference tournament?

Oddsmakers like their chances, but in a league this deep, there are myriad clubs capable of capturing the title.

With the tourney set to tip off Wednesday night, let's get the table set with seeding and scheduling info, the latest odds and a trio of predictions.

Seeds, Schedule

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COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 29: The Big Ten logo on the floor before a basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the UMBC Retrievers at the Xfinity Center on December 29, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

First Round: Wednesday, March 8

Game 1: No. 12 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Ohio State, 6:30 p.m. ET

Game 2: No. 11 Nebraska vs. No. 14 Minnesota, 25 minutes after Game 1

Second Round: Thursday, March 9

Game 3: No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 9 Rutgers, 12 p.m. ET

Game 4: No. 5 Iowa vs. Game 1 winner, 25 minutes after Game 3

Game 5: No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Penn State, 6:30 p.m. ET

Game 6: No. 6 Maryland vs. Game 2 winner, 25 minutes after Game 5

Quarterfinals: Friday, March 10

Game 7: No. 1 Purdue vs. Game 3 winner, 12 p.m. ET

Game 8: No. 4 Michigan State vs. Game 4 winner, 25 minutes after Game 7

Game 9: No. 2 Northwestern vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m. ET

Game 10: No. 3 Indiana vs. Game 6 winner, 25 minutes after Game 9

Semifinals: Saturday, March 11

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1 p.m. ET

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 25 minutes after Game 11

Championship: Sunday, March 12

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 3:30 p.m. ET

Tournament Odds

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Andy Lyons/Getty Images

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 05: Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers shoots the ball against the Michigan Wolverines at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on March 05, 2023 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Purdue: +145

Indiana: +550

Michigan State: +600

Maryland: +650

Northwestern: +850

Illinois: +1100

Michigan: +1700

Iowa: +1800

Penn State: +2500

Wisconsin: +5500

Ohio State: +5500

Nebraska: +25000

Minnesota: +100000

Rutgers: N/A

*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Predictions

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PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Fred Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers reacts during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 14, 2023 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Nebraska defeated Rutgers 82-72. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Purdue Doesn't Make It To Sunday

The Boilermakers had an air of invincibility about them for much of this season. That doesn't matter now.

Momentum can be major in March, and Purdue has never had less of it. Since racing out to a 22-1 start, this team is just 4-4 over its last eight games, and two of those victories were decided by a total of seven points.

Purdue might be the best team in this tournament, but that won't help it reach the final round.

Nebraska Wins Multiple Games

Remember what we just said about momentum? Well, that's a major force behind this prediction, too.

The Huskers wobbled plenty this season, but they finally found their footing over the last month. Six of their final eight outings were wins, and half of those victories featured winning margins of at least nine points.

Nebraska opens with Minnesota, a team it knocked off by 11 points during this run, and then would face Maryland, whom the Huskers handled in overtime the outing before that.

Penn State Plays Its Way Off the Bubble

The Big Ten should be well-represented at the Big Dance, especially after Penn State seals its spot.

The Nittany Lions are among the "Last Four Byes" at the moment, per ESPN's Joe Lunardi, but they can silence any bubble talk by going on a run.

They open against an Illinois team they beat twice this season, both times by double digits. Then, they'll get a Northwestern team they downed on the road in their second-last game of the season.

The road shapes up nicely for Penn State, and don't be surprised if senior guard Jalen Pickett makes a serious push for the Most Outstanding Player award.

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