Big Ten Tournament 2012 Schedule and Bracket: Complete Guide and Preview

The Big Ten is loaded with elite basketball teams this year, and they are all going to be flexing their muscles in the hope of claiming the Big Ten conference title. 

Play will begin March 8th, with seeds five through 12 battling for the right to advance. This tournament is scheduled to go for four straight days and conclude on Sunday. 

Schedule

*All Times ET

Thursday, March 8th

Game 1: No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Illinois, 11:30 a.m., BTN

Game 2: No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 12 Penn State, 25 minutes following Game 1 conclusion, BTN

Game 3: No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Minnesota, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2

Game 4: No. 6 Purdue vs. No. 11 Nebraska, 25 minutes following Game 3 conclusion, ESPN2

In this first slate of games, keep an eye on Indiana. They have played some outstanding basketball this season and could make a real run. 

Friday, March 9th

Game 5: No. 1 Michigan State vs. Game 1 Winner, Noon, ESPN

Game 6: No. 4 Wisconsin vs. Game 2 Winner, 25 minutes following Game 5 conclusion, ESPN

Game 7: No. 2 Michigan vs. Game 3 Winner, 6:30 p.m., BTN

Game 8: No. 3 Ohio State vs. Game 4 Winner, 25 minutes following Game 7 conclusion, BTN

The winners of the first round will be rewarded with a date against the four best teams in the conference. You have to believe there will be at least one upset here. 

Saturday, March 10th

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 1:40 p.m., CBS Sports

Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 25 minutes following Game 9 conclusion, CBS Sports

Sunday, March 11th

Game 11: Tournament Championship, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports

Live Streaming

ESPN3 will be live streaming some of the games. 

Bracket 

If you like things in a more visual setting, feel free to view this in bracket form here. 

TV Schedule 

In case you didn't catch on that the networks broadcasting the games were listed after each matchup in the schedule section, here is that info in another format. 

First Round - March 8

First Session: BTN

Second Session: ESPN2

Quarterfinals - March 9

First Session: ESPN

Second Session BTN

Semifinals - March 10

CBS

Championship - March 11

CBS

Odds and Predictions 

No. 3 Ohio State: 6-to-1

No. 1 Michigan State: 2-to-1

No. 2 Michigan: 3-to-1

No. 4 Wisconsin: 15-to-1

No. 5 Indiana: 18-to-1

No. 7 Northwestern: 25-to-1

No. 6 Purdue: 18-to-1

No. 8 Iowa: 25-to-1

No. 9 Illinois: 30-to-1

No. 10 Minnesota: 30-to-1

No. 11 Nebraska: 35-to-1

No. 12 Penn State: 50-to-1 

The Buckeyes appeared to be the class of this conference all season. That was before they lost three of their last seven games. 

However, they were able to rebound, and in the final game they went on the road and took down Michigan State, 72-70. 

They are rightfully the favorites in this tournament, but they are not going to win. 

Indiana is going to make a surprise run through this tournament and capture the title. The Hoosiers are an extremely streaky team. At one point, they lost five of seven games this season. But they righted the ship and finished off strong. 

This team is loaded with shooting, and when they are draining their shots, they can beat anyone. That is exactly what they are going to do in this tournament.