Two of the leading conferences in college basketball tip off their conference tournaments this week. Both the Big 12 and Big Ten regular season champions Houston and Purdue are also secure as No. 1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament when the NCAA Tournament Committee reveals the Tournament Bracket and seeds on Sunday, March 17.
The Big 12 is loaded as the country’s top conference and nine teams projected to make it into the Big Dance. Only two of the 14 teams had a losing record this season, and just four of the 14 Big Ten teams have losing records with three of them entering the Big Ten Tournament with 15-16 overall records.
The SEC challenges the Big 12 as the next best power conference with seven teams projected into the NCAA Tournament field followed by the Big East with six and Big Ten and Mountain West with 5-6 teams. Of course there will be some surprises along the way in all conference tournaments and projections for teams to make the NCAA Tournament along with seeds, so follow bracketology updates and especially teams on the bubble watch as they push hard for more conference tourney wins and a chance to make the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue (+1000) is the only major national title contender out of the Big Ten followed by Illinois (+3500), according to current FanDuel Sportsbook futures odds. But the Big 12 was the best conference in college basketball this season, and Houston (+640) joins Purdue as definite No. 1 seeds and major Final Four threats with Iowa State (+3000), Baylor (+3000) and Kansas (+4500) among the national title contenders as top-4 seeds. You can also bet on teams odds to make the Final Four.
Big 12 Tournament Odds
College basketball odds from FanDuel and leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Betting lines listed on favored team as opening round matchups and future games posted by sportsbooks.
- +100: Houston
- +430: Iowa State
- +600: Baylor
- +1100: Kansas, BYU
- +1800: Texas Tech
- +2400: Texas
- +3600: TCU
- +6500 to +25000 All other teams
T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO (all times Eastern)
First Round: Tuesday, March 12 on ESPN+
- Game 1: No. 12 UCF (-3.5) vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State, Total 136.5 | 12:30 p.m.
- Game 2: No. 11 Cincinnati (-8.5) vs. No. 14 West Virginia, Total 144.5 | 3 p.m.
Second Round: Wednesday, March 13 on ESPN2 or ESPN+
- Game 3: No. 5 BYU vs. Game 1 Winner | 12:30 p.m.
- Game 4: No. 8 TCU vs. No. 9 Oklahoma | 3 p.m.
- Game 5: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Kansas State | 7 p.m.
- Game 6: No. 6 Kansas vs. Winner Game 2 | 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 14 on ESPN or ESPN2
- Game 7: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Winner Game 3 | 12:30 p.m.
- Game 8: No. 1 Houston vs. Winner Game 4 | 3 p.m.
- Game 9: No. 2 Iowa State vs. Winner Game 5 | 7 p.m.
- Game 10: No. 3 Baylor vs. Winner Game 6 | 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals: Friday, March 15 on ESPN or ESPN2
- Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 | 7 p.m.
- Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 | 9:30 p.m.
Championship: Saturday, March 16 on ESPN
- Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 | 6 p.m.
Courtesy of Playbook Sports
- Teams with same-season single revenge are 16-3 against the spread (ATS) vs an opponent off back-to-back straight up (SU) wins
- First round underdogs are 16-5 ATS the last 11 years
- First round teams with same-season single revenge are 12-2 ATS (Oklahoma State and Cincinnati)
- Semifinal round favorites of less than 6 points are 23-6 ATS (11-1 ATS the last 14 years)
- Championship round favorites of 3 or more points are are 7-1 ATS the last 15 years
Houston senior guard Jamal Shead was named both Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Other top players and All-Conference performers to watch include:
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State, Guard
- Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, Center (Newcomer of Year)
- Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, Guard
- Dylan Disu, Texas, Forward (Most Improved)
- Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor, Guard (Freshman of Year)
- Jaxson Robinson, BYU, Guard
Houston is the conference tournament favorite in their first season playing in the Big 12. The Cougars will try to add to their regular season title and win the Big 12 Tournamnent by fending off a deep list of contenders. Houston is secure as a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed regardless of results in the Big 12 Tournament. The Cougars boast the nation’s No. 1 efficiency defense, scoring defense (56.9 PPG), field goal defense (38.3%) and turnover margin. Houston also ranks No. 3 in the country in scoring margin (17.3 PPG), just ahead of UCONN and best of all major conference teams.
In conference games only, TCU, BYU and Baylor were nearly even on top of scoring in Big 12 play at just over 76 points per game. But Kansas (48.5%) and Texas (46.7) were the best FG shooting teams followed by Baylor (46.0). Houston (62.3%) and Iowa State (64.2) led the league in scoring defense, while Houston (40.9) and Kansas State (40.5) were the best FG% defenses followed by Kansas, UCF and Iowa State all just above 42%. There is not a dominant rebounding team in the Big 12, and conference leaders are Cincinnati (+4.4), Baylor (+3.9) and Houston (+1.8). Houston and Kansas have the best Assist/Turnover ratio in Big 12 play. TCU (38.8%) was the best in the Big 12 shooting 3-pointers and Kansas State (29.4%) the best defending the arc.
The top Big 12 teams in KenPom’s adjusted offense and defense rankings include: (national rank)
- Offense: Baylor (5), Houston (11), BYU (12), Texas (20), Texas Tech (24), TCU (31)
- Defense: Houston (1), Iowa State (2), Kansas (10), UCF (12), Cincinnati (19), Kansas State (20), Oklahoma (32)
The Big 12 has nine teams projected into the NCAA Tournament with Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor and BYU in as top-5 seeds joining No. 1 Houston. Texas Tech, TCU and Texas are also in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma has some work to do but is projected into the NCAA Tournament with a win over TCU in the second round of the conference tournament securing their place.
Big Ten Tournament Odds
- +100: Purdue
- +310: Illinois
- +900: Nebraska
- +1200: Wisconsin
- +1400: Michigan State
- +1700: Northwestern
- +3000: Ohio State
- +3600: Iowa
- +4000: Indiana
- +6500 to +25000 All other teams
Target Center – Minneapolis, MN (all times Eastern)
First Round: Wednesday, March 13 on Peacock
- Game 1: No. 12 Maryland vs. No. 13 Rutgers | 6:30 p.m.
- Game 2: No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 14 Michigan | 9 p.m.
Second Round: Thursday March 14 on Big Ten Network
- Game 3: No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Minnesota | 12 p.m.
- Game 4: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Game 1 winner | 3 p.m
- Game 5: No. #7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Ohio State | 6:30 p.m
- Game 6: No. 6 Indiana vs. Game 2 winner | 9:30 p.m
Quarterfinals: Friday, March 15 on Big Ten Network
- Game 7: No. 1 Purdue vs. Game 3 winner | 12 p.m.
- Game 8: No. 4 Northwestern vs. Game 4 winner | 3 p.m.
- Game 9: No. 2 Illinois vs. Game 5 winner | 6:30 p.m.
- Game 10: No. 3 Nebraska vs. Game 6 winner | 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, March 16 on CBS
- Game 11: Game 7 vs. Game 8 winner | 1 p.m.
- Game 12: Game 9 vs. Game 10 winner | 4 p.m.
Championship: Sunday, March 17 on CBS
- Game 13: Game 11 vs. Game 12 winner | 3:30 p.m.
- Underdogs off a Tourney ‘Dog win are 20-3 ATS the last 5 years
- First round teams with same-season single revenge are 30-12 ATS (Michigan)
- Semifinal round dogs off back-to-back-to-back SU/ATS wins are 8-2 ATS
- No. 1 seeds with revenge are 1-6 ATS
- No. 5 seed underdogs are 10-1 ATS the last 15 years
- Championship round favorites are 0-7 ATS the last 7 years
Sleepers: A seed outside the top-4 has made it to the Big Ten Tournament championship game in five of the last six years. Wisconsin and Iowa are darkhorses who could emerge and make it to the conference title game at double digit odds. Iowa boasts and top-3 scoring and field goal offense in the Big Ten, and led the conference in Assist/Turnover ratio. Wisconsin started Big Ten play 8-1 before finishing 11-9 and was just 3-9 away from home. But the Badger’s offense joins Iowa as top-20 in the country in adjusted efficiency, and if either team’s defense and pressure is better, they are capable of making a deeper run. Iowa (+3600) offering the most betting value and plenty of motivation needing to make a run to the title game to have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue center Zach Edey will be the Big Ten Player of the Year and likely National Player of the Year. Other top players and All-Conference performers to watch include:
- Boo Buie, Northwestern, Guard
- Jahmir Young, Maryland, Guard
- Braden Smith, Purdue, Guard
- Terrence Shannon Jr.,, Illinois, Guard
- Coleman Hawkins, Illinois, Forward
Purdue’s 28 wins are the most in a regular season in school history, while its 17 conference victories are third most in league history behind only Indiana’s 18 in 1975 and 1976.
The top Big Ten teams in KenPom’s adjusted offense and defense rankings include: (national rank)
- Offense: Purdue (1), Illinois (4), Iowa (15), Wisconsin (18), Northwestern (29)
- Defense: Rutgers (4), Michigan State (9), Maryland (11), Purdue (21), Nebraska (26)
More college basketball conference tournament news, odds and picks.
Purdue (84.2) and Illinois (83.9) rank top 10 in the country in offensive points per game. Purdue, Illinois and Wisconsin are secure to make the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska, Michigan State and Northwestern are all projected as 8-9 seeds. Iowa is a First Four Out unless they make a deeper run in the Big Ten tournament.
Check back daily as updated college basketball odds and betting lines are posted by sportsbooks and added to the scheduled Big 12 and Big Ten matchups. It’s time for exciting major conference tournament basketball action ahead of the most anticipated event of the year – March Madness.
You can bet on it.