Big Ten Tournament Night 1 Odds and Picks: Maryland, Rutgers, Maryland or Michigan?

In the Big Ten Conference Tournament held in Minneapolis, the focus turns to two critical matchups that captured the attention of college basketball fans.

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The Maryland Terrapins, favored by 3.5 points, are set to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a game with an over/under set at 125.5 points. This season has been marked by underachievement for both teams, with Rutgers and Maryland failing to meet preseason expectations. 

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Meanwhile, the Penn State Nittany Lions are 6.5-point favorites against the Michigan Wolverines. This game carries significant weight due to speculation surrounding Michigan’s head coach, Juwan Howard.

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Questions about Howard’s future intensified, with Athletic Director Warde Manuel reluctant to replace him. However, a loss in this tournament, culminating in one of Michigan’s poorest conference performances in decades, could significantly heat up Howard’s seat. The game’s over/under is set at 150.5 points, indicating expectations for a high-scoring affair.

Big Ten Tournament Winner	Top-5 Odds at FanDuel
Purdue	+100
Illinois	+310
Nebraska	+900
Michigan State	+1200
Wisconsin	+1300

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Discussions about Michigan’s athletic future also touch on the possibility of a new head coach for both the football and basketball programs. The desire for swift changes was evident for Michigan fans, with hopes pinned on revitalizing the program through significant coaching hires and improved recruiting efforts. The sentiment was clear: Michigan’s position at the lower ranks of the Big Ten is unacceptable, with expectations that the team should consistently be among the top contenders in both basketball and football for the conference to thrive. Take the points with the Wolverines.

Read up on the top plays in college basketball in our Best Bets for Wed. Mar. 13

Analyzing the Maryland vs. Rutgers matchup, the consensus leans towards Maryland as the favorite, mainly due to Rutgers’ struggles towards the season’s end. If you want to avoid the points, the Terps are -178 on the moneyline. Doubts are cast on Rutgers’ ability to compete at this stage, especially with concerns about Cliff Omoruyi‘s performance, which appears hampered, possibly due to health issues. Omoruyi’s energy, leadership, and defensive prowess are critical to Rutgers’ success, but his recent form raises questions about his effectiveness.

Consequently, with Jahmir Young at the helm, Maryland is seen as the more reliable bet to advance in the tournament.

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