March Madness is such an exciting time of year. Everybody is out looking for this year’s Cinderella team and filling in their office pool brackets. Sports Handicapper Craig Trapp is going to give his conference break down on odds to win the NCAA Championship this year. Craig goes out filling his bracket a little different than most.
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He likes to analyze the conferences and set his conference strength to help pick winners. For example this year the Big East is #1 and the SEC is #7 in Craig’s rankings, if schools from these two conferences were to play Craig would definitely move the Big East School to the next round.
This year Craig has the Big Ten as the 4th best overall conference. Many of you are probably saying but they had 7 teams in the big dance. Yes that is true but quality teams that can truly make a run Craig only has one school in this conference. Very average year overall for the Big Ten Conference. Below, Craig gives the odds and breakdown of each of the members that made the big dance.
Michigan State: (15-1) Not a team that can win 6 games in a row. Inconsistent outside shooting will surely doom this team within the first few rounds. Would not be surprised if this team loses before they get to the sweet 16.
Purdue: (35-1) The preseason favorite in the Big Ten is finally starting to live up to their early season predictions. Coming off a conference tournament Big Ten title and playing much better as of late. Most of their struggles came when injuries decimated the boilermakers. Now almost 100% healthy could be a very dangerous team to make a deep run. The one team out of the Big Ten that has the talent, coaching and heart to make some noise in the big dance.
Illinois: (100-1) The most offensively challenged team in the big dance will really have trouble even winning one game in the tournament. With guard Frazier questionable with a hand injury might get blown out first round game.
Wisconsin: (100-1) No chance to win it all these odds might as well be 1000-1!! Inconsistent three point shooting has been a major problem for them all year. Another big ten school that can’t win even one game!
Ohio State: (200-1) How these guys are higher odds than Wisconsin not really sure but either way too young to make a final run. Talented young group that could win one or two games but no way then can put a string of games together to do in real damage.
Michigan: (200-1) Actually is Craig’s 2nd most dangerous team from the Big Ten as far as making it far in the big dance. Quality wins early in the season shows this team has the talent and defensive strength to win a few. Not sure they can win it all but a sweet 16 is not out of the question.
Not sure that the Big Ten deserved 7 teams in this year with Wisconsin and Michigan barely making it in off the bubble.
Do think that after the first round there might only be 2 teams left? I think after the Sweet 16 there will be only one team left.
If you are betting futures to win the NCAA championship you might lay a small wager on Purdue but definitely do not bet on any other Big Ten schools!!
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One reply on “Tournament Handicapping: Big Ten Teams”
The Big Ten was well represented in the tournament with 7 teams getting bids. Given their performance in the first two rounds I think they were over represented as this should help the arguement to take a closer look at the Mid Majors when doling out the bids.