Big Ten basketball picks: Purdue odds, Illinois best bets

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The Big Ten has not had a team win the NCAA men's basketball national championship in 24 years. Is this finally the season where that streak will be broken?

This guide will delve into everything Big Ten basketball and break down the favorites to win the conference this year.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of all the odds, as well as some of our expert best bets for this upcoming Big Ten season.

2023 Big Ten basketball best odds to win conference

• Purdue +160
• Michigan State +290
• Maryland +850
• Illinois +1100
• Ohio State +1500

Purdue won the Big Ten Championship last year in the conference tournament but then was on the receiving end of the biggest upset in March Madness history. They will try to scrub the memory of that defeat and win the conference this year, something that they are favored to do so.

Big Ten conference champion best bet: Purdue (+160 or better)

It’s hard to bet against Purdue to win the Big Ten. Despite them losing in the first round of March Madness, we still have a lot of confidence in them to get the job done this year.

Center Zach Edey is returning and he will be one of the best players in the country once again. At 7-foot-4 it’s hard for anyone on the college scene to match up with him effectively. He’s coming off a season where he was named Big Ten Player of the Year.

Purdue has most of their team returning, including all of the regular starters. Another year of experience and the pain of last year’s early loss should propel them to another great finish. When Virginia lost as a one seed in March Madness a few years back, they won the whole tournament the next season. Something similar could be in the cards for Purdue.

Big Ten long shot pick: Illinois to win Big Ten (+1100 or better)

Illinois is coming off a first round loss in March Madness after a season where they went 11-9 in the Big Ten. However, at +1100 we think there is some value in picking them to win the Big Ten this year. They’ve brought in some experienced players through the transfer portal that should help their prospects.

The largest addition is Quincy Guerrier. The Canadian has played for Syrauce and Oregon in the past and will now bring his talents to the Big Ten. He can shoot the ball and put it on the floor to get to the rack and will help add another weapon to Illinois.

Big Ten basketball futures: Wisconsin to win conference (+1500 or better)

If you’re looking for a larger return on your Big Ten Basketball pick, look at Wisconsin. For the price of +1500, you can bet on a very solid team. While they did not make the NCAA Tournament last year, that will almost surely change this year. They’ve brought in a four-star recruit at center in Gus Yalden who should be able to contribute.

Wisconsin returns its entire starting lineup from last season. This will mean a level of chemistry and familiarity that other teams struggle to match. For this reason, we like Wisconsin to outperform expectations and make a run at the Big Ten title.

Big Ten basketball roundup: Indiana, Nebraska and more

Indiana Hoosiers futures

While Indiana has a historic basketball program, this year they are in tough. They lost three starters in the front court and face a tough schedule with lots of big opponents. While you might be tempted to go for Indiana to win the Big Ten, we suggest you stay away as there are better options on the board.

Nebraska Cornhuskers futures

Nebraska was a feel good story last year as they had their best conference finish since 2018. They managed to achieve this despite losing some of their best players to injury. However, we don’t feel like they’ve improved enough on last year to provide enough optimism.

Iowa Hawkeyes futures

Iowa is another team that some bettors may be thinking of backing. With two games against Purdue, a battle vs. Michigan State, and a game planned against Creighton, we think that the tough schedule means that it’s better to look in another direction.

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Noah Strang is a sports writer for Catena Media based in Vancouver, Canada. In the past, he has worked professionally covering the NHL and NFL as a beat reporter. When not writing about sports, you can find Noah turning on his TV trying to watch whatever game is on. To find out more about Noah’s work you can find his Twitter at @noahstrang_ or email him at [email protected].