Updated Big Ten Tournament Seeding Predictions

Yesterday, the Hoosiers put up a good fight in Ann Arbor against the Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines, but fell 84-80, assuring the Hoosiers of the 8- or 9-seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

In the other game, Illinois upset Iowa in Iowa City, which could get the Illini as high as the 7-seed if Penn State can upset Minnesota today.

Today, we'll see the last four regular season games, so the seeds will be set by the end of the day.  Here are today's games and the implications:
-Northwestern at Purdue (11 a.m. Central; BTN).  The consequences for both teams are pretty simple:  whoever loses finishes alone in last place.  Go Wildcats!
-#22 Michigan State at Ohio State (3:30 p.m. Central; CBS).  An MSU win plus a Wisconsin loss means the Spartans get the 2-seed.  If anything other than that happens, the Spartans get the 3-seed.  For Ohio State, they are the 4-seed if they win and Nebraska loses, the 5-seed if they win and Nebraska wins, or the 6-seed if they lose.
-Penn State at Minnesota (4:15 p.m. Central; BTN). If Minnesota wins, they clinch the 7-seed.  If Penn State wins, there would be a four-way tie at 7-11 between IU, Minnesota, Illinois, and Penn State, and 7-8-9-10 would go Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Penn State.
-#9 Wisconsin at Nebraska (6:30 p.m. Central; BTN).  If Wisconsin wins (or Michigan State loses), the Badgers clinch the 2-seed.  If Nebraska wins, the Cornhuskers clinch the 4-seed.  If Nebraska loses, they would still get the 4-seed if Ohio State loses, or they would get the 5-seed if Ohio State wins.

Here are the current standings, with the conference record, each team's remaining games, and my predictions.

1.  Michigan (15-3)

4.  Wisconsin (12-5):  at Nebraska (W)
3.  Michigan State (12-5):  at OSU (L)

4.  Nebraska (10-7):  Wisconsin (L)

5.  Ohio State (9-8):  MSU (W)

6.  Iowa (9-9)
7.  Minnesota (7-10):  PSU (W)

8.  Indiana (7-11)
9.  Illinois (7-11)

10.  Penn State (6-11):  at Minnesota (L)
11.  Northwestern (5-12):  at Purdue (L)

12.  Purdue (5-12):  Northwestern (W)

Given my predictions and Big Ten tiebreaking rules, here is how the Big Ten Tournament seeds should fall into place and how the Big Ten Tournament will play out (all times are Central):

*1.  Michigan (15-3)

2.  Wisconsin (13-5)

3.  Michigan State (12-6)

4.  Ohio State (10-8) (OSU wins tiebreaker with Nebraska based on better record vs. Wisconsin)

5.  Nebraska (10-8)
6.  Iowa (9-9)

7.  Minnesota (8-10)

8.  Indiana (7-11) (IU wins tiebreaker with Illinois based on better record vs. Michigan)

9.  Illinois (7-11)

10.  Penn State (6-12) (Penn State wins tiebreaker with Purdue based on better record vs. Ohio State)

11.  Purdue (6-12)

12.  Northwestern (5-13)

* seed has been clinched

Here are my game-by-game predictions for the Big Ten Tournament, with the dates/times/TV schedule for the Big Ten Tournament (and a link to the bracket), which will be in Indianapolis.  All times are Central.

Thursday March 13 – First Round

(8) Indiana vs. (9) Illinois (11 a.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(5) Nebraska vs. (12) Northwestern (1:30 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Nebraska

(7) Minnesota vs. (10) Penn State (5:30 p.m., ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Minnesota

(6) Iowa vs. (11) Purdue (8 p.m., ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Iowa

Friday March 14 - Quarterfinals

(1) Michigan vs. (8) Indiana (11 a.m., ESPN/EPSN2).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(4) Ohio State vs. (5) Nebraska (1:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Ohio State

(2) Wisconsin vs. (7) Minnesota (5:30 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Minnesota

(3) Michigan State vs. (6) Iowa (8 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

Saturday March 15 - Semifinals

(8) Indiana vs. (4) Ohio State (12:40 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(7) Minnesota vs. (3) Michigan State (3 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

Sunday March 16 - Finals

(8) Indiana vs. (3) Michigan State (2:30 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Indiana