Big Ten Tournament Thrills: Predictions for Key Matchups

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The 2025 Big Ten Tournament escalates Thursday, presenting four compelling second-round matchups at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In a surprising twist, lower-seeded teams dominated Wednesday’s opening round, highlighted by No. 14 seed USC‘s double-overtime victory over No. 11 seed Rutgers. The Trojans now face No. 6 seed Purdue, who boasts a 9.5-point advantage in the latest betting odds.

The matchups for Thursday include No. 8 seed Oregon against No. 9 seed Indiana, No. 5 seed Wisconsin taking on No. 13 seed Northwestern, and No. 7 seed Illinois facing No. 15 seed Iowa. With higher stakes than ever, the question looms: which teams will prevail and advance to the quarterfinals?

According to the SportsLine Projection model, which has successfully predicted 225 wins against 165 losses on college basketball picks this season, significant insights into Thursday’s games reveal top betting opportunities.

In the showdown between Oregon and Indiana, predictions suggest Oregon will edge out the Hoosiers with a final score of 75-72. Oregon has regained its spot among the top 25 teams, riding a seven-game winning streak. Their standout center has performed impressively, averaging 14.1 points per game and finishing the regular season with 36 points and 12 rebounds in a crucial overtime victory over Northwestern.

“Oregon is peaking at the right moment,” the model states. “While Indiana has struggled with a low 3-point shooting percentage this season, the Ducks look to exploit their weaknesses.”

Meanwhile, Wisconsin is favored to win against Northwestern with a predicted score of 76-71. Northwestern had a solid showing against No. 12 seed Minnesota but will face a rested Wisconsin squad awaiting them. This season, the Badgers have consistently demonstrated strength on both ends of the floor.

“Wisconsin brings a physicality that Northwestern has not faced in recent games,” the model asserts. “Their offensive efficiency ranks highly, making them a tough matchup.”

In other predictions, Illinois is anticipated to narrowly defeat Iowa, with the score projected at 83-80. Iowa is striving to maintain its NCAA Tournament hopes following a win, but Illinois has shown it is a formidable opponent.

“Iowa will have to fend off a potent Illinois offense, even as they aim to capitalize on their recent momentum,” the model emphasizes.

As for the match between Purdue and USC, finishing scores of 81-73 are expected in favor of Purdue. Despite a rocky finish to the regular season, the Boilermakers are positioned to outpace USC.

“Both teams have faced challenges leading up to this game, but Purdue has the edge, especially given USC’s taxing victory against Rutgers,” the model concludes.

The outcomes of these games will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on teams’ trajectories in the tournament and their chances for NCAA Tournament selection. As the competition intensifies, avid fans and bettors alike are left to wonder which underdogs will defy expectations and advance further.