Odds to Win Big Ten Tournament: Iowa Opens As Preseason Fave
Updated: Tue, Nov 24 2020, 9:38am
It feels a little odd not being able to talk about which team is the reigning Big Ten tournament champion but, of course, in 2020 just two games were played in the bracket before everything was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, let’s keep the dark days behind us and set our attention to a 2020-21 season which, fingers crossed, will see not only a Big Ten tournament champion but a March Madness champion as well.
As it stands heading into this campaign, it is Iowa, led by Naismith player of the year favorite Luka Garza, that tops the Big Ten college basketball tournament odds at +265.
Online sportsbook Bovada has released the Big Ten tournament odds and Iowa tops the list at +265, followed closely by Illinois at +350, Michigan State at +350, Wisconsin at +350 and Ohio State at +1000 to round out the top five on the oddsboard.
See Odds Shark’s Best NCAAB Sites
2021 College Basketball: Big Ten Tournament Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Iowa Hawkeyes | +265 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | +350 |
| Michigan State Spartans | +350 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | +350 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +1000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +1100 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | +2000 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | +3000 |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | +3300 |
| Maryland Terrapins | +5000 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | +30000 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | +30000 |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | +50000 |
Odds as of November 20 at Bovada
New to betting on college hoops? Be sure to check out our NCAAB betting guide to help get you in the game. Also, keep an eye on our college basketball odds page for the latest up-to-date betting lines.
Why Is Iowa the Big Ten Tournament Favorite?
To start, the Hawkeyes have the preseason player of the year favorite in Luka Garza, who is entering his senior season and is coming off a campaign in which he averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while also chipping in 1.8 blocks per game. Assuming another year of growth, both physically and mentally, Garza could carry Iowa through the Big Ten tournament.
In the backcourt, guards Joe Wieskamp and C.J. Fredrick also return from the 2019-20 team that finished three games back in the final Big Ten Conference standings. The big question will be whether these players take another step forward or if they have already hit their peak – time will tell.
Which Team is Providing Better Value Than Iowa?
Of course, you can always make a case for Michigan State, led by longtime head coach Tom Izzo. However, I’m thinking Illinois could be a team to win the Big Ten tournament in 2021.
The Fighting Illini had a strong 2019-20 campaign, finishing in the No. 4 slot ahead of the Big Ten tournament, just one game back of the three-way tie atop the table. Like Iowa, Illinois is returning a few starters from last year, notably leading scorer Ayo Dosunmu, who is second on the Naismith Award oddsboard.
Additionally, seven-foot center Kofi Cockburn is back for his sophomore season after chipping in 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Heading into the 2020-21 campaign, Illinois is ranked No. 8, just three spots behind Iowa. Overall, I think Illinois matches up well with the Hawkeyes and the extra juice at +350 compared to +265 for Iowa is definitely intriguing to me.
