Big Ten Tournament Saturday Preview: Men’s Semis, Women’s Title on the Line

Big Ten Tournament: Men’s Semifinals

[5] #9 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. [1] #4 Michigan Wolverines

12pm | CBS | Mich -6.5 | O/U 143.5

BoilerBettor: /emerges from pile of beer cans and torn up tickets

/tears ACL

Favorites in the semis are 8-3-1 ATS over the last six years. Enjoy losing money.

MaximumSam: Beating Michigan is a tough ask under the best of circumstances. With Kyle Young looking like he won’t be available, we’re pretty freaking far from the best of circumstances. Of note, Justin Ahrens only has two points in the tourney so far and didn’t score against Michigan. To pull out a victory they need something more than that. Our best strategy is probably to have Holtmann go out and tell random Michigan players not to talk to him.

Edit: Late breaking that Isaiah Livers is out indefinitely with a foot injury. That’s a big blow for them and it is downright crummy to see that this close to the tourney.

RockyMtnBlue: Michigan’s a good defensive team, but they have an exploitable weakness. If you have a guy, especially a guard, who’s good at getting to the rim you can have a good time. Duane Washington is GOOD at getting to the rim.

Hunter Dickenson has struggled over the last few weeks. With Isaiah Livers coming off arguably his worst game in 3 years OSU is getting Michigan at the right time. I’ve got a crisp Ben Franklin on OSU at +215.

[3] #5 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. [2] #3 Illinois Fighting Illini

2:30pm | CBS | Illinois -3 | 154.5

Stew: Iowa won’t get away with the horrid offensive display they showed last night against a far superior opponent in Illinois. Frankly, with the roll that Illinois has been on and the way Iowa has been playing, I’m not sure Iowa has that great of a shot here. They’re going to need Illinois to revert a bit too early season form, get Kofi in foul trouble, and be lights out from 3. This is all possible, but probably not very likely.

Big Ten Tournament: Women’s Final

[1] #7 Maryland Terrapins vs. [6] Iowa Hawkeyes

1pm | ESPNU

Stew: this game is gonna be a blast to watch. The O/U might be 170ish. However, I just don’t think Iowa has the fire power to pull off the upset. Maryland does a lot of the same things that Iowa likes to do but had more balance, is more efficient, and is just generally all around better, even if Caitlin Clark is the best individual player on the floor. Iowa is just too sloppy with the ball and turnovers are going to kill them. But man, the passes they attempt are really awesome.

FCS Football

Stony Brook Seawolves at Delaware Fighting Blue Hens (-8.5, O/U 41) [11am, Flo]

Holy Cross Crusaders (-7.5, O/U 44) at Lehigh Mountain Hawks [11am, ESPN+]

Valparaiso Crusaders at Butler Bulldogs (-6, O/U 50) [11am]
Morehead State Eagles at Presbyterian Blue Hose (-6.5, O/U 47) [11am, ESPN+]
Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Kennesaw State Owls [12pm, ESPN+]
Rhode Island Rams at Villanova Wildcats (-16.5, O/U 52.5) [12pm, Flo]
Elon Phoenix at Richmond Spiders (-3, O/U 45.5) [12pm, Flo]
Furman Paladins (-9, O/U 46.5) at East Tennessee State Buccaneers [12pm, ESPN+]
The Citadel Bulldogs (-13.5, O/U 50.5) at Western Carolina Catamounts [12pm, ESPN+]

Wofford Terriers (-1.5, O/U 55.5) at Samford Bulldogs [12pm, ESPN+]

Lamar Cardinals at McNeese Cowboys (-14, O/U 47) [12pm, ESPN+]
Nicholls Colonels at Sam Houston State Bearkats (-2.5, O/U 62.5) [12pm, ESPN+]
North Dakota Fighting Hawks (-20.5, O/U 45.5) at Western Illinois Leathernecks [12pm, ESPN+]

Northern Iowa Panthers (-4, O/U 38) at Southern Illinois Salukis [12pm, ESPN+]

Davidson Wildcats (-11.5, O/U 52.5) at Stetson Hatters [12pm, ESPN+]
Mercer Bears at VMI Keydets [12:30pm, ESPN+]
Missouri State Bears at South Dakota Coyotes (-10.5, O/U 49) [1pm, ESPN+]
San Diego Toreros (-8.5, O/U 51) at Drake Bulldogs [1pm]
Delaware State Hornets at South Carolina State Bulldogs (-12.5, O/U 43.5) [1pm, ESPN3]
Youngstown State Penguins at South Dakota State Jackrabbits, (-19, O/U 44.5) [2pm, ESPN+]
Idaho Vandals at Northern Arizona Lumberjacks [2pm, PlutoTV]
UC Davis Aggies at Weber State Wildcats (-10.5, O/U 52.5) [2pm, PlutoTV]

Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Cal Poly Mustangs (-3, O/U 56) [2:05pm, PlutoTV]

Illinois State Redbirds at North Dakota State Bison (-12.5, O/U 37) [2:30pm, ESPN+]
Colgate Raiders (-4.5, O/U 36) at Lafayette Leopards [2:30pm, ESPN+]
Prairie View A&M Panthers at Grambling Tigers (-2.5, O/U 55) [3pm]

Eastern Washington Eagles (-17, O/U 61.5) at Idaho State Bengals [5pm, PlutoTV]

Northwestern State Demons at Southeast Louisiana Lions (-16, O/U 61) [6pm, ESPN+]
Tarleton State Texans (-3.5, O/U 57.5) at Dixie State Trailblazers [9pm]

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at Jackson State Tigers (-15, O/U 54.5) [2pm, Sunday, ESPN2]

I am looking at cars with a CVT today, so if you’d like to warn me about the cons of a CVT, be sure to let me know. Might smoke a brisket, too, in case the smokebois feel left out when the carbois start talking.

Ooh, might brew some beer, too, speaking of carboys, in case the beerbois need to get in on this.

Here’s your open thread for the day. Try not to mess it up.