2026 First Round BIG Ten Conference Tournament Predictions

FIrst Round #16 Oregon Ducks vs #17 Maryland Terrapins

• Winner: #16 Oregon Ducks
• Projected Score: Oregon Ducks 78 vs 75 Maryland Terrapins
• Line: ORE -3.5 Total: 139.5
• Maryland enters play struggling of late. Maryland is 3-7 over its last 10, while Oregon has finally started playing a little better after a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The Ducks are now 4-6 through their last 10 games. Both teams are pretty mid-tier in offensive and defensive efficiency, but Oregon has the edge defensively. Look out for the Ducks' size advantage with 7’0’’ Senior Nate Bittle and 6’10’’ Junior Kwame Evans Jr. The Ducks advance to play the #9-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes.

#15 Northwestern Wildcats vs #18 Penn St Nittany Lions

• Winner: #15 Northwestern Wildcats
• Projected Score: Northwestern Wildcats 84 vs 77 Penn St Nittany Lions
• Line: NU -4.5 Total: 143.5
• Despite being 13-18 on the season, they are pretty solid analytically. The Wildcats rank in the mid-60s in KenPom and Bart Torvik. Northwestern has good assist rates and doesn’t turn the ball over. Give me Senior forward Nick Martinelli to advance the Wildcats to the second round, where they will face the #10 seed Indiana Hoosiers.