The 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off tonight in Chicago, Illinois, bringing together 18 teams for five days of postseason basketball at the United Center.
After a long, physical grind during the regular season, the bracket is set and the stakes are clear. For the top seeds, it’s about finishing the job and strengthening their NCAA Tournament positioning. For others, it’s a final opportunity to build a resume – or steal the league’s automatic bid outright.
Michigan enters as the odds-on favorite after a dominant run through conference play, but the rest of the Big Ten has been competitive throughout the standings. Over the next week, depth and discipline will determine who leaves Chicago with the trophy and a ticket into the Big Dance.
2026 Big Ten Tournament Info
- 📍 Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- 📅 Dates: March 10-15
- 📺💻 Broadcast: Peacock, Big Ten Network, CBS
2026 Big Ten Tournament Odds
Michigan (-125) enters as the overwhelming favorite after a dominant regular season. The Wolverines went 19-1 in conference play and 29-2 overall, separating themselves from the pack early and never looking back. They were elite on both ends of the floor, protected home court (14-1), and didn’t lose a true road game all season (11-0).
Illinois (+450) comes in next as the No. 4 seed. The Illini closed strong, finishing 15-5 in conference play and proving capable of beating anyone when their shots are falling.
Michigan State (+650) is always live come March. The Spartans matched Illinois at 15-5 in conference play and own one of the better defensive profiles in the bracket. They stumbled late, but remain a dangerous draw thanks to their physicality and tournament pedigree under Tom Izzo.
Purdue (+750) and Nebraska (+1000) round out the top tier of contenders. After that, the odds widen quickly.
Below is the complete Big Ten Tournament seeding along with each team’s odds to win the conference championship at Hard Rock Bet:
Odds as of Tuesday, March 10. Subject to change.
Team (Seed) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Michigan Wolverines (1) | -125 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini (4) | +450 |
| Michigan State Spartans (3) | +650 |
| Purdue Boilermakers (7) | +750 |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers (2) | +1000 |
| Wisconsin Badgers (5) | +3000 |
| UCLA Bruins (6) | +4000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes (8) | +7500 |
| Iowa Hawkeyes (9) | +7500 |
| Indiana Hoosiers (10) | +15000 |
| Washington Huskies (12) | +20000 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers (11) | +25000 |
| USC Trojans (13) | +25000 |
| Northwestern Wildcats (15) | +25000 |
| Oregon Ducks (16) | +25000 |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14) | +50000 |
| Maryland Terrapins (17) | +50000 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions (18) | +50000 |
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