A important game in the Big 10 occurs on Thursday in ncaa basketball probabilities as Penn State sponsors Minnesota.
The Big 10 is overburdened with Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin and then there are 6 squads in the middle who are fighting for fourth place including Minnesota and Penn State. Both teams are in the mix for an NCAA Tourney bid and horribly need to win this game in basketball gambling.
Gophers Stressed
Minnesota has gone from a squad that looked to be a certain NCAA Tournament squad to one on the bubble. They’ve got lost 4 of their last five games. The Gophers lead the Big Ten in rebounds and blocked shots and are 2nd in field goal defense but they’re not scoring points.
Losing starting point guard Al Nolen has been huge and Minnesota simply doesn’t seem like a championship squad right now.
Penn State Must Get Hot
The Nittany Lions are in no greater shape than the Gophers. Actually, they’ve got four fewer victories so they simply can’t afford to lose this game at home. The Nittany Lions could possibly be in the NCAA Tournament but they are going to need to sweep the Gophers as they play Minnesota again in a few weeks.
Penn State will additionally likely need a couple of more wins and a win in the Big 10 tournament. But it’s achievable. Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin are going to the NCAA Championship whereas three other squads from the Big 10 may make it. Merely a half game separates the following 5 teams in the Big 10 standings.
A year ago the Big 10 got five clubs into the huge dance. If they get five this year then two more would get bids so it comes down to Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and Minnesota. Maybe the Big 10 could possibly get six bids this season.
Match Trends
Minnesota has been terrible on the road as they are 11-23 vs the NCAA basketball betting probabilities at the sportsbook in their last 34 road games. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS in their previous 5 games overall. The Nittany Lions are 5-1 ATS in their previous six home games. In this series, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are 2-7 against the college basketball probabilities in the past 9 meetings at Penn State.