Six Big Ten groups, 5 Sweet 16 video games and one intrepid author’s picks

The Big Ten has six groups within the Sweet 16 of the lads’s NCAA Tournament. That’s quite a bit, even for an 18-team convention.

Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska are nonetheless alive within the South Region, together with Purdue within the West, Michigan within the Midwest and Michigan State within the East. An all-Big Ten Final Four, anybody? It’s potential, however an enormous stretch for a league with out a nationwide title since 2000.

How many will get by means of to the Elite Eight? My picks:

South: No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 2 seed Houston

TV: 9:05 p.m. Thursday, TBS, truTV.

Line: Houston by 2½.

Storyline: The Illini are elite offensively, however the Cougars are each bit as robust defensively. The Illini are larger, the Cougars extra agile. Freshman level guards Keaton Wagler (Illinois) and Kingston Flemings (Houston) are the names on the high of the marquee.

Pick: Houston, 80-75.

South: No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska

TV: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, CBS 2.

Line: Nebraska by 1½.

Storyline: The Hawkeyes haven’t been to the Elite Eight since 1987. These Huskers have notched Nebraska’s solely two match wins ever. Hey, it’s Fred Hoiberg!

Pick: Iowa, 68-66.

West: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas

TV: 6:10 p.m. Thursday, CBS 2.

Line: Purdue by 7½.

Storyline: The Longhorns are rolling, having begun their journey within the First Four, however no person’s hotter than the Boilermakers.

Pick: Purdue, 91-81.

Midwest: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

TV data: 6:35 p.m. Friday, TBS, truTV.

Line: Michigan by 9½.

Storyline: The Wolverines are within the hazard zone towards the Crimson Tide, who lead the nation in scoring (91.6 ppg) and dazzled in a second-round blowout of Texas Tech.

Pick: Michigan, 90-84.

West: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn

TV data: 8:45 p.m. Friday, CBS 2.

Line: UConn by 1½.

Storyline: The depth on the ground can be by means of the roof, and that’s simply coaches Dan Hurley and Tom Izzo. Those two may need to settle it with a snarl-off.

Pick: Michigan State, 70-69.