Penn State Basketball pulled off an impressive upset over Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament that may have locked up their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011.
The Nittany Lions will have an opportunity to leave no doubt when they take on 2 seeded Northwestern in the Quarterfinals Friday evening in Chicago. Penn State Basketball enters the matchup on a 3-game winning streak that was started with an overtime win over Northwestern 9 days ago.
Here’s everything you need to know for Penn State Basketball vs Northwestern
Penn State Injury Report:
Caleb Dorsey G Out Indefinitely – Undisclosed
Northwestern Injury Report:
Julian Roper II G Out Indefinitely – Ankle
Luke Hunger F Out for Season – Foot
What: Penn State Basketball vs. Northwestern (Big Ten Tournament)
When: Friday, March 10, 2023
Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Livestream: FuboTV
You catch watch Penn State vs. Northwestern online FOR FREE by signing up for a free trial of FuboTV
Spread: Penn State Basketball (+1) vs. Northwestern
Penn State opens as a 1-point underdog. Penn State is 18-13-1 ATS, while Northwestern is 19-12 this season.
Penn State Basketball Moneyline: -110
Placing a $110 bet on Penn State Basketball to knock off Northwestern, straight up on the moneyline, would pay $100.
This will be the 2nd meeting of the season with the Nittany Lions winning the previous matchup on a buzzer beater 3-pointer by Camren Wynter in Overtime.
Penn State Basketball vs. Northwestern over/under: 130.5
The total has gone over in 18 out of 32 games this season for Penn State. The total has gone under in 19 of 31 for Northwestern.
Picks for the Game:
Penn State Basketball is riding high after taking down 7th seeded Illinois for the 3rd time this season on Thursday night.
The reward is a rematch with 2 seeded Northwestern who had a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
The double bye will raise the debate of rest vs rust. The Wildcats are not traditionally a team to get a Top 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament so the opportunity will be there for Penn State to carry momentum and pull off the upset.
Oddsmakers don’t see this game as big of an upset as the seeding would portray with a 10 vs 2 matchup. Northwestern only opened at a 1-point favorite and the spread is a pick’em by many books. These two played a thrilling overtime game just 9 days ago that saw Camren Wynter hit a buzzer beater 3 to win the game for Penn State in Evanston.
The total is lower than the first matchup and betting on it will depend on if you expect to see the first half Penn State from that previous matchup that only scored 24 points, or the second half that scored 37.
I believe that Penn State Basketball will feel energized coming off their win against Illinois and shoot the ball well enough to hit the over 130.5 rather easily. As for the pick I would lean Penn State given they have already won a game and Northwestern is in an unfamiliar spot being the higher seeded favorite.
The Nittany Lions have almost certainly clinched an NCAA Tournament bid but a win over the Wildcats would make them a 100% lock.
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