First-round games
No. 8 Northwestern (9-13, 4-6 Big Ten) vs.
No. 9 Michigan State (11-15, 2-8)
Northwestern may have beaten Michigan State 5-2 last weekend, but that was without the Spartans' top player, Nick Rinks. The Wildcats won't dominate like they did Sunday but they should still be able to squeeze by.
Daily pick: NU
No. 6 Minnesota (15-8, 5-5) vs. No. 11 Purdue (8-13, 1-9)
Purdue's only Big Ten win came at the start of the season against Michigan State. Since then, it's been all downhill. Expect two things: home advantage not to count for much, and a dominating performance from the Gophers.
Daily pick: Minnesota
No. 7 Indiana (14-11, 4-6) vs. No. 10 Iowa (8-12, 1-9)
Iowa earned its first Big Ten win last weekend at Purdue. But it won't count for much against a Hoosiers team upset about missing a first-round bye for the first time in three years.
Daily pick: Indiana
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Ohio State (24-1, 10-0) vs. No. 8 NU
The defending champion Buckeyes have not lost a conference contest in two years. The Buckeyes shut out the Cats earlier in the season, without losing a set. History will repeat itself.
Daily pick: Ohio State
No. 4 Wisconsin (14-9, 6-4) vs. No. 5 Penn State (16-5, 6-4)
It's been a roller coaster season for the Nittany Lions, but their win against Indiana last weekend will boost their confidence in a bid to avenge their previous 4-3 defeat to the Badgers.
Daily pick: Penn State
No. 3 Illinois (16-7, 8-2) vs. No. 6 Minnesota
Illinois boasts a lineup with three top-25 singles players and last year's NCAA doubles champions: juniors Kevin Anderson and Ryan Row. They are just too good.
Daily pick: Illinois
No. 2 Michigan (18-5, 8-2) vs. No. 7 Indiana
Michigan was on a nine-dual unbeaten streak till it lost to Ohio State last weekend, 6-1. On the way, the Wolverines shut out the Hoosiers 7-0, without dropping a set. Bye bye Hoosiers.
Daily pick: Michigan
Semifinals
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Penn State
Penn State came closest to beating Ohio State in the regular season, notching two points in their last meeting, as Penn State junior Michael James upset senior Devin Mullings at No. 1 singles. But James alone isn't enough.
Daily pick: Ohio State
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Illinois
Illinois has higher-ranked singles players and a stronger doubles lineup. But its depth in lower singles seeds is what Michigan will look to exploit. It will be a very close match, with the Illini's experience pullling through in the end.
Daily pick: Illinois
finals
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Illinois
Earlier in the season the Buckeyes blew the Illini off the court with a 7-0 victory. Each match was hard-fought but the Buckeyes didn't lose a set. It is likely to be closer this time, but Ohio State will not fall at the final hurdle.
Daily pick: Ohio State
- compiled by Pritish Behuria
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