The start of a new season of college football is less than two months away, and 5Dimes online sportsbook has recently updated its NCAAF betting odds to win this year's Big Ten title. The odds point to a two-team race, but there are a few other teams that could weigh in on the matter.
Betting college football futures is all about finding the best value in the odds. Here is a breakdown of the best value on the board to win the Big Ten.
Big Ten Championship Top - Valued Favorite
Under head coach Urban Meyer, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been the dominant team in this conference during his seven seasons at the helm. The dawn of a new day behind Ryan Day as the new head coach should make things interesting in Columbus this season. The Oddsmakers at 5Dimes are still bullish on the Buckeyes’ chances to win the Big Ten again this year as +110 favorites, but they still have their work cut out for them.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has moved on to the NFL so it will be Justin Fields turn to run the offense. He brings much more mobility to the position with his ability to run the ball. He also has the weapons to move the ball downfield through the air quickly. Ohio State lost a few key pieces of its defense, most notably Nick Bosa, but there is always a wealth of talent on this side of the ball. Once again, the Big Ten title is the Buckeyes to lose. Until another team steps up its game, they remain at the top of the list for a good reason.
Big Ten Championship Top -Valued Contender
The gap between Michigan and Ohio State may be as close as it has ever been in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach. He is heading into his fifth season at the helm, and the pressure to take this team to a higher level has never been higher. The Wolverines are listed as +248 second-favorites to finally get past Ohio State in the East Division on their way to a Big Ten title. The biggest plus is this year's showdown against the Buckeyes will take place in Ann Arbor on Nov. 30.
Josh Gattis was brought in as Michigan’s new offensive coordinator to add some punch to this side of the ball after serving under Nick Saban in Alabama. Shea Patterson is expected to get the nod at quarterback, and he will have some excellent targets to throw the ball to. Behind a tremendous offensive line and a strong defensive front, the Wolverines would be the best bet to unseat Ohio State in 2019.
Big Ten Championship Best of the Rest
The betting odds drop off from there with Penn State next on the list at +1000 to win the conference. The Nittany Lions are back to being one of the power teams in the conference. Unfortunately, they play in the same division as the top two powers on the list. Getting past one of those two teams is possible, but the Lions will be hard-pressed to get past both to have a chance to play for the conference championship.
It should be a neck-and-neck race for the West Division title between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Badgers’ odds to win the Big Ten are set at +1450 followed closely by Nebraska at +1500. This season’s showdown between the two will be played on Nov. 16 in Lincoln to give the slight edge to the Cornhuskers in the West Division race. Anything can happen in a one-game battle for the conference title, but betting any team from the West to win that game is, at best, a reach.
Big Ten Championship Future Odds
- Ohio State +110
- Michigan +250
- Penn State +700
- Michigan State +1000
- Nebraska +1600
- Wisconsin +1600
- Northwestern +2000
- Iowa +2200
- Purdue +2500
- Maryland +3300
- Minnesota +6600
- Indiana +8000
- Illinois +10000
- Rutgers +10000