With Urban Meyer retired, should Ohio State be the betting favorite in the Big Ten or is it finally the year for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan to win the conference?
Big Ten teams may see an opening to the conference crown with Urban Meyer no longer on the sidelines for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have largely dominated the conference since his arrival to Columbus, but there’s a new era underway with Ryan Day taking over. Is this coaching change enough to sway the betting public and make Michigan or Wisconsin the betting favorite?
Not, according to FanDuel, who released their conference futures and have Ohio State as a slight favorite over rival Michigan and Wisconsin who is a distant third.
2019 Big Ten championship odds
- Ohio State +100
- Michigan +200
- Wisconsin +1100
- Penn State +1400
- Nebraska + 1800
- Iowa +2300
- Michigan State +2300
- Northwestern +3900
- Purdue +3900
- Indiana +4200
- Minnesota +8500
- Maryland +15000
- Illinois +25000
*FanDuel does not have odds on Rutgers, which may be an oversight or the number is so large, it doesn’t fit on a computer screen.*
Best Bet: Wisconsin
If you’re trying to win some money by placing a wager, you’re not going to cash in by betting on Ohio State or Michigan. They’re the favorites and have the best chance, but if the goal is to try and pad the bank account, and it is, don’t bet on the favorites. Wisconsin has dominated the Big Ten West before falling off last year, but expect a big turnaround to classic Badgers football this fall. With Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor back to tote the rock and the much-hyped freshman quarterback, Graham Mertz, they have a strong chance to win the West and take down the East winner in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Worst Bet: Penn State
Unless you’re a Penn State alum, don’t put any money on the line betting on the Nittany Lions this fall.
Favorite Long Shot: Nebraska
Scott Frost’s first year back in Lincoln got off to a historically miserable start, but the Huskers rebounded in the last quarter of the season. That momentum should carry over into the fall. Sophomore quarterback Adrian Martinez is popping up among the top 10 Heisman candidates and his dual-threat game could see him have a McKenzie Milton-like breakout in his second year in Frost’s offense. Milton became a Heisman candidate as a sophomore when Frost was his coach at UCF. Will history repeat itself?
Championship Prediction: Ohio State
It’s not going out on a limb. Betting on Ohio State isn’t going to bring a financial windfall. But if you want to bet on the best bet to actually win, the Buckeyes are the team to back. Day is going to win big at Ohio State and with Justin Fields eligible, look for the former top recruit to have a big dual-threat season reminiscent of recent Buckeye greats, Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett.