Big Ten win totals for the 2020 college football season are in and these are the over/under bets you should make for every Big Ten football team.
The college football win totals are out so it gives fans something to look forward to an upcoming season despite so much uncertainty elsewhere. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers won their divisions last year and it was Ohio State who ended up winning another Big Ten championship and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff.
This year could see a rematch in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Buckeyes are definitely hoping to finish what they started last year when they lost to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. Naturally, the win totals for the two reigning Big Ten football division champs are high this year.
There is money to be made if you place the right wager on the correct side of the over/under win totals. Here is how I would bet the win totals for every Big Ten football team.
All college football win totals come via Caesars Sportsbook.
Big Ten football win totals (East)
Indiana – 7.5
Over: I like the Hoosiers and think they’re going to be an eight-team this year and could spring an upset or two this fall that no one expects. Can’t take Indiana football lightly.
Maryland – 3.5
Under: Mike Locksley might be one of the worst head coaches in college football history. Outside of a year on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama, his teams have struggled to win anything.
Michigan – 9
Over: I’m not picking Michigan to win the Big Ten or beat Ohio State, but winning 10 games has to happen. I like the Wolverines to beat Penn State and meet that magic number.
Michigan State – 4.5
Over: It’s going to be a rough first season for Mel Tucker as the head coach of the Spartans. But the schedule sets up that they should top this modest win total. They’ll need to beat Northwestern, BYU at Provo, Toledo, Maryland and Rutgers. That’s doable.
Michigan State football schedule
Ohio State – 11
Over: Let’s just get this out of the way now. Ohio State will be undefeated entering the College Football Playoff.
Penn State – 9.5
Over: This is one I feel really good about. Even if you count Ohio State and Michigan as losses, Penn State should be favored in every other game and still get 10 wins. Road games at Indiana and Nebraska could be potential trap games that cost the Nittany Lions.
Rutgers – 2.5
Under: It’s Rutgers. Not even Greg Schiano returning will get the Scarlet Knights to three wins this year.
Big Ten football win totals (West)
Illinois – 5
Over: Last year was the turning point for Illinois football under Lovie Smith. They have a long way to go still but this is a bowl team.
Iowa – 7
Over: This is a tough number. I want to push. Iowa will have to win all the games they should win and then go 2-3 against Iowa State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Kirk Ferentz will find a way to get two wins out of that group.
Minnesota – 9
Over: I’m buying what P.J. Fleck is building at Minnesota. Last year wasn’t a fluke. I think the season finale at Nebraska is the key game. Wisconsin and Michigan look like losses but if the Gophers win the finale at a tough venue, that’ll hit the over.
Nebraska – 6.5
Over: This needs to be a big year for Nebraska. Entering Year 3 under Scott Frost, the Huskers have yet to make a bowl game, but that should change this year. In fact, I think Nebraska starts out 7-0 with a very winnable front-loaded stretch. They might finish 0-5 when they see their five toughest opponents, but by then, they’ll have hit the over.
Northwestern – 5.5
Under: Northwestern was a massive disappointment last year after winning the division the year earlier. The offense should be better with Peyton Ramsey under center, but I think this is a five-win team at best.
Northwestern football schedule
Purdue – 5
Under: Memphis, Air Force and Boston College will determine if Purdue hits the over and gets to a bowl game. Jeff Brohm’s team may need to go 3-0 in that stretch to get there and I don’t see that happening.
Wisconsin – 9
Over: Road game at Michigan and playing Notre Dame in Lambeau could be tricky, but as long as Wisconsin goes 2-1 against Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, they’ll hit 10 wins. The Gophers and Huskers come to Camp Randall and think the Badgers home-field advantage will hold.
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