Early Big Ten win total predictions: Will Ohio State rebound, Michigan repeat?

Here are early win/loss predictions totals for Big Ten tams, including Michigan and Ohio State. 

The Big Ten should have several outstanding teams, like Michigan and Ohio State, as well as several truly awful squads this upcoming college football season.

Outside of the SEC, the Big Ten is the best college football conference we got, and we should enjoy it as such. Though one school from this Power Five conference has ever won the College Football Playoff (the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes), the Big Ten should send one team to it again this winter, as well as upwards of four teams into the marquee bowl games best known as the New Year’s Six.

These win totals will be compared to the lines from WynnBET for over/under purposes.

Big Ten win total predictions: Which teams are going to have the best seasons?

Big Ten win total predictions: Which teams are not likely going to a bowl game?

These four teams are going nowhere fast. It is truly amazing, as two of them had outstanding seasons during the COVID season of 2020. Two years later and none of them will be anything close to achieving bowl eligibility. It is a lot of 3-9 here, folks. You can hold your nose if you must…

If it were not for playing in the Big Ten, Northwestern would be going undefeated

While Pat Fitzgerald is a legendary coach, this could be another rough campaign for the Wildcats. It is so hard to tell when they will have a great season, but it is hard to see them winning a single conference game. If you believe they can hold their own in the non-conference, maybe they beat another bad team in Big Ten play to get to four wins on the season? Regardless, no bowl for them.

Under 3.5 wins: 3-9 (0-9)

The 2020 COVID season undoubtedly the anomaly for Indiana Hoosiers football

Hard to believe the Hoosiers would have made a 12-team playoff had it existed two seasons ago. Well, they went 2-10 last year, including a non-conference loss to Group of Five gods Cincinnati. Though they will do one win better in 2022, they are not getting over 4.5 on the season. How they play vs. the likes of divisional rivals Maryland and Rutgers will decide if Tom Allen is here to stay.

Under 4.5 wins: 3-9 (1-8)

Greg Schiano will work in Piscataway, but he needs to win more Big Ten games

No doubt about it. Greg Schiano is the right head coach for Rutgers. He gives the State University of New Jersey’s football program an identity and a face to recruit around. The biggest difference between now and the last time he was running the show is the Scarlet Knights played in the old Big East. This is the Big TEN East and Rutgers is in over its skis with those four big bully teams.

Under 3.5 wins: 3-9 (1-8)

Losses to Virginia and Nebraska keeps Bret Bielema’s boys from bowl this year

Admittedly, Illinois is a step up from these three other teams at this level. The problem is the Fighting Illini are going to drop the two games they cannot afford. Falling to Brennan Armstrong, Tony Elliott and the rest of the Virginia Cavaliers hurts them in the non-conference. If they were able to beat divisional foe Nebraska, they would be pushing for bowl eligibility and hitting the over.

Under 4.5 wins: 4-8 (2-7)

Now, let’s look at the teams that are probably going bowling, but not to a New Year’s Six game.