2019 Big Ten Conference Title Odds, Predictions & Pick

The venerable Big Ten missed out on the College Football Playoff last year, largely because of the undefeated season that Notre Dame put up, and also because of the emergence of Georgia as another power in the SEC. Ohio State finished sixth in the final College Football Playoff standings, just ahead of Michigan. Ohio State has said good-bye to longtime coach Urban Meyer, and it will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes respond under new leadership. Michigan could have a chance to emerge, but they have not played well in clutch matchups under Jim Harbaugh. So even though these teams top the sports betting odds list for the Big Ten Championship, there is a sense that other teams could emerge. Wisconsin has the third-most favorable odds, but they come in with a new quarterback and holes to fill on defense. We have the whole 2019 Big Ten Conference title odds list for you, along with our thoughts on some of the Big Ten contenders.

2019 Big Ten Conference Title Odds, Predictions & Pick

Highlights from 2019 Big Ten Football Media Days and kickoff luncheon. Now who's ready for kickoff?#B1GFootball x #B1GMediaDay pic.twitter.com/QVbWNJE3y3

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) July 20, 2019

• Ohio State                                                                                                       +100
• Michigan                                                                                                         +200
• Wisconsin                                                                                                        +1100
• Penn State                                                                                                      +1400
• Nebraska                                                                                                        +1800
• Iowa, Michigan State                                                                                      +2300
• Northwestern, Purdue                                                                                     +3900
• Indiana                                                                                                            +4200
• Minnesota                                                                                                       +8500
• Maryland                                                                                                         +15000
• Illinois                                                                                                              +25000
• Rutgers                                                                                                           OFF

Who’s the Favorite to Win?

Ohio State doesn’t do much to move my betting needle with those even money odds. Ryan Day did put up a 3-0 record as Urban Meyer’s interim during Meyer’s suspension, but Meyer was still running the program. Meyer now moves into a position teaching business ethics at the university (which if nothing else shows that the university is immune to a sense of irony), so Day has the program to himself, along with a new quarterback, as Justin Field has transferred in from Georgia to fill the void left by Dwayne Haskins, who is now in the NFL. Fields has a ton of talent but could not beat out Jake Fromm at Georgia. The Buckeyes have lost a legion of top players at other positions as well, but in what feels like a rebuilding season to some degree, it is hard to argue in support of this wager.

Who’s Second Favorite to Win?

Michigan has not beaten Ohio State (0-4) under Jim Harbaugh, but that should become more likely with Urban Meyer gone. Don Brown will lead a stout defense for the Wolverines, and quarterback Shea Patterson will have a second season in Harbaugh’s system. Michigan did lose some top players on defense, and in addition to an 0-4 record against the Buckeyes, Michigan has an 0-3 record against all other teams who then advanced to the College Football Playoff that same season, including a loss to Notre Dame in Week 1 last year. If you look at the Wolverines on paper, they are not a bad pick here and offer slightly more value than the Buckeyes, but I would have a lot more confidence if Harbaugh had led the Wolverines to one major win against an elite opponent during his time in Ann Arbor.

Who’s an Intriguing Pick?

Nebraska is an intriguing pick because of the wide-open nature of the Big Ten West. Wisconsin comes in with a new quarterback, and while Iowa is on the rise as well, Nebraska finished the 2018 campaign winning four of six. Those four wins came at home, while the two losses were on the road — by a combined total of just eight points at Ohio State and Iowa. Nebraska has the talented Adrian Martinez at quarterback returning, and Purdue and Northwestern will also be putting new quarterbacks into their systems. If the Cornhuskers can get to the Big Ten title game, anything can happen. With a +1800 moneyline, it might well be worth sprinkling some money on them to make this breakthrough.