Big 10 Season Win Futures:
We are 3 days away from College Football Week Zero. It really is the best time of year, but we are running out of time to get in our future bets before the season starts. I may put a couple small bets on conference champions and possibly national champions, but this article is focused on the individual Big 10 teams and their season wins. These bets are less risky, but I believe they are an easy way to make money! Let's get started!
There is a summary at the end for those of you who don't want to read through all of this!
Illinois o/u4.5 Wins:
Illinois is one of the few teams that start their season this Saturday (8/27). Illionois struggled a bit last year under first year head coach Bret Bielema. They finished the season 5-7 with a 4-5 Big Ten Record. Bielema is a fantastic coach who had a lot of success at Wisconsin, and now he will try to rebuild a struggling Illini Team.
Illinois Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Wyoming (W)
@ Indiana (W)
vs. Virginia (L)
vs. Chattanooga (W)
@ Wisconsin (L)
vs. Iowa (L)
vs Minnesota (L)
@ Nebraska (L)
vs. Michigan State (L)
vs. Purdue (L)
@ Michigan (L)
vs. Northwestern (L)
3-9 (take the Under)
Indiana o/u4 Wins:
After an unbelievable covid year, the Hoosiers shockingly let everyone down in 2021, going just 2-10. It is starting to seem that the 2020 season was a fluke, because the Hoosiers looked absolutely terrible. They will be better this season, because they can't get much worse than that, but do they have it in themselves to win more than 4 games?
Indiana Schedule and Predictions:
vs Illinois (L)
vs. Idaho (W)
vs Western Kentucky (W)
@ Cincinnati (L)
@ Nebraska (L)
vs. Michigan (L)
vs. Maryland (L)
@ Rutgers (W)
vs. Penn State (W)
@ Ohio State (L)
@ Michigan State (L)
vs. Purdue (L)
4-8 (would lean the over, could sneak a W over Maryland or Penn State)
Iowa o/u7.5 Wins:
The Hawkeyes are coming of a great season where they went 10-4 and were Big Ten runners up. However, this Hawkeyes lost a lot, and Vegas has made that evident with a 7.5 season win line. Usually when Vegas does this, I get scared to take the over, but let's look at their schedule.
Iowa Schedule and Predictions:
vs. South Dakota State (W)
vs. Iowa State (W)
vs. Nevada (W)
@ Rutgers (W)
vs. Michigan (L)
vs. Illinois (W)
@ Ohio State (L)
vs. Northwestern (W)
@ Purdue (L)
vs. Wisconsin (L)
@ Minnesota (W)
vs. Nebraska (L)
7-5 (Take the under, Vegas is up to no good)
Maryland o/u5.5 Wins:
Little Tagovailoa is trying to keep Maryland on the rise after a descent season last year, finishing 7-6. Maryland's defense has been an issue, and this year it isn't looking much different. They will remain in the mid to bottom tier in the Big 10, and their win's will be tough to come by.
Maryland Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Buffalo (W)
@ Charlotte (W)
vs. SMU (L)
@ Michigan (L)
vs Michigan State (L)
vs. Purdue (W)
@ Indiana W)
vs. Northwestern (L)
@ Wisconsin (L)
@ Penn State (L)
vs. Ohio State (L)
vs. Rutgers (W)
5-7 (The under is looking tasty, especially with a tough out of conference start)
Michigan o/u9.5 Wins:
Take this section with a grain of salt. I am the most biased Michigan fan even though I try to be as reasonable as possible. Despite losing Big Hutch, Michigan returns almost everyone. This team has everything in their makings to repeat last year's historic season.
Michigan's Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Colorado State (W)
vs. Hawaii (W)
vs. Connecticut (W)
vs. Maryland (W)
@ Iowa (W)
@ Indiana (W)
vs. Penn State (W)
vs. Michigan State (W)
@ Rutgers (W)
vs. Nebraska (W)
vs. Illinois (W)
@ Ohio State (L)
11-1 (Take the over, Michigan has one of the easiest Big 10 schedules)
Michigan State o/u7.5 Wins:
Michigan State excelled in Mel Tucker's second season; going 11-2 and was 1 game short of making it to the Big 10 championship. This team is gritty and knows how to stay in close games but will have to overcome the loss of Kenneth Walker. Vegas has knocked down the line substantially, which should have alarm signals going off in everyone's ear, but I'm finding it hard to beleive.
Michigan State Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Western Michigan (W)
vs. Akron (W)
@ Washington (W)
vs. Minnesota (W)
@ Maryland (W)
@ Ohio State (L)
vs. Wisconsin (L)
@ Michigan (L)
@ Illinois (W)
vs. Rutgers (W)
vs. Indiana (W)
@ Penn State (W)
9-3 (take the over!)
Minnesota o/u7.5 Wins:
Minnesota is coming off a pretty good season last year, finishing 2nd in the Big Ten West with a record of 9-4. Vegas obviously is thinking this year is going to be worse, and I can agree. I don't believe in this Minnesota team.
Minnesota Schedule and Predictions:
vs. New Mexico State (W)
vs. Western Illinois (W)
vs. Colorado (W)
@ Michigan State (L)
vs. Purdue (L)
@ Illinois (W)
@ Penn State (W)
vs. Rutgers (W)
@ Nebraska (L)
vs Northwestern (W)
vs. Iowa (L)
@ Wisconsin (L)
7-5 (would definitely lean the under, could see them losing to PSU and Northwestern)
Nebraska 7.5
Now I'm an honest man, I didn't get this report done in time of the Nebraska Northwestern game, but it is safe to say Scott Frost are in for one lousy season. This team can't buy a win, and it is going to be the same story as last year. This will be Scott's last season as the Huskers coach, sorry bud. Since the game has already been played, the season total wins are no longer available.
Northwestern 3.5
Really wish I could have taken this over a couple days ago. I love Coach Fitz, and although this team is not full of talent, they are very well coached and disciplined. I could see them winning 5-6 games this year, but same as Nebraska, the bet is no longer available.
OSU 11
Ohio State is by far the best team in this conference year in and year out. This year is no different. They are completely stacked, and even though they lost a lot of WR's, they will find a way to reload like they always do. I'm going to save you the time and say that OSU is going undefeated in the regular season. Take the Over!
PSU 8
Penn State is going to struggle this year. They just aren't what they used to be in years past. Last year was a decline, and this year has the ability to be even worse. PSU finished 7-6 last season, and I see that same trajectory this year.
Penn State Schedule and Predictions:
@Purdue (L)
vs. Ohio (W)
@ Auburn (L)
vs. CMU (W)
vs. Northwestern (W)
@ Michigan (L)
vs. Minnesota (L)
vs. Ohio State (L)
@ Indiana (L)
vs. Maryland (W)
@ Rutgers (W)
vs. MSU (L)
5-7 (Under all day)
Purdue 7.5
Purdue is going to be the same story as they are every year. They are going to upset some big highly ranked team, and then lose to Rutgers. Because of that, their win's will be hard to calculate, but just looking at 7.5 really makes me want to shy towards the under.
Purdue Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Penn State (W)
vs. Indiana State (W)
@ Syracuse (L)
vs. Florida Atlantic (W)
@ Minnesota (W)
@ Maryland (L)
vs. Nebraska (L)
@ Wisconsin (L)
vs. Iowa (W)
@ Illinois (W)
vs. Northwestern (L)
@ Indiana (W)
7-5 (I guess the under, but I wouldn't touch this bet)
Rutgers 4
Ahh yes, the team that has no business in the Big Ten. Rutgers, however, is slowly getting better. Are they a 5-win team yet? I don't think so and will for sure not be throwing money on Rutgers to win games this year.
Rutgers Schedule and Predictions:
@ Boston College (L)
vs Wagner (W)
@ Temple (W)
vs. Iowa (L)
@ Ohio State (L)
@ Nebraska (L)
vs. Indiana (L)
@ Minnesota (L)
vs. Michigan (L)
@ Michigan State (L)
vs. Penn State (L)
@ Maryland (L)
2-10 (do I think Rutgers will have more than 2 wins, yes. Will I bet on it, No!
Wisconsin 9
And finally, the Badgers of Madison. I truly believe Wisconsin is going to take the Big Ten West Title this year, which means they will probably go over 9 wins. They are even more physical than they were last year, and they have a potential Heisman Running Back this year in Braelon Allen.
Wisconsin Schedule and Predictions:
vs. Illinois State (W)
vs. Washington State (W)
vs. New Mexico State (W)
@ Ohio State (L)
vs. Illinois (W)
@ Northwestern (W)
@ Michigan State (W)
vs. Purdue (W)
vs. Maryland (W)
@ Iowa (W)
@ Nebraska (W)
vs. Minnesota (W)
11-1 (Dangerous Dangerous team, lean the over!)
Summary:
Illinois u3.5
Indiana o4
Iowa u7.5
Maryland u5.5
Michigan o9.5
Michigan State o7.5
Minnesota u7.5
Nebraska N/A
Northwestern N/A
OSU o11
Penn State u7.5
Purdue u7.5
Rutgers u4
Wisconsin o9