By: Travis Pulver
Different Prop Bets on the NCAAF National Championship Odds: Big Ten vs. the Field
Anyone that put money down on the college football national championship is looking to do one thing—win money. Yes, it is nice to have bragging rights with your friends because you backed the champ, but money is a lot nicer.
That is why we don’t mind putting money down on teams like Penn State, even though their odds are a little on the high side at +4000. The Nittany Lions are one of the better teams in the country, and should things go right for them, they could win it all.
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Should they do so, the payout is going to be rather nice at those odds. However, should they not finish the season on top, then you lose. If only there were a way to put money down while also increasing your chances of winning…
Instead of betting on one team, why not bet on a conference like the Big Ten? That way, if any team wins, you win. Now you will not win as much as if you bet just on Ohio State or Penn State, and they won, but you don’t lose.
In the end, winning a little is better than losing anything. But does the Big ten have a chance?
NCAAF National Championship Odds Pro Bet: Is There More To The Big Ten Than Ohio State?
Ohio State gives the Big Ten one of the top two contenders in the country. So, there is an excellent chance that the national champion will come from the Big Ten. But the oddsmakers at BetMGM.com are not too confident:
- Any Big Ten team to win the National Title +270
- Any non-Big Ten team to win the National Title -371
Ohio State will undoubtedly be in the national title conversation this season with the team that the Buckeyes have returning. But for it to be worthwhile to bet on the Big Ten rather than just Ohio State, a few other teams need to have a shot.
The odds for the rest of the conference (minus Rutgers) are as follows:
- Penn State +4000
- Michigan +4000
- Indiana +25000
- Michigan State +20000
- Maryland +50000
- Wisconsin +4000
- Minnesota +15000
- Iowa +8000
- Illinois +50000
- Purdue +40000
- Nebraska +10000
- Northwestern +40000
Some crazy things would have to happen for Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, or Maryland to become contenders. But there is hope for several other Big Ten teams.
Different Ways to Bet on NCAAF National Championship Futures: How Much Fight do the Nittany Lions Have
A case could certainly be made for Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a good core coming back on offense led by quarterback Sean Clifford. The offense as a whole will need to be better and more consistent than it was last year— which is entirely possible.
Where Penn State may have trouble is on defense. They had a phenomenal unit last season, but that unit lost most of its top tacklers. But if whoever James Franklin plugs in can step up, then the Nittany Lions could make some noise.
Michigan will always be on the radar of the national title conversation. But for them to become part of it, they are going to have to find a playmaker at quarterback. Whoever it is will also need the offensive line to be rebuilt after losing four starters.
The Wolverines defense appears to be in good shape, so Michigan will absolutely be tough to beat.
Wisconsin has been in the conversation in recent years, and very well could be again this year. However, for that to happen, they will need to find the next Jonathan Taylor, a few new offensive linemen, and a little more productivity on offense.
With most of last year’s stellar defense coming back, the Badgers can make a run if the offense comes together.
Iowa was a very good team last year losing close games to Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan. The Hawkeyes have a great core coming back. But they will need new starters to step up at a few key positions—like at quarterback.
Minnesota burst on the scene last year with an 11-2 season, including wins over Penn State and Auburn (in the Outback Bowl). With the talent coming back on offense, they could definitely keep that momentum going this year—but only if they can replace a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
Nebraska has been getting some attention as a possible dark horse contender. For that to happen, the offense is going to need to gel and become as productive as fans have expected it to be under Scott Frost. A lot of talent needs to be replaced on defense as well.
Conclusion
Is this a bet you should take? The payout would be less than if you just put your money on the obvious contender, Ohio State. But the last time a Big Ten team won the national championship (Ohio State in 2014), their preseason title odds were +4000—just like Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Why should that matter? Because it is proof that while +4000 odds may look long, those teams should not be ruled out too quickly.
