Big Ten Conference Betting Odds: Ohio State Heavy Favorite in 2022, HarBaugh Still Looking for Love

Heisman Trophy favorite C.J. Stroud Leads a Loaded Ohio State Team

Michigan finally broke through against rival Ohio State, beating the Buckeyes for the first time since 2011. That was followed by a dominating 42-3 win over Iowa in the Big Ten title game. That was enough to send the Wolverines into the College Football Playoffs before falling to eventual national champion Georgia.

As impressive as Michigan’s 2021 season was, it was not enough to make the Wolverines the preseason favorite in the Big Ten Conference.

Ohio State starts the season as the favorite in the Big Ten Conference betting odds and the Buckeyes currently have the second best odds to win the national title.

The 2022 college football season’s Week 1 schedule kicks off with Nebraska and Northwestern meeting in Dublin. Penn State facing Purdue and Ohio State playing host to Notre Dame are other top games in the opening week.

With the start of the 2022 college football season fast approaching, Pointspreads continues the conference previews with a look at the Big Ten.

Ohio State Buckeyes (-150 to win the conference title)

Not only does Ohio State return quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is the current Heisman Trophy favorite, but it could be argued that the Buckeyes have the best receiver in college football in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and one of the top running backs (TreVeyon Henderson).

Ohio State had two receivers (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave) taken in the top half of the first round in the NFL Draft so it will be worth watching to see who steps up at that position.

Seven of the top eight tacklers from 2021 were either freshmen or sophomores as the defense is in great shape as well.

Cornerback Tanner McCallister joins the Buckeyes after playing the last four seasons at Oklahoma State.

Michigan Wolverines (+650 to win the conference title)

Michigan lost many of its defensive stars to the NFL including the pass rushing tandem of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo as well as safety Daxton Hill. The offense might look to throw a little more in 2022 with quarterback Cade McNamara and most of his top receivers returning.

Cornelius Johnson, who led the Wolverines with 39 catches and 620 yards a season ago, figures to top those numbers in 2022.

Linebacker Junior Colson (61 tackles) is the top returning tackler.

The Big Ten Conference betting odds for Michigan to repeat as Big Ten championship betting odds moved from +950 to +650 since early June.

The defense is adding lineman Cam Goode from UCF while former Virginia offensive lineman Victor Oluwatimi is another key transfer.

Wisconsin Badgers (+1000 to win the conference title)

Running back Braelon Allen enters the season as a Heisman candidate after he burst onto the scene as a true freshman. It would help him if the passing game can improve after finishing 13th in the Big Ten in passing yards per game and passing attempts.

The defense was the best in the country a season ago, but there are some key departures that include leading tackler Leo Chenal. The secondary will feature plenty of transfers with the addition of Kamo’i Latu from Utah, Jay Shaw from UCLA, Justin Clark from Toledo, and Cedrick Dort from Kentucky.

Penn State Nittany Lions (+1400 to win the conference title)

Penn State had one of the top defenses in the Big Ten a season ago. Eight of the top 12 tacklers were seniors so there are some holes to fill.

Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (74 tackles, six interceptions, five pass breakups), linebacker Curtis Jacobs (61 tackles, six tackles for loss) and cornerback Joey Porter (51 tackles, four pass breakups) are the top returning players on defense.

Receiver Mitchell Tinsley, who had 87 catches for 1402 yards a season ago at Western Kentucky, joins linebacker Demeioun Robinson (Maryland) and offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad (Cornell) as some new faces.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (+2000 to win the conference title)

The Nebraska defense will have a different look thanks to an influx of Power 5 transfers so it is hard to know what to expect on that side of the ball. Perhaps that is why the Big Ten Conference betting odds for the Cornhuskers have moved from +1200 to +2000.

Safety Kaine Williams and defensive lineman Stephon Wynn come in from Alabama, Texas Tech defensive lineman Devin Drew, Texas Tech defensive end Ochaun Mathis from TCU, Arizona State defensive back Tommi Hill and Northern Iowa cornerback Omar Brown join a rebuilt defense.

On offense, quarterback Casey Thompson and receiver Marcus Washington transferred from Texas, receiver Trey Palmer comes in from LSU while Kevin Williams (Northern Colorado) and Hunter Anthony (Oklahoma State) were added to the offensive line.

Nebraska did lose quarterback Adrian Martinez to Kansas State and he was the team’s leading passer and rusher in 2021.

The spread on college football games shows Nebraska as a 13-point favorite against Northwestern.

Iowa Hawkeyes (+2000 to win the conference title)

With all the focus on the East Division battle between national title contenders Michigan and Ohio State, Iowa’s run to the West Division title flew a little under the radar.

Iowa had some issues on offense. Quarterback Spencer Petras had one touchdown pass and seven interceptions over his last six games.

The best player on offense figures to be tight end Sam LaPorta, who led the Hawkeyes with 53 catches and 670 receiving yards.

Linebackers Jack Campbell and Seth Benson are back after combining for 248 tackles a season ago. Joe Evans and Lukas Van Ness tied for the team lead with seven sacks.

Purdue Boilermakers (+2800 to win the conference title)

The odds to win the conference title have moved from +2200 to +2800 in the last couple of months for a Purdue team that saw star defensive end George Karlaftis and leading receiver David Bell head to the NFL.

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell is back for a sixth season after finally becoming the unquestioned star. Tight end Payne Durham is back after having 45 catches a season ago.

Marvin Grant, Purdue’s second-leading tackler, has transferred to Kansas.

Michigan State Spartans (+2500 to win the conference title)

Could Michigan State turn more to the passing game after losing leading rusher Kenneth Walker to the NFL?
Quarterback Payton Thorne and leading receiver Jayden Reed both return and that is a pretty good foundation for a top passing offense.

Eight freshmen and sophomores had at least 18 tackles a season ago while the Spartans added UNLV’s leading tackler Jacoby Windmon (119 tackles, 6.5 sacks in 2021), linebacker Khris Bogle from Florida, linebacker Aaron Brule (53 tackles, three sacks) from Mississippi State and defensive back Ameer Speed from Georgia.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (+3000 to win the conference title)

There are more questions than answers on offense with running back Mohamed Ibrahim being limited to one game a season ago and quarterback Tanner Morgan looking to return to his 2019 form when he completed 66% of his passes for more than 3,000 yards with 30 TD throws.

The Golden Gophers did help their offensive line by landing Quinn Carroll from Notre Dame and Chuck Filiaga from Michigan. They will team with center John Michael Schmitz.

Eight of the top nine tacklers on the 2021 were seniors so there are questions on both sides of the ball.

Illinois Fighting Illini (+20000 to win the conference title)

The odds to win the Big Ten title have gone from +10000 to +20000 since early June.

The Fighting Illini welcome former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito who threw for nearly 2,400 yards in 2019 but moved down the depth chart in the next two seasons. Receiver Jonah Morris comes in from Northern Colorado while former Furman tackle Dylan Davis should help the Illinois offensive line.

Defensive linemen Raashaan Wilkins and Te-Rah Edwards come in from Vanderbilt and Northwestern.

Maryland Terrapins (+20000 to win the conference title)

The odds to win the Big Ten title have moved from +10000 to +20000 in the last couple of months and that likely has to do with issues on defense.

Taulia Tagovailoa completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns and his top target Rakim Jarrett is also back. Florida’s top receiver Jacob Copeland (41 catches for 642 yards) has transferred to Maryland.

Jakorian Bennett (three interceptions, 13 pass breakups) is a player to watch on defense.

Indiana Hoosiers (+20000 to win the conference title)

Transfer Connor Bazelak had some turnover issues in his two seasons at Missouri but he also threw for nearly 5,000 yards in those two seasons. He’ll replace Michael Penix who is now at Washington.

The senior-laden defense will need to be rebuilt. The secondary will be led by Devon Matthews (54 tackles) and Tiawan Mullen.

Northwestern Wildcats (+20000 to win the conference title)

Evan Hull returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards. The passing attack, led by Ryan Hilinski, needs to be better after averaging 177 yards a season ago.

The Wildcats added defensive end Ryan Johnson from Stanford and linebacker Wendell Davis from Pittsburgh.

Peter Skoronski could be one of the conference’s best offensive linemen.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+20000 to win the conference title)

Noah Vedral had his moments during the 2021 season, but 16 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in two seasons as the Rutgers starting quarterback is not good enough.

Rutgers added offensive linemen Mike Ciaffoni (Colorado State), Willie Tyer (Louisiana-Monroe), Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota) and J.D. DiRenzo (Sacred Heart). Rutgers also added Sean Ryan, who was fourth in receiving yards for West Virginia in 2021, and former Syracuse receiver Taj Harris.

Five freshmen had at least 20 tackles a season ago so if they make a jump as sophomores, that could help Rutgers move up in the Big Ten standings.