East Division

Indiana Hoosiers

• National Championship Odds: +30000
• Big Ten Odds: +15000
• Win Total: 4.5 (+115 / -135)

The Hoosiers find themselves in a curious spot. After finishing with a 6-2 record in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Indiana fell all the way to 2-10 in 2021.

Now, IU's 2022 regular-season win total at FanDuel sits at 4.5, juiced to the under. 

Tom Allen's crew owns a TARP (Transferring Assets & Returning Production) under 50% on both sides of the ball and will transition to a new quarterback in Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak.

After ranking outside the top 100 in Success Rate on both sides of the ball, things are looking bleak in Bloomington.

Maryland Terrapins

• National Championship Odds: +30000
• Big Ten Odds: +15000
• Win Total: 5.5 (-115 / -105)

While Maryland may not be anyone's pick to win the Big Ten in 2022, the Terrapins are on the cusp of bowl eligibility once again after compiling a 7-6 record and crushing Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl, 54-10, last season. 

The Terps are set up for success this season, returning 78% of the offense and 64% of the defense from last year, per TARP. 

If Maryland's run game can get on the level of its passing attack — led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa — it will be in solid position to play another postseason game. 

Action Network's win total projections for the Terrapins are right in line with the market at 5.5.

Michigan Wolverines

• National Championship Odds: +6000
• Big Ten Odds: +650
• Win Total: 9.5 (-110 / -110)

Michigan finally broke through in 2022, as Jim Harbaugh finally toppled Ohio State, won a Big Ten title and booked an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines own the second-shortest odds to win the conference this season, trailing only their rivals from Columbus.

Despite losing two of its top players in defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, the Maize and Blue are set up for success again this season. Michigan enters this season ranked ninth in Collin Wilson's betting power ratings and has a win total of 9.5 at FanDuel.

The Wolverines proved to be a cash cow for bettors in 2021, leading the country by covering 79% of their games.

Michigan State Spartans

• National Championship Odds: +12000
• Big Ten Odds: +2800
• Win Total: 7.5 (-110 / -110)

Michigan looks to be a team trending up in the Big Ten after 2021. Kenneth Walker III led one of the most explosive rushing attacks in college football last season, and head coach Mel Tucker earned a $95 million contract to keep him in East Lansing for another 10 years.

However, the Spartans have to find a way to replace Walker, who won the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards in 2021. Luckily for Michigan State, its offense will feature running back Jarek Broussard, a transfer who ran for 1,556 yards in two seasons at Colorado.

The Spartans could also be a stellar bend-don't-break unit this season, returning 78% of a defense that ranked 19th in Defensive Finishing Drives last year.

Action Network and SP+ both have Michigan State projected for over eight wins — clearing FanDuel's win total of 7.5.

Ohio State Buckeyes

• National Championship Odds: +450
• Big Ten Odds: -250
• Win Total: 10.5 (-220 / +180)

Ohio State enters the season as one of the best teams in the country. In fact, the Buckeyes were the first team our Collin Wilson bet to win the 2023 National Championship. OSU opened at +800 to win the national title but has since been bet down to +500.

The Buckeyes also top Wilson's 2022 College Football Betting Power Ratings.

All of the love is well-deserved, as Ohio State ranked first in Offensive Success Rate and now returns 75% of that same unit. The Buckeyes will be led by Heisman candidate CJ Stroud at quarterback and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at wide receiver. Smith-Njigba hauled in 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns last season, while Stroud finished the year as a Heisman finalist.

Ohio State also returns running back TreVeyon Henderson, who recorded 19 scores from scrimmage to go along with 34 explosive runs. 

While the defense was OSU's only problem last season, the Buckeyes are set to take a step forward on that side of the ball, as they return 80% of their defensive production.

Penn State Nittany Lions

• National Championship Odds: +10000
• Big Ten Odds: +1600
• Win Total: 8.5 (+110 / -130)

Penn State may not be the "blue blood" it's used to being this season, but it should be another solid year for the Nittany Lions. 

PSU made its money on the defensive side of the ball last season, ranking fourth in Explosiveness and Points Per Opportunity. Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher returns to anchor a unit that returns just 39%, as safety Jaquan Brisker and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, among others, departed for the NFL.

The Nittany Lions will also be without punter Jordan Stout, a fourth-round draft pick who helped Penn State to a ranking of 15th in average starting field position on defense.

Penn State must improve on offense. With wide receiver Jahan Dotson gone, the Nittany Lions need a new electric playmaker to step up for quarterback Sean Clifford. The receiver tandem of Parker Washington and Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley should help in that area.

With a win total of 8.5 that's juiced slightly to the under, Penn State has the fourth-shortest odds to win the Big Ten in 2022.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• National Championship Odds: +75000
• Big Ten Odds: +30000
• Win Total: 4.5 (+140 / -165)

After recording six wins from 2018-20, Rutgers came through with five in 2021 and earned a spot in the Gator Bowl when Texas A&M was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues and injuries.

While the Scarlet Knights posted ranks outside the top 100 in Offensive Success Rate, Explosiveness and Points Per Opportunity last season, the defense finished 28th in Success Rate and 40th in Points Per Opportunity. The offense could take a step forward, though, as it returns 76% to go along with 64% on defense.

The betting market expects a bit of negative regression for the Scarlet Knights, as their win total sits at 4.5, juiced to the under. Action Network projects Rutgers to win just over four games, while SP+ projections sit just over 3.5. 

West Division

Illinois Fighting Illini

• National Championship Odds: +100000
• Big Ten Odds: +20000
• Win Total: 4.5 (-140 / +120)

Bret Bielema's squad started 2021 with a bang, beating Nebraska, 30-28, in Week 0. Things slowly but surely went downhill as the Fighting Illini finished the season 5-7 with a 4-5 mark in Big Ten play. However, the highlight was undoubtedly a nine-overtime win over then-No. 7 Penn State.

Bielema's plans on offense were not a secret, as Illinois ranked 25th nationally in rush rate. The Illini were a middling team when it came to the ground game, ranking 68th in Rushing Success Rate — still higher than their Passing Success Rate that sat 124th.

Syracuse Tommy DeVito will likely receive the starting nod at quarterback. He'll be looked at to lead the offense alongside running back Chase Brown, who rushed for 1,005 yards and five scores last season. 

The Illini will need all they can get from returning players on both sides of the ball, as they bring back under 60% on both offense and defense.

Iowa Hawkeyes

• National Championship Odds: +10000
• Big Ten Odds: +2500
• Win Total: 7.5 (+140 / -165)

Iowa is coming off of a 10-win season that included a Big Ten Championship appearance and an AP Poll ranking as high as No. 2 in October.

Those successes can mainly be attributed to the Hawkeyes' defense and special team units. The Iowa defense ranked top-20 in both Success Rate and Explosiveness while leading the nation with 25 interceptions — four more than any other team in the country.

In the special teams realm, punter Tory Taylor proved to be one of the nation's best, and returner Charlie Jones earned Big Ten Returner of the Year honors before transferring to Purdue in the offseason.

However, Iowa's offense was abysmal. The unit ranked 118th in Success Rate, 102nd in Explosiveness and 121st in Points Per Opportunity. Both quarterbacks who took snaps — Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla — return but need to take major steps forward after combining for 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 

Despite the offense's ineptitude, Iowa could make a case for another Big Ten West title because of its defense. The Hawkeyes return Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Riley Moss and a linebacker corps that includes second-team All-American Jack Campbell. The defense should also feature one of the deepest defensive lines Iowa has had in recent years.

With a win total of 7.5, the Hawkeyes have the sixth-shortest odds to win the conference at +2500.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

• National Championship Odds: +25000
• Big Ten Odds: +3000
• Win Total: 7.5 (-115 / -105)

Minnesota has been on an absolute roller coaster for the last three years. The Golden Gophers finished 11-2 in 2019, 3-4 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and 9-4 in 2021. 

Kirk Ciarrocca served as offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019 before leaving for Penn State. After a year with the Nittany Lions and another as an offensive analyst with West Virginia, he's back in Minneapolis.

That bodes well for quarterback Tanner Morgan, who posted the best stats of his career in 2019. The Gophers finished last season ranked 70th in Offensive Success Rate but could take a step forward with Ciarrocca — and 71% of the offense — back in the fold.

The defense posted top-20 numbers in Success Rate and Explosiveness but returns just 35% of the unit.

With a win total of 7.5, the Golden Gophers own odds of +3000 to win the Big Ten.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

• National Championship Odds: +20000
• Big Ten Odds: +2200
• Win Total: 7.5 (-130 / +110)

Many called Nebraska the best 3-9 team of all time after last season after Pythagorean expectation and second-order win totals pegged the Cornhuskers to be a much better team than their record indicated. Now, they could be on the right path.

Scott Frost's squad returns 78% of an offense that finished 36th in Success Rate and 72% of a defense that also ended the season top-60 in Success Rate. 

The Huskers lost quarterback Adrian Martinez to Kansas State in the transfer portal but bring in Florida State transfer Chubba Purdy and Texas transfer Casey Thompson.

Nebraska owns the second-best odds to win the Big Ten West at +300. If the Huskers don't meet expectations, however, Frost could be out of a job with his alma mater looking for anything that will get the program back to where it was in his playing days.

Northwestern Wildcats

• National Championship Odds: +50000
• Big Ten Odds: +30000
• Win Total: 4.5 (+105 / -130)

Northwestern earned a Big Ten Championship berth in 2018 and 2020. Things have not been as bright and cheery since, as the Wildcats finished 3-9 in 2021.

With a win total set at 4.5 and juiced to the under, oddsmakers aren't expecting much of an improvement this season. That makes sense considering the Wildcats finished outside the top 100 in Success Rate, Finishing Drives and Havoc on both sides of the ball and don't return more than 70% on either side.

Luckily for the Cats, they bring back running back Evan Hull, who rushed for just over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Without much production in the passing game or on defense, though, there may not be much to get excited about in Evanston.

Purdue Boilermakers

• National Championship Odds: +25000
• Big Ten Odds: +2800
• Win Total: 7.5 (+115 / -135)

Purdue posted its first winning season since 2017 last year, finishing with a 9-4 record and a win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

The Boilermakers' strength was their offense behind quarterback Aidan O'Connell and wide receiver David Bell, who ranked second in the conference with 93 receptions and 1,286 yards. The unit finished the season top-40 in both Success Rate and Finishing Drives. 

While Bell has taken his talents to the NFL, Purdue brings in two playmaking threats from Iowa via the transfer portal in Tyrone Tracy and Charlie Jones.

Purdue's defense struggled to keep teams out of the end zone when they passed the 40-yard line, but it ranked 44th in Success Rate. Now returning 59% of that unit, head coach Jeff Brohm will hope his defense can match the production of his offense.

Wisconsin Badgers

• National Championship Odds: +7000
• Big Ten Odds: +1100
• Win Total: 8.5 (-140 / +120)

Wisconsin enters the season as the prohibitive favorite to win the Big Ten West (+170). 

The Badgers were led by their defense last season, as the unit ranked second in Success Rate, first in Finishing Drives and first in Havoc. However, the defense returns just 52%, per TARP. John Torchio and Justin Clark lead the secondary after combining for four interceptions last season, but the departures of Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn from the linebacker corps won't help.

On offense, Wisconsin will go as far as Braelon Allen takes it. Allen finished third in the Big Ten with 1,268 yards rushing despite not working his way heavily into the mix until Oct. 9.

With Graham Mertz returning at quarterback, Wisconsin will look to build on its Offensive Success Rate ranking of 43rd.

Previous Big Ten Champions

*Odds via Sports Odds History

Year	Team	Preseason Odds
2021	Michigan	+2500
2020	Ohio State	-225
2019	Ohio State	+220
2018	Ohio State	+120
2017	Ohio State	-140
2016	Penn State	+6000
2015	Michigan State	+800
2014	Ohio State	+300
2013	Michigan State	+700
2012	Wisconsin	+175
2011	Wisconsin	+260