Of all the conferences up for grabs in college football this season, the Big 10 is shaping up as the most interesting.
Ohio State is the early favorite, but there’s plenty of room for argument as to who should really occupy that spot.
Oddsmakers are unsure too, pegging four teams in the conferences with odds better than +1000.
So what team offers the best value to win the Big 10 conference?
Penn State has the talent
Penn State is really talented. That’s why I’m not as concerned as some with the defense having to replace nine starters from last year’s unit.
James Franklin has been a machine on the recruiting trail, which should help fill some of those spots. And offensively, the Nittany Lions should be one of the better units in the country with four starters returning on the offensive line and Trace McSorley leading the way at the quarterback position.
The Big 10 East division is a difficult place to play, but Penn State has enough talent to match up with Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State is the favorite based on perceived talent, but I like my chances with Penn State.
Penn State offers the better value at +450, compared to Ohio State’s +150 odds, so book the Nittany Lions.
Any sleepers?
We’ll look to the East again with Michigan State. The Spartans bring back one of the most experienced teams in the nation with 19 starters returning from a team that bounced back in a big way in 2017.
The Spartans are comfortable playing with the big dogs in the conference, and I actually see the Spartans as more talented than Michigan.
There’s no reason why Michigan State should have worse odds than the Wolverines, especially with a veteran-laden offensive line and a defense that is returning nine starters. The Spartans have to travel to Penn State, but get Michigan and Ohio State at home.
Michigan State is going off at +1000, so it offers one of the better sleeper picks in the country.
