Michigan is experiencing quite the meteoric rise in the minds of oddsmakers.

Two years removed from the Brady Hoke debacle, the Wolverines are tied with Ohio State as having the best chances of winning the Big 10. Head coach Jim Harbaugh helps matters, along with a bevy of returners from a 10-win team a year ago.

But Ohio State is still there with plenty of talent (albeit less than in the previous two years) and Michigan State has made enough of a name for itself each year to not be completely shut out of the discussion. Those three teams, all in the East, have the three-best odds to win the Big 10, with the Spartans trailing the Buckeyes and Wolverines by a large margin.

The West, meanwhile, should be a mediocre dogfight like usual, with Iowa and Nebraska leading the way at +900. The Hawkeyes were a hot topic last season, going undefeated in the conference before coming within inches of getting blown out by 100 to Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

The West should be up in the air this year, with plenty of question marks for several teams, while the East is all about the top-three.

Minnesota must achieve bowl eligibility to satisfy the over. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1K6E90d/Jimmy Emerson
Minnesota must achieve bowl eligibility to satisfy the over. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1K6E90d/Jimmy Emerson

Best Sleeper

Minnesota +4000

OK, do I really believe the Golden Gophers could win the entire Big 10? No. But could they win the West, which doesn’t feature a team that I’m particularly nervous about? You bet.

The Golden Gophers will be good on defense and I believe they can be better on offense. A veteran quarterback and talented running backs and wide receivers, should open up the possibility of scoring more points, allowing the defense an opportunity to take more chances.

Those chances could turn into more turnovers and put Minnesota in a better chance to win more consistently. I’m getting great value with the Golden Gophers and if they can replicate the success of Iowa from last year, which is basically the same team year in and year out, much like Minnesota, they could at least show up to the Big 10 title game.

And then who knows? Maybe the players from the East representative get food poisoning, forcing them to play walk-ons.

In all seriousness, though, Minnesota’s schedule sets up nicely. The toughest games are likely road games against Penn State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. There’s no Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State on the schedule. Win one or maybe two of those road games and the Golden Gophers could compete for a divisional crown.

Most Overrated

Michigan State +700

I might eat crow on this one later in the season, but I just don’t see why the Spartans are ranked in the preseason top-15 by several outlets and own the third-best odds to win the Big 10 championship.

Kudos to Mark Dantonio for making the Michigan State name synonymous with winning, allowing a team that has to replace several starters on both ends of the ball the benefit of the doubt. Five years ago, Michigan State didn’t generate this much respect.

And maybe I’m wrong and the Spartans won’t rebuild, but reload, much like the consistently top programs in Division I. But a star quarterback, wide receiver and offensive lineman missing from the offense, along with six starters on the defense, has me concerned.

The schedule is doable with home games against Ohio State and Michigan. However, the the Spartans’ recent success has them wearing a target on their back, especially against the aforementioned Buckeyes and Wolverines. Mix in road games against Penn State and a sneaky one at Illinois after the Michigan game, and Michigan State’s play on the field won’t match the hype.

Big 10 odds

Ohio State +175

Michigan +175

Michigan State +700

Iowa +900

Nebraska +900

Wisconsin +1400

Penn State +1800

Northwestern +3300

Minnesota +4000

Indiana +5000

Illinois +5000

Maryland +5000

Purdue +10,000

Rutgers +10,000

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