The Ohio State Buckeyes are 36-3 straight up and 21-18 against the spread over their last 39 games. The Buckeyes will try to earn a third trip to the College Football Playoff in four years with another strong performance in the Big Ten this year.
Big Ten championship odds 2017: Who’s next after Ohio State?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the betting favorites at the sportsbooks over Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State to win the Big Ten championship this season.
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is a -120 favorite on the Big Ten Championship odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Despite dominating their conference in recent years, the Buckeyes have only one Big Ten title in the last seven years, winning that championship back in 2014.
JT Barrett’s decision to return for his senior season under center gives the Buckeyes, second on the national title odds behind Alabama, an excellent shot at getting back to the top of the Big Ten.
The Penn State Nittany Lions had a legitimate gripe about getting left out of the College Football Playoff last season. In addition to defeating Ohio State head to head, the Nittany Lions (+550 to win the Big Ten) won the conference title and finished the regular season on a 9-0 SU and 8-0-1 ATS run.
Quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley form one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation and should keep Penn State in the title race again in 2017.
Big Ten Championship Betting Odds
Ohio State -120
Wisconsin +375
Michigan +550
Penn State +550
Northwestern +1600
Nebraska +2500
Iowa +2500
Minnesota +3300
Michigan State +3300
Indiana +10000
Maryland +10000
Illinois +20000
Purdue +20000
Rutgers +30000
Boasting one of the best defenses in the nation and a 9-0 SU and 5-4 ATS record, the Michigan Wolverines (+550) appeared to be on their way to a playoff spot last season. Instead, they lost three of their final four games, settling for a disappointing 10-3 SU and 6-7 record.
The defense will once again be elite, but it will be up to the offense to find more consistency if the Wolverines hope to take the next step and beat Ohio State.
While Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan all have to battle it out in the Big Ten East, the Wisconsin Badgers (+375) have a much easier path to the Big Ten Championship Game in the Big Ten West. Wisconsin enjoyed an impressive 11-3 SU and 9-3-2 ATS campaign last year, with all three of its losses coming to those top dogs in the Big Ten, each by only a touchdown.
The Badgers avoid Penn State and Ohio State on the regular season schedule this year and get Michigan at home.
Dark horse contenders to win the Big Ten include Northwestern (+1600), Nebraska (+2500), Iowa (+2500), Minnesota (+3300), and Michigan State (+3300).
