By Kenny Burgess Contributor
Updated 8/16/23 1:36am ET
Wisconsin Badgers (+750 conference title odds)
While multiple conferences face constant realignment, Wisconsin football has undergone a complete makeover that will make them unrecognizable to the untrained eye but a +130 Big Ten West betting favorite to the experts.
Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell takes over a program that experienced solid success under Paul Chryst, who was fired after a 2-3 start last season, despite a 67-26 overall record in seven-plus seasons.
Offensive coordinator Phil Longo will pull the strings on a pass-heavy attack led by SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who tossed 72 touchdowns in two seasons as the Mustangs starter. Long gone are the run-heavy days that produced the school’s lone Heisman Trophy winner in Ron Dayne in 1999, which was also its last Rose Bowl win.
However, the Badgers have won bowl games in eight of the past nine seasons, including a 13-1 finish in 2017. But success is clearly being redefined, as the school turns to a former Ohio State standout to lead the charge and adjust to modern football.
Iowa Hawkeyes (+1200 conference title odds)
Posting betting odds in the same section as Iowa football feels a bit awkward, given the reports that surfaced this summer. The authorities will sort out what appears to be absent game-fixing and other egregious acts. Nonetheless, rules were seemingly broken.
As for legal betting action, low-scoring games dominated the chatter last season as the Hawkeyes cashed the under in nine of 13 games. The Hawkeyes averaged just 17.7 points, which ranked in the bottom ten in FBS. They beat an FCS school by the score of 7-3 and lost to Illinois, 9-6, in a game that did not feature a single touchdown.
Perhaps offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz has found the solution with former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara transferring to Iowa City. Not many points are needed, given the defense returns most starters and adds highly-regarded recruits and transfers.
Illinois Fighting Illini (+3000 conference title odds)
Bret Bielema has Illinois headed in the right direction but the question is whether there is a ceiling to his impact. The Illini delivered the school’s first winning season since 2011 but this is a program that has not won a marquee bowl since 1989. Naturally, they are 30-to-1 conference longshots (+3000).
On offense, Illinois brought in Luke Altmyer from Ole Miss to be the new starting quarterback. The line returns three starters but will greatly miss running back Chase Brown, who is off to the NFL. Illinois will have a new coordinator on defense, but all signs point to keeping the same scheme, given Illinois led the nation in scoring defense in 2022.
Optimism is high in Champaign following an 8-5 season. However, Bielema brought Arkansas to that same record in his third season before the wins subsided.
Remaining Teams Odds To Win The Big Ten:
University of Minnesota (2022 Record: 9-4): +4000
University of Nebraska (2022 Record: 4-8): +6000
Purdue University (2022 Record: 8-6): +10000
Northwestern University (2022 Record: 1-11): +30000
*All Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Photo credit: Shutterstock
