In 2021, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines came away with their first Big Ten title since 2004 and their first under the new conference format. Will Michigan repeat in 2022? Or will Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes reclaim their position at the top? Find Big Ten odds and conference analysis for the 2022 college football season below. You can find previews for every Big Ten team, power rankings, players to watch for, and much more.
Big Ten odds 2022
To bet on a team future, click the odds in the table below.
2022 Big Ten Power Rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes ()
- Michigan Wolverines ()
- Penn State Nittany Lions ()
- Illinois Fighting Illini ()
- Iowa Hawkeyes ()
- Wisconsin Badgers ()
- Maryland Terrapins ()
- Minnesota Golden Gophers ()
- Purdue Boilermakers ()
- Michigan State Spartans ()
- Indiana Hoosiers ()
- Nebraska Cornhuskers ()
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights ()
- Northwestern Wildcats ()
Players To Note
Offense
CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Stroud is the Heisman favorite after being named a finalist in 2021. He threw for over 4,400 yards and 44 touchdowns in his first season starting for the Buckeyes. A dangerous receiving corps will almost certainly make Stroud one of the most productive players in the nation again this season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: Despite sharing the field with two first-round NFL receivers a year ago, JSN was the leading pass catcher in receptions and yards for Ohio State. Those who didn’t know of him before do now after he erupted for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the Rose Bowl. He is one of the top non-QBs listed for the Heisman and a frontrunner for the Biletnikoff Award.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan: Freakishly athletic and equipped with NFL-level ball carrier vision, Corum found the end zone 12 times as a sophomore in Ann Arbor last year. Injury inhibited a 1,000-yard season for him, but Corum will be one of the most effective and dual-threat backs in not just the Big Ten, but the nation.
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin: As a true freshmen, Allen rushed for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns at 6.8 yards per carry. He stands 6′ 2″ and 240 pounds, but possesses the speed necessary to break long runs. Think Derrick Henry on Wisconsin.
Defense
Riley Moss, CB, Iowa: Moss is the top defensive back and potentially the top defensive player in the Big Ten. He spearheaded a lethal Iowa defense that led the nation in interceptions a year ago. Moss will get tested this year with matchups against receivers like Ohio State’s JSN and Michigan’s Roman Wilson.
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State: As a true freshman, Burke handled all of the Buckeyes’ most difficult assignments. He’s the first DB reminiscent of the Silver Bullets units from the mid-2010s and is an All-American candidate for 2022.
Ji’Ayir Brown, SAF, Penn State: A preseason All-American per Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Brown tied the FBS lead for interceptions a year ago (six). Penn State has fielded some terrific safeties in the past few seasons and Brown is the next in line.
Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan: Smith is the next up in a long line of recently-great Michigan defensive linemen. He’s projected to be a high-round NFL Draft pick and will be the focal point of the Wolverines’ defensive front this season.
Best Big Ten betting sites
Big Ten results 2021
| East | Conference Record | West | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 8-1 | Iowa | 7-2 |
| Ohio State | 8-1 | Minnesota | 6-3 |
| Michigan State | 7-2 | Wisconsin | 6-3 |
| Penn State | 4-5 | Purdue | 6-3 |
| Maryland | 3-6 | Illinois | 4-5 |
| Rutgers | 2-7 | Nebraska | 1-8 |
| Indiana | 0-9 | Northwestern | 1-8 |
Past Conference Champions
| Year | Winner | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Michigan* | 13-0 |
| 2021 | Michigan* | 12-2 |
| 2020 | Ohio State* | 7-1 |
| 2019 | Ohio State* | 13-1 |
| 2018 | Ohio State | 13-1 |
| 2017 | Ohio State | 12-2 |
| 2016 | Penn State | 11-3 |
| 2015 | Michigan State* | 12-2 |
| 2014 | Ohio State^ | 14-1 |
| 2013 | Michigan State | 13-1 |
| 2012 | Wisconsin | 8-6 |
| 2011 | Wisconsin | 11-3 |
| 2010 | Michigan State/Wisconsin | 11-2/11-2 |
*College Football Playoff selection
^National Champion
How to bet on conference winners
Our top advice we always give at TheLines is to shop around before diving headlong into the first bet you see. Different outlets offer different odds and a minute or two of your time could result in some more money coming your way. Just because FanDuel Sportsbook offers Iowa to win the Big Ten (+700) doesn’t mean DraftKings Sportsbook won’t offer the same prop at +900. We’ll compile all the odds for you so you always get the best price.
Sites like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars offer ample ways to bet on college football conference winners– odds that will change drastically as the season progresses.
When betting on conference futures, be sure to keep in mind factors that are specific to college football. Important areas of consideration include:
- Schedule (out of conference, home/away splits)
- Coaching prowess
- Returning production
- Star quarterbacks
- Experience and cohesiveness on the offensive line
Be sure to know which factors matter more than others. For example, a heavy focus is put on recruiting classes. However, the most recent class likely won’t take the field for another year or two and won’t factor into team success this season. Also, is this a coaching staff that develops its talent well? Staffs like Wisconsin are extremely good at developing talent whereas teams like Texas consistently underperform despite signing top recruiting classes.
Stay up to date with TheLines’ coverage of college football this season and follow us on Twitter for more Big Ten betting content.