There is not much time left in the college football regular season. In the Big Ten, two teams have jumped out as major College Football Playoff contenders, but the rest of the pack has proven to be competitive. Moreover, a lot of teams are still alive for some strong finishes. Looking at the best Big Ten bets for this weekend, there will be some key conference races and some teams looking to add to their already impressive resume.
Wisconsin-Iowa Prediction and Odds
Hawkeyes Still Alive in the West
The Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten West) travel to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten West) on Saturday. After all of the chaos in the Big Ten, both of these teams are still in contention for a West division title as just one game separates five teams in what will be a very tight finish. Both teams in this contest are coming off of a confident win last weekend, so this is going to be an even matchup between programs who love to play a similar style.
Iowa got off to one of the worst offensive starts in the history of major college football but in the past couple of weeks, it looks like it has turned the corner a little bit. Without a doubt, the improvement of Spencer Petras over the past two games has been a major reason the Hawkeyes have gotten their season back on track and can get excited about a race to get to Indianapolis.
Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz has opened up the playbook a little bit more and the Hawkeyes have been more dynamic in the run game as well as finding success with play action. With the offense still needing more consistency, the defense has continued to be elite. The Hawkeyes sit seventh in the FBS in opponent yards per game and have been a nightmare for opposing offenses forcing 1.9 turnovers per game, which is 22nd in the FBS. Wisconsin is a team that loves to run the football with running back Braelon Allen, who is one of the better ball carriers in the country. If Iowa wants a chance against a physical Wisconsin team, it is going to need to shut down the run game and create short fields for their offense.
Iowa is a 1.5-point home underdog, and back the Hawkeyes to cover and get the win as they look to continue their much-improved play. Though Wisconsin has won two straight, it has not seen a defense like Iowa’s in weeks and will struggle to move the ball. As good as Allen is, the Badgers have not used him nearly as much as they should and they will be in serious trouble if they are forced to pass often. With Iowa continuing to be one of the best scoring defenses in the country, a Wisconsin team total of under 18.5 points is another solid bet for this huge Big Ten contest.
Best Big Ten Bet: Wisconsin-Iowa Pick: Iowa +1.5 (-110), Wisconsin Team Total UNDER 18.5 Points (-125)
Nebraska-Michigan Prediction and Odds
Wolverines Keep Pace
The Michigan Wolverines (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten East) are right in the thick of it for the College Football Playoff as they were No. 3 in the most recent rankings. This weekend they are home as the Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten West) come to town, and while Nebraska’s season has not been what it’s wanted, it has an opportunity to play spoiler.
Michigan has proven to be the elite of the elite, but at times its offense has been in question. Although the Wolverines are undefeated, there have been times when they should’ve been able to put up some more points against inferior competition. They also have played one of the worst non-conference schedules in the FBS, so it is still up for debate if they can handle a big-time pressure situation.
Either way, this team has won every game by more than one score and is hungry to get back to the playoff. This is a team with the second-best scoring defense in the country, and has been one of the best forcing turnovers, which create major shifts in momentum. Nebraska ranks 125th in interceptions thrown, and this could get out of hand if the Cornhuskers don’t take care of the football.
The Wolverines are 30.5-point favorites at home. With a total at 48.5 points, take the over, as Nebraska has proven to be one of the worst defenses in the country and ranks 95th in the FBS in scoring defense. Along with the game total, the team total for the Wolverines is a good bet against this lackluster Huskers defense, with over 38.5 points a solid play as the Wolverines will look to start putting up style points as they try to pad their resume.
Best Big Ten Bet: Nebraska-Michigan Prediction: Game Total OVER 48 Points (-110), Michigan Team Total OVER 38.5 Points (-120)
Penn State-Maryland Prediction and Odds
Nittany Lions Keep Rolling
The Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten East) have solidified themselves as the third best Big Ten team this season and take on the Maryland Terrapins (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten East). Penn State comes in as a 10-point favorite, which is a good bet for this weekend.
Penn State is 6-3 against the spread, and in its last three Big Ten wins, the Nittany Lions have won by 10 points or more. While Maryland comes in with a winning record, they have faced one Top 25 team and have seen negative regression from their offense. Penn State has been criticized for not being able to get that signature win, but they still have an opportunity for a 10-win season.
Best Big Ten Bet: Penn State-Maryland Pick: Penn State -10 (-105)
