2022 Big Ten Title Odds, Picks and Conference Preview – Can Anyone Challenge Ohio State?

• Ohio State is a -215 favorite to win the Big Ten this season
• Michigan claimed the title in 2021, ending a nearly two-decade-long drought for the Wolverines
• Read below for complete odds, plus analysis and bets to target to win the Big Ten in 2022

The Buckeyes have been the dominant program in the Big Ten since 2002, owning at least a share of the conference title 11 of the last 20 seasons. But after bitter rival Michigan beat OSU for the first time since 2011 last season, Jim Harbaugh’s group — not Ryan Day’s — is the reigning champs.

Alas, the Buckeyes are heavy Big Ten favorites in the College football conference title odds for multiple reasons. Day’s team possesses three of the top-20 favorites in the Heisman Trophy odds. Plus, this group is highly motivated to turn the page after embarrassing losses to Oregon and Big Blue.

2022 Big Ten Championship Odds

Odds as of August 10th at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Not only are the Buckeyes expected to win the Big Ten, but they also have short odds in the National Championship odds. Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State are among the conference contenders.

Buckeyes Appear to Be Class of Conference

You would think an 11-win season, thrilling Rose Bowl victory and No. 6 ranking in the final AP poll would be considered a success. But in Columbus, it’s grounds for developing a large chip on a figuratively robust shoulder. With 73% of their roster production returning in 2022 — including Heisman frontrunner CJ Stroud — the Buckeyes’ 2022 Revenge Tour is set to hit road.

Six schools projected to be favored in every regular season game:

Air Force
Alabama*
Georgia
Ohio State*
Oklahoma
Utah

*Crimson Tide & Buckeyes projected to be double-digit favorites in all 12 games

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 3, 2022

OSU features a trio (Stroud, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and RB TreyVeyon Henderson) that could rival Alabama’s 2020 ultra-talented triumvirate of Jones, Smith and Harris. Plus, offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr and Dawand Jones are All-America candidates. Defensively, Day brought in Jim Knowels to tighten things up on what was clearly the team’s weakest link last year. With cover corner Denzel Burke and pass rusher Zach Harrison, the new defensive coordinator has plenty to work with.

Cade Stover says this summer has been Ohio State’s best since he arrived in Columbus, and Ryan Day also likes what he’s seen from the Buckeyes this offseason: https://t.co/8WVRnuDUlz pic.twitter.com/WI6B37Oz66

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 1, 2022

Let’s not forget: this defense wasn’t horrible last season. The run D was 28th in the nation, held Penn State to 33 yards and allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards seven times It just got exposed twice.

Meantime, the offense was the best in college football in total offense and scoring and ranked second in third down conversions. The schedule is tricky — but there’s no reason to bet against the Buckeyes.

Can Wolverines Repeat?

The last time Michigan wore at least part of the conference crown was 2004, when it shared the title with Iowa. Of course, the Wolverines also won the Big Ten outright in 2003. Can the Maize and Blue go back-to-back (sort of) this season?

Harbaugh is back after flirting with the NFL, but he lost both his coordinators and a pair of key pass rushers. And unlike Ohio State, there are questions at quarterback. JJ McCarthy and Cade McNamara will battle in camp for the starting spot.

Jim Harbaugh said Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy's reps in fall camp will be "cut right down the middle."

Compared it to a 10,000-meter race, where they keep going back in forth on who's in first "but they keep getting faster, they keep getting better."

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 8, 2022

Whichever player ends up winning the job, they’ll get to hand the ball off to a superstar-in-the-making in running back Blake Corum. He rushed for 11 touchdowns and 6.6 yards per carry as a sophomore last season behind Hassan Haskins.

Just a friendly reminder that Blake Corum rushed for almost 1,000 yards last year after missing 2 games and splitting a starting role 😬

pic.twitter.com/cbqgPVFzJn

— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) August 9, 2022

On defense, interior lineman Mazi Smith anchors a unit that returns only three starters from last year’s College Football Playoff squad and special teams returns the uber-valuable kicker Jake Moody.

At the end of the day, the Wolverines seem to have too many holes to fill to be there at the end. The schedule is very soft and this group should win 9-to-10 games easily — but it’s hard to see Michigan repeating as conference champs.

Beware the Boilermakers

If there’s one team that could play spoiler this season, it’s Purdue. The Boilermakers own a 4-5 record against the Buckeyes since 2004 (not including a vacated win by OSU in 2010). And get this: the Boilers miss OSU, Michigan and Michigan State in 2022.

Some perspective on Aidan O’Connell’s 28 TD passes in 2021:

🚂 2nd-most in B1G
🚂 Most by Purdue QB since Curtis Painter (29 in 2007)
🚂 19 came in final 5 games#B1Gstats pic.twitter.com/6vBObsqlJj

— Purdue On BTN (@PurdueOnBTN) August 10, 2022

Jeff Brohm’s team returns veteran quarterback Aidan O’Connell and wideout Broc Thompson had a breakout performance against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, racking up 217 yards.

With a favorable schedule, it’s quite possible Purdue could be a darkhorse. But enough to stand in the way of Ohio State in a possible conference championship game? No way.

Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes (-215)