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2019 Big Ten Conference Championship Odds: Ohio State Listed as Favorite, Michigan Given 5-2 Odds

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in College Football

Updated Mar 30, 2020 · 2:35 PM PDT

Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye
Will Brutus Buckeye be celebrating another Big Ten title for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in 2019? Photo by Michelle Eberhart (Wikimedia Commons) [CC License].
  • Sportsbooks list two-time defending champs Ohio State as the +110 chalk to win the 2019 Big Ten Football title
  • Michigan (+250) is the second betting choice
  • The Wolverines haven’t won a Big Ten football title since 2004

There are no L’s in Ohio State, which is how Buckeyes fans like to view the Buckeyes football program.

When it comes to Big Ten titles, the Buckeyes almost never lose. They’ve won two in a row and three of the last five championships.

When it comes to Big Ten games, the Buckeyes almost never lose. Ohio State went a combined 16-2 in the winning back-to-back conference titles the past two seasons. The Buckeyes were 8-0 when they captured the 2014 Big Ten crown.

A coaching change from Urban Meyer to Ryan Day hasn’t swayed the sportsbooks that Ohio State’s winning ways will be impacted. Oddsmakers still list the Buckeyes as +110 favorites to win a third successive Big Ten crown.

2019 Big Ten Football Championship Odds

School 2019 Big Ten Football Championship Odds
Ohio State +110
Michigan +250
Penn State +700
Michigan State +1000
Nebraska +1600
Wisconsin +1600
Northwestern +2000
Iowa +2200
Purdue +2500
Maryland +3300
Minnesota +6600
Indiana +8000
Illinois +10000
Rutgers +10000

*Odds taken on 06/08/19.

Ohio State won four straight Big Ten titles from 2005-08.

Will Change Buck Ohio State Trend?

A change on the sidelines has historically brought a mixed back of outcomes for the Buckeyes.

When Earle Bruce replaced the legendary Woody Hayes in 1979, he led Ohio State to a Big Ten title. John Cooper was a dismal seventh taking over for Bruce in 1988. His 4-6-1 mark was the first losing season within the conference for the Buckeyes since 1966.

Jim Tressel was a third-place finisher in 2001, and Luke Fickel finished fourth in 2011. Day’s predecessor Meyer brought a first-place finish in his inaugural season at the helm of the Buckeyes.

Day isn’t exactly inheriting a bare cupboard. Georgia transfer Justin Fields replaces Dwayne Haskins at quarterback. Ohio State is deep at receiver. J.K. Dobbins is an A-list running back.

On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes should be improved from the squad that finished 93rd in the nation in team defense in 2018.

Will Wolverines Be Jim Dandy?

Ever since his arrival as head coach at Michigan in 2015, the faithful have waited for Jim Harbaugh to deliver on the promise.

After the mishaps of Brady Hoke, former Michigan QB and San Franscisco 49ers head coach Harbaugh was supposed to bring the Wolverines back to prominence on the national stage.

It hasn’t happened yet. But this could finally be the year.

Harbaugh has handed the keys to his offense to offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. He’ll call the plays. At his disposal are QB Shea Patterson and perhaps the best corps of receivers in the Big Ten.

Defensive coordinator Don Brown always seems to have another studd just waiting for a chance. He’ll find a way to replace Devin Bush and Rashan Gary and keep Michigan’s no. 2 defense among the best in the country.

Watch Out For These Teams

Penn State returns six starters on defense. That should help coach James Franklin buy time for his offense while the Nittany Lions replace QB Trace McSorley. Sophomores Ricky Slade and Journey Brown will do their best Saquon Barkley imitations in the backfield.

Michigan State has won three Big Ten titles since 2010. Coach Mark Dantonio always seems to get every ounce out of his players. The Spartans will send out one of the best defenses in the conference. It will all come down to the health of QB Brian Lewerke as to how far along Sparty can go.

West Division A Tough Call

While the power of the Big Ten again looks to be in the East, the West Division could prove a real crap shoot. Northwestern (8-1) took the title last fall. The Wildcats have a stellar defense. Will QB Hunter Johnson, a Clemson transfer, improve an offense that scored just 24.2 points per game?

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On talent, Iowa might be the best team in the division, but Kirk Ferentz’s team goes on the road to face Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Wisconsin faces tough crossover games against Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.

That leaves Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were just 3-6 last season. Nebraska doesn’t play Michigan or Michigan State and gets Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa at home in Lincoln.

The Huskers look like a good West Division sleeper pick.

It All Comes Down To November 30

This season, Michigan gets Ohio State at home in Ann Arbor to close out the regular season on November 30. Will it matter? The Buckeyes have won seven in a row from the Wolverines and six of the last seven at Michigan Stadium.

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Harbaugh has lost four in a row to Ohio State, including last season’s 62-39 debacle. But something feels different this year.

Amidst all the changes to Big Ten football, the Wolverines may finally be ready to howl.

Pick: Michigan (+250)

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