Opening 2021 Big Ten Championship Odds – Ohio State Favored to Win 5th Straight Conference Title
- Opening odds have been released for the 2021 Big Ten Conference Championship race
- Ohio State has won four straight Big Ten Championships and are listed as the favorites
- See opening odds for all teams available below as well as some early analysis on the conference
The Ohio State Buckeyes are odds-on favorites in the Conference Championship odds.
Four straight victories and a loaded roster tend to get the attention of the oddsmakers. That said, there is one big question mark and one long-time rival that stands between Ohio State and their drive for five.
Let’s take a dive into the Buckeyes Big Ten title chances and also explore the probability of a championship season from their biggest challenger.
Opening 2021 Big Ten Conference Championship Odds
| Team | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Ohio State | -110 |
| Michigan | +700 |
| Penn State | +700 |
| Iowa | +1100 |
| Wisconsin | +1200 |
| Northwestern | +1400 |
| Indiana | +1600 |
| Minnesota | +2000 |
| Nebraska | +2000 |
| Maryland | +4000 |
| Michigan State | +5000 |
| Purdue | +5000 |
| Illinois | +10000 |
Odds as of April 19th
Ohio State Searching for New Starting QB
Justin Fields is headed to the NFL, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the Buckeyes have questions at the quarterback position.
C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller and Kyle McCord all saw extended looks in last Saturday’s spring game. Stroud was 16 of 22 for 185 yards passing and two touchdowns, while McCord was 12 of 17 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Miller threw the most pass attempts with 30, but finished with only 128 yards through the air and one interception. The battle is expected to continue through the spring and possibly into the summer. The good news is, all three were highly touted recruits and should be capable of leading the charge.
Art.@jaxon_smith1 @kylemccord16 pic.twitter.com/7H5WaylQcX
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 17, 2021
While there are questions at the quarterback position, the wide receiver group may be the best in football.
Pro Football Focus ranked the best returning receivers and the top two both come from the Buckeyes in Senior Chris Olave and Junior Garrett Wilson. They are joined by the top ranked recruit in 2020, Julian Fleming, the top ranked wide receiver recruit in 2021, Emeka Egbuka, and five star sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It’s an embarrassment of riches for whichever of Stroud, Miller or McCord win the job.
Jim Harbaugh Hoping for Big Things In Year 7
Jim Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan enters year seven with some big expectations. He’s the proud owner of a contract extension and many Wolverines fans think it’s about time the results start to show. Harbaugh is 0-5 against Ohio State but that didn’t stop the odds makers from listing Michigan at +700.
Those odds are second best in the conference and could be because of a quarterback that’s likely to begin the year on the bench.
🚨 OUR 2021 SCHEDULE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VxQWrpguUn
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) February 5, 2021
Cade McNamara is the likely starting quarterback but it feels like a matter of time before freshman J.J. McCarthy takes over. McCarthy was the number two pro-style recruit and was ranked number 24 nationally. He’s 6’3 and 190 pounds.
In short, if Harbaugh can’t get elite quarterback play out of this stud it’s just never going to happen in Ann Arbor. McCarthy taking the reigns from McNamara feels like when Trevor Lawrence took the job from Kelly Bryant at Clemson. While McCarthy may not have that ceiling, he is Michigan’s best hope at the position in years.
Bet the Buckeyes Before Odds Move
Michigan may have an improved chance if and when McCarthy takes over at quarterback but there’s still a reason the Buckeyes are such overwhelming favorites. The roster is loaded and Ryan Day has proven to be one of the best coaches in college football.
While Harbaugh has his critics, Day has yet to lose a regular season game on the Buckeyes sideline. The best bet isn’t always in finding a long shot with high upside, sometimes it’s betting the favorite before line movement strips the value away. Bet the Buckeyes and do it sooner rather than later.
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
