RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesANN ARBOR, MI - APRIL 18: Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) runs with the ball as he looks for a receiver during the Michigan spring football game on April 18, 2026 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Don’t look now, but we are just a handful of weeks away from the start of college football season. For those of us who enjoy betting on sports, now is a great time to take a look at futures and see what Vegas thinks of each team before a single snap has been played.
We thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of our favorite Big Ten futures that are available now. All listed lines are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Please bet responsibly.
Conference Champion: Oregon +260
Vegas sees a very clear top three in the Big Ten pecking order. They have Ohio State at +180, Indiana at +250 and Oregon at +260 to win the Big Ten. After that, there is a monumental drop off before USC at +1,400 and Michigan at +15,00.
I love the Ducks here, as they have a somewhat favorable schedule. Oregon travels to both USC and Ohio State, but gets Michigan at home and avoids Indiana, Penn State and Iowa. Oregon could potentially afford one loss and still win the conference given the schedule some of the other teams have.
To Make the CFP: Iowa +900
Do I think Iowa will be particularly good this season? No. Do I think it could still make the CFP? Yes.
In an era where conferences are laughably large, who you play matters a ton. The Hawkeyes have one non-conference test in Iowa State, but that’s it (they also host Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa). To start Big Ten play, Iowa gets Michigan and Ohio State in back to back weeks. However, after that, the Hawkeyes face (in order) Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois and Nebraska. I have no issues projecting them to get to 10-2 if they can get past Iowa State. A 10-2 Big Ten team likely gets into the CFP.
Win Total: Nebraska Under 6.5 -136
I have a soft spot for the Cornhuskers, who have had a rough go of it since joining the Big Ten. However, they lost their quarterback in Dylan Raiola and have a brutal conference schedule to boot. They could very well be 5-0 to start the season, as they open their schedule with Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, and Maryland. However, in typical Nebraska fashion, I can see the wheels falling off in mid-October. Nebraska’s last seven games are against Indiana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Rutgers, Ohio State and Iowa. It’s hard to find two wins in that bunch to hit the over.
Win Total: Ohio State Under 9.5 +150
On principle.
Win Total: Michigan Over 7.5 -186
There’s no denying the Wolverines play an absolutely brutal schedule in 2026. Between Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State, there is certainly potential for this to go off the rails. However, Michigan was one of the youngest teams in the conference last season and has an adult in the room as the head coach now. This team should be able to get to eight wins at a minimum.
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