The B1G just got bigger with the addition of four teams: Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, all from the Pac-12. These new teams entering the conference will form new rivalries. Many of them have not played against each other for quite some time. Let’s look at our Big Ten Football Preview for 2024 to help you make a choice.
- Iowa and UCLA haven’t faced each other since the 1986 Rose Bowl. They will compete on November 9th.
- Wisconsin hasn’t played USC in a regular season game since 1966. Their reunion will finally take place on September 28th.
- Penn State hasn’t played UCLA since 1968. They’ll meet on October 5th.
- Michigan has not met USC in the regular season since 1958. They will kick off the Big Ten’s season on September 21st.
Ohio State Buckeyes – 10.5 wins
The Buckeyes have been in Michigan’s shadow, losing to them for the Big Ten championship for three straight seasons. That may change this year. They kept most of their top talent from last year and added key players from the transfer portal. Coach Ryan Day is in his seventh season with Ohio State and hopes this is the year he can not only win the Big Ten championship but also the national title.
Oregon Ducks – 10.5 wins
They lost quarterback Bo Nix, running back Bucky Irving, and wide receiver Troy Franklin to the NFL and moved into a new conference. That could be enough to lower the estimated 10.5 wins, but they brought in quarterback Dillon Gabriel for his sixth season. If Gabriel continues to improve his accuracy, he should be able to match Nix’s stats and light up this offense. Their biggest challenge will be Ohio State.
Penn State Nittany Lions – 9.5 wins
The Lions have won 10 games in the last two seasons and three times in the previous five but have no College Football Playoff appearances in that time. The expectations are high that this team will make the playoffs this year. Their defense is up for the challenge, but the offense, led by quarterback Drew Allar and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, will have to step it up. Their schedule will help since it has no games against Michigan or Oregon.
Michigan Wolverines – 9 wins
They won the national title last season, going undefeated, but now must deal with a drastic loss of talent. Head coach Jim Harbaugh signed as head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s replaced by offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who stepped in for a suspended Harbaugh at the end of last season to go 5-0. Their offense lost quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the NFL, along with running back Blake Corum, six top offense linesmen, and their two best wide receivers. It will be their weakest point this season.
The defense lost its defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, and five defenders to the NFL, but it should still retain one of the top defenses in college football. In all, they had a record number of players drafted to the NFL (13).
Iowa Hawkeyes – 8 wins
The Iowa Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West Division title for the second time in three years. However, eliminating divisions and growing to 18 teams will make competing for the conference title more difficult. Their defense is among the best in the nation, but the offense needs to improve on their 15.4 points per game average to win more than eight games. That may hinge on new offensive coordinator Tim Lester and whether quarterback Cade McNamara is healthy after missing most of last year due to injury.
The remaining teams are projected to have less than eight wins, making it much harder for them to reach the top four. But upsets, injuries, and unforeseen circumstances always move teams around the standings. So offer up the odds to your players and get those futures bets in before the season starts. There are a few teams with 7.5 and 7 wins expected. Can they make the jump? Keep your limits in!
| Team | Predicted Wins |
|---|---|
| USC Trojans | 7.5 |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | 7.5 |
| Washington Huskies | 7 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 7 |
| Maryland Terrapins | 7 |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 6.5 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 5.5 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 5.5 |
| UCLA Bruins | 5.5 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 5.5 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 5 |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 4.5 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 4.5 |
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