Odds to win 2012 Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten will open its second season as the Leaders and Legends in 2012 and most pundits are expecting the pecking order in the 12 team conference to closely resemble last year’s hierarchy. Odds to win 2012 Big Ten Conference have last season’s champion, Wisconsin, listed as a +175 moneyline favorite to retain its title. Michigan, which is listed as a +12.5 NCAAF Point Spreads underdog in its season opener against Alabama, is a co-favorite to win the league, also drawing +175 odds. Nebraska and Michigan State are second picks to top the legendary conference with each school garnering 4/1 or +400 odds. Traditional powers Penn State and Ohio State are not eligible to participate in the conference championship game.

The Favorites -

Wisconsin Badgers (+175): The Badgers finished with double digit wins for a third consecutive season last year after topping Michigan State 42-39 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin went on to lose its second consecutive Rose Bowl, though, falling 38-45 to Oregon. Wisconsin lost a lot in the off-season with 11 starters, including quarterback Russell Wilson, moving on, but plenty of experience (41 lettermen) returns to Madison. Head Coach Bret Bielema also added another high quality transfer quarterback in Danny O’Brien. O’Brien, who played his first two years at Maryland, will not be mistaken for Wilson, but he should give the Badgers a solid presence under center.

Michigan Wolverines (+175): The Wolverines bring back 13 starters and 50 lettermen from last year’s surprise 11 game winning squad. Many believe the returning talent, which includes Heisman Trophy candidate Denard Robinson, coupled with the head coaching prowess of Brady Hoke puts Michigan in the Big Ten driver’s seat for 2012. The Wolverines, who finished a game back of Legends winner Michigan State last season, will have to leap frog the Spartans and keep Nebraska at bay in the division race, but they appear capable, at least on paper, of doing both those things.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (+400): Nebraska’s inaugural Big Ten season was a success with the school registering nine wins; however, Huskers fans were not totally pleased with the third place finish (5-3 league record) in the Legends Division. Not surprisingly, the fan base expected more from the program. Expectations are high again this season with Nebraska returning 14 starters and 56 lettermen. For the Cornhuskers to fulfill their promise, though, junior quarterback Taylor Martinez will need to take the next step as a passer. Martinez is a tremendous talent, but he completed just over 56 percent of his passes last season and nearly threw as many interceptions (8) as touchdowns (13).

Michigan State Spartans (+400): The Spartans won the Legends last season with a 7-1 conference record, earning them a spot in the Big Ten title game opposite Wisconsin, but few outside of East Lansing are expecting a repeat performance in 2012. The loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins and the top four receivers from last year’s squad has many believing the Wolverines and Cornhuskers have surpassed Michigan State from a talent standpoint. The Spartans should not be dismissed, though. Head Coach Mark Dantonio returns eight starters from a defense that allowed just 18.4 points per game a season ago, giving the team another opportunity to reach double digit wins.

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Odds to win 2012 Big Ten Conference: Provided by TopBet.eu

Wisconsin Badgers +175
Michigan Wolverines +175
Nebraska Cornhuskers +400
Michigan State Spartans +400
Iowa Hawkeyes +1500
Illinois Fighting Illini +2200
Purdue Boilermakers +2500
Northwestern Wildcats +3000
Indiana Hoosiers +5000
Minnesota Golden Gophers +12500
Penn State Nittany Lions NA
Ohio State Buckeyes NA