College Basketball Odds to Win Big Ten Title

Michigan or Michigan State has either won or co-shared the Big 10 regular-season title each of the last four years. It was Juwan Howard’s Wolverines that turned the trick a season ago before getting ousted in the Elite Eight by the scorching white-hot UCLA Bruins. Though each still mathematically has a shot to win the regular-season Big Ten title, the folks at SugarHouse Sportsbook foresee it being quite the stretch when going by their current odds to pull off the feat. The B1G is considered to be a two-horse race between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Purdue Boilermakers with the latter holding the lone tiebreaker after decidedly taking down Kofi Cockburn and his mates 84-68 as 5.5-point home chalk back on February 8. Brad Underwood’s kids currently own a half-game lead atop the standings, but that’s only because it’s played one fewer game than the Boilers. That could change come the end of the regular season, and I think it will. That being said, there are some other teams currently offering up some attractive pay-offs should the current front runners stumble towards the finish line. Along with Purdue, here’s a look at my underdog and longshot selections to win the Big Ten’s regular-season championship.

Big 10 Title Odds at SugarHouse Sportsbook

Purdue +120

Illinois +120

Wisconsin +400

Ohio State +3300

Michigan State +5000

Rutgers +15000

Michigan +50000

Iowa +100000

Indiana +100000

Northwestern OTB

Penn State OTB

Minnesota OTB

Maryland OTB

Nebraska OTB

Favorite to Bet: Purdue Boilermakers +120

The B1G no longer has a team ranked within the top-10 of the Pomeroy Ratings after the Boilermakers got thumped by the maize and blue in Ann Arbor and followed it up with an escape of the Maryland Terrapins as decided 17-point home favorites this past week. Because of it, Matt Painter’s troops clock in as the No. 11 ranked team in the country. I’m here to tell you that’s simply inconceivable! This team not only has the ingredients to run away with the conference’s regular-season title over the next two and a half weeks but also possesses the wherewithal to make a deep run in the Dance. While the defense (No. 182) and free throw shooting leave a bit to be desired (No. 203) when attacking the national championship odds, the offense more than makes up for it. It’s scoring nearly 83 points per game (No. 6) and ranks third in both field goal and 3-point shooting percentage. No offense in the country is more efficient. On top of that, it ranks amongst the top-25 in both offensive and defensive rebounding! That right there is a near-complete package with Jaden Ivey (23 PPG), Zach Edey (14.5 PPG), Trevion Williams (12.3 PPG), and Sasha Stefanovic (11.8 PPG) representing the collective cherry on top of a delicious sundae. The remaining schedule goes as such: @Northwestern, Rutgers, @MSU, @Wisconsin, Indiana. There are landmines mixed in for sure, but it certainly looks less hellacious than what the Illini will have to deal with over that same stretch. If it plays its cards right, Purdue will win at least a share of the B1G regular season title for the second time in the last four seasons.

Underdog to Bet: Ohio State Buckeyes +3300

The Buckeyes have been a tough nut to crack. Largely because of early-season underproduction, but also due to an unforeseen COVID pause. That being said, Chris Holtmann’s kids look to be putting it all together at the absolute best time of the season. Ohio State enters Tuesday night’s home tilt against Minnesota winners in five of its last seven games both SU and against the closing college basketball betting odds. It bounced back nicely from giving a game away to the Scarlet Knights in the closing minutes by going into Ann Arbor and dominating the Wolverines right from the opening tip this past weekend. E.J. Liddell is averaging over 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He is arguably one of the best bigs in the country, and one of the main reasons why the Buckeyes sport the 28^th best 2-point offense per the Torvik Ratings. It also knows how to handle its business from beyond the arc (No. 26). Defensively, the Buckeyes are above average (No. 105), but not lockdown in your face great. Regardless, six of its final eight games will be played in the comforts of Value City Arena where it stands 10-0 SU and 6-4 ATS. Should it go into Champagne and hand Illinois a rare home defeat later this month, the scarlet and grey will be live!

Longshot to Bet: Rutgers Scarlet Knights +15000

I personally think Sparty is vastly overrated this season. I also don’t think Michigan has enough in the tank with so many pertinent pieces absent from last year’s tough-nosed team. Wake me when Iowa wins a big game against an opponent with a pulse. Sorry, but taking the wood to Maryland and Nebraska hardly gets my pulse racing! With that, my B1G dart throw will be represented by Ron Harper Jr. and the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Its “MO” in recent seasons has been to dominate in the RAC and struggle whenever on the road. While that same viewpoint still holds true this season with it 12-2 SU as a host and 3-7 SU on the road, that dominant win in Madison over the Wisconsin Badgers certainly caught my attention. Steve Pikiell institutes a fantastic brand of defensive basketball. If it can hold its ground against what looks to be a nightmarish remaining schedule with all the top dogs to be played, you can bet your bottom dollar this 150-1 pay-off at regulated US sportsbooks will shorten up quickly. Should that be the case, you’ll have excellent hedging opportunities or a big fat payday to ride outcome the first week of March.