Who will win the Big Ten? Updated odds, predictions, key games for 2024 college football season

A lot has changed in the Big Ten this offseason. Reigning national champion Michigan lost Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, and Oregon, USC, and UCLA joined the conference, which expanded to a whopping 18 teams while divisions went away. Still, familiar favorite Ohio State sits atop the Big Ten title game futures odds board.

The Sporting News will get you reacquainted with the Big Ten, listing DraftKings' projected odds to win and revealing the way-too-early best bets and top picks since conference Media Days.

It's no surprise that Ohio State serves as the oddsmakers' team to beat in 2024-25, as its all-in approach to this coming season has been made quite clear to the rest of the nation. It's hard to imagine a better team from top to bottom in all of college football, never mind the Big Ten.

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That said, conference newcomer Oregon (+215) also has quite the squad, and both Penn State (+500) and Michigan (+600) deserve mention. The Nittany Lions are perennial contenders, while the Wolverines — although victims of heavy offseason turnover — are coming off a national championship and three straight Big Ten titles.

Are you excited yet!? Well, then, let's get to DraftKings ' full futures board for the 2024 odds to win the Big Ten, and unveil our best bet to win this new-look powerhouse conference.

Big Ten Championship Game Winner 2024: Odds

Here's a look at the updated odds to win the Big Ten in 2024. Oddsmakers love Ohio State to return to the throne atop the conference, although it's worth noting that Big Ten newcomer Oregon is also listed at just over 2-to-1 odds.

Big Ten Championship Game Winner 2024: Best bet

Ohio State (+155)
Key games: @ Michigan St., vs. Iowa, vs. Oregon, @ Penn St., vs. Michigan

What's not to love about Ohio State? It has arguably the best defense in the nation, one of the most electric wideouts in the world in Emeka Ogbuka, and newly transferred future NFL safety Caleb Downs (via the portal window from Alabama).

The Buckeyes' offense ain't too bad, either, especially since adding former Kansas State QB Will Howard and former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins. Ryan Day should have a ground-and-pound attack that dominates the Big Ten almost as steadily as Michigan has the past few years.

Big Ten Championship Game Winner 2024: Top value bet

Michigan Wolverines (+600)
Key games: @ Ohio St., vs. Oregon, vs. Texas, vs. USC, @ Washington

When you can bet the reigning national champion and defending three-time conference winner at +600, you have to sprinkle in at least a lotto-ticket wager.

Sure, Michigan lost Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy to the NFL, but the Wolverines also still have one of the most lethal defenses in the country and a supporting cast on offense that can make up for any potential deficiencies under center.

Don't bet the house on this — the only true threat to Ohio State is Oregon — but value is value, and +600 on the Wolverines is value.

SEC Championship Game Winner 2024: Biggest fade

Penn State Nittany Lions (+500)
Key games: @ USC, @ West Virginia, @ Wisconsin, @ Ohio St., vs, UCLA

This conference has become so top-heavy that Penn State almost feels like it has to contend for the title, but that's just because of its name and long-standing tradition as a powerhouse. Between a daunting schedule and heavy turnover thanks to a number of last year's players getting drafted to the NFL, the odds are stacked against PSU more than this futures price suggests.

The Nittany Lions do have a strong defense, but it's not strong enough to win defensive battles with Ohio State and Michigan. And without a bonafide stud at receiver, it's also hard to envision this team outscoring USC and Oregon. It's not that Penn State has no shot at winning the Big Ten — it's that listing it +500 to do so seems way too generous.