– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:06 pm
2018 Big 10 Season Football Preview
Looking for 2018 Big Ten Conference predictions? The Big Ten has some impressive contenders in 2018, though the title is probably still Ohio State’s to lose – even in the wake of the Urban Meyer hijinks.
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This year could feature some drama if Wisconsin can navigate a tough schedule and/or Michigan can take the final leap forward with a talented new quarterback.
2018 Big 10 Conference Odds: Ohio State Buckeyes (+150)
Ohio State is as sure a thing as there is in the Power 5 conferences. Year after year, the Buckeyes share room in the penthouse apartments nationally with just Alabama. They always seem to stay on top.
Sure, Coach Meyer will miss the first three games with the Zach Smith malfeasance, but Buckeyes QB Dwayne Haskins is going to be good and they have a money one-two punch in the backfield with J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber.
Plus, the defensive line has a Bosa brother! Additionally, they have a marvelous D-line besides. Let’s be honest: It’s Ohio State for the Big Ten until we see something otherwise.
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The Buckeyes have to replace J.T. Barrett under center, who started seemingly forever in Columbus. But the Bucks have built depth in the Rust Belt for so long, that there’s always someone next up to make an impact.
Ohio State gets Michigan State and Penn State on the road this year, which is no picnic. They could pick up at least one loss there. But it’s nice to have the uptrending nemesis Michigan Wolverines coming to the Horseshoe.
2018 Big 10 Conference Odds: Wisconsin Badgers (+400)
Wisconsin has a helluva team this season led by a Heisman frontrunner at running back and a pro-caliber offensive line to blast open holes for him.
Last year, Wisconsin suffered its first defeat of the season in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis against Ohio State. The Badgers and those loud fans in Camp Randall Stadium are hoping to exact some revenge.
Badgers’ upperclassman RB Jonathan Taylor is crazy good; he could eclipse 2,000 yards in 2018. He’ll almost certainly have double-digit TDs, the only question is just exactly how many.
The Badgers also have three or four O-lineman that should go in the NFL Draft next season, so it’s an impressive ground attack to say the least.
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The defense returns just three starters, so there could be some regression that the offense will need to compensate for.
The odd time Wisconsin doesn’t run the ball, veteran QB Alex Hornibrook needs to cut down on his turnovers (he threw 15 picks in 2017). So it’s not blemish-free, but Wisconsin’s strengths are massively so and avoiding Michigan State and Ohio State is a big plus.
The Big Ten’s West division still certainly goes through Madison.
2018 Big 10 Conference Odds: Michigan Wolverines (+450)
The Jim Harbaugh Era started out with a bang in Ann Arbor, with consecutive 10-win seasons, but the Wolverines regressed to just 8-5 in 2017. A big step forward is not just possible, but maybe even expected with the demanding boosters at that prestigious football school.
It helps that Harbaugh brings in a gifted passer on a transfer, who is eligible to play right away in Shea Patterson from Ole Miss. Patterson should command the offense with aplomb.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, especially has to be a reliable option for Patterson in the passing game. If the new pivot is really to thrive, the offensive line needs to get better.
THere are no such concerns on the other side of the ball. Michigan has one of the best defenses top to bottom in not just the conference, but the country. Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich are studs on the D-line, and the Maize and Blue also have elite LB units and secondary.
If Patterson can be a smooth operator with the ball in his hand, the Wolverines could truly make a profound leap and validate all the hype and hoopla surrounding Harbaugh the past few years.
2018 Big 10 Conference Odds: Penn State Nittany Lions (+450)
The Nittany Lions have a gauntlet of a schedule, but are coming off an 11-win campaign and have an impressive veteran QB in Trace McSorley who knows how to get the job done.
Still, it’s notable that Penn State not only loses superstar RB Saquon Barkley, who became the second overall pick to the NFL’s New York Giants, but also their offensive co-ordinator, Joe Moorhead.
There are a lot of new faces on defense, as the unit returns just two starters.
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There’s talent because Coach James Franklin has a good rep and they always recruit in Happy Valley (five-star LB Micah Parsons is proof of that) but these younger players will have to assert themselves if Penn State is to have a chance at the conference title.
The Lions do get Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin at home this year, so that’s a nice touch.
2018 Big Ten Conference Odds
- Ohio State +150
- Wisconsin +400
- Michigan +450
- Penn State +600
- Michigan State +1000
- Northwestern +1600
- Purdue +2500
- Iowa +2500
- Nebraska +3300
- Rutgers +3300
- Maryland +3300
- Indiana +3300
- Minnesota +5000
- Illinois +10000
Big Ten Conference: 2018 Prediction
Ohio State Buckeyes (+150), even though Michigan and Wisconsin will surely have something to say about it, it’s still theirs to lose.
What do you think about our Big Ten Conference 2018 Predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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