NCAAB Big Ten Betting: Michigan Current Favorite to Win Championship

Things will get going on Jan. 2 when five Big Ten games are played including a matchup between ranked Illinois and Oregon teams.

No. 9 Oregon, No. 15 UCLA, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 20 Purdue and No. 22 Illinois are all in the top 25 in the latest Associated Press poll. Maryland and Michigan are among the teams knocking on the door.

3 Teams to Keep and Eye on to Win the 2024-25 Big Ten Championship

1. Michigan (+410)

With national player of the year Zach Edey headed to the NBA, it was clear that Purdue would look a little different and that more teams could be in the running for the Big Ten title.

When the arrivals of UCLA and Oregon are factored in, those who bet online could be in for quite the treat.

Six teams had shorter Big Ten championship odds than Michigan when the season began. A win at Wisconsin and a home victory against Iowa changed all of that as the Wolverines went from +1000 to +410 NCAAB odds to win the conference.

UCLA, fresh off a win over Gonzaga, is at +425 in the odds of winning the Big Ten as the Bruins are 2-0 against ranked teams.

Let’s roll back those 𝐔𝐂𝐋𝐀 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 from Saturday’s victory.

✅ UCLA 65, Gonzaga 62

📺: FOX#GoBruins 🎞️📽️ pic.twitter.com/VbBbUxi0Ia

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) December 29, 2024

Michigan State is a perennial title contender in the Big Ten and it is more of the same this season.

The Spartans had no trouble with either Minnesota or Nebraska in their first two conference games and are at +550 in the Big Ten odds. Things could get more challenging beginning on Friday when the Spartans go on the road to face Ohio State.

Bet Michigan (+410) to Win the Big Ten title

2. Maryland (+650)

When it comes to Big Ten title contenders, Maryland tends to fly under the radar. Perhaps that will change this season.

Even with a loss to Purdue, the Terrapins have seen their odds of winning the Big Ten go from +2000 to +650 since the season got underway.

With two of the first three games in 2025 coming against Oregon and UCLA, it shouldn’t take long to figure out where Derik Queen and the Terrapins sit in the Big Ten pecking order. Maryland is worth considering for your NCAA basketball betting picks.

Bet Maryland (+650) to Win the Big Ten title

3. Purdue (+700)

Purdue is coming off an appearance in the national championship game and were a darling for early college basketball predictions, but there is some work left to be done for that to happen again.

The Boilermakers dropped their Big Ten opener at Penn State and had to rally from a five-point halftime deficit against Maryland to avoid starting 0-2 in conference play.

Braden Smith led the way for No. 8 Purdue in their win over Maryland 👏

24 PTS | 10 AST pic.twitter.com/fow5YCiTKp

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 8, 2024

The Boilermakers are 2-3 against ranked teams with an impressive win over Alabama the highlight. It was a different story when facing fellow SEC power Auburn.

The sports betting odds had Purdue as the front-runner at +400 to win the Big Ten before the season. Those odds are now at +700.

Illinois is also at +700 in the Big Ten odds with the Fighting Illini dropping an overtime affair to Northwestern before beating Wisconsin.There is a bit of a gap before Oregon comes in at +1000 followed by Ohio State and Penn State at +2000 in the Big Ten title odds.

Bet Purdue (+700) to Win the Big Ten title

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