Big Ten teams were only a combined 22-22 ATS outside the conference, last season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
OHIO STATE (11-2 SU, 7-5 ATS, 19 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 81-20
ATS: 55-44-1
HF: 30-21-1
HD: 1-1
AF: 17-13
AD: 3-4
Sportsbook Buster: Since Coach Tressel's arrival in Columbus, the Buckeyes are 28-17-1 as a home favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: The home team in the Penn State series has covered nine of the last 10 meetings.
PENN STATE (9-4 SU, 6-7 ATS, 18 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 55-42
ATS: 48-47-1
HF: 22-16-1
HD: 8-6
AF: 7-10
AD: 9-12
Sportsbook Buster: The Nittany Lions have covered six of their last home games with Temple.
Sports Betting Angle: Penn State is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games versus Purdue.
WISCONSIN (9-4 SU, 4-8 ATS, 17 RS, 48 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 69-34
ATS: 50-8-1
HF: 19-22-1
HD: 6-4
AF: 11-11
AD: 9-8
Sportsbook Buster: The Badgers are 1-10 as a double-digit road sports betting favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Wisconsin is 5-0-1 ATS the last six times visiting Michigan.
MICHIGAN (9-4 SU, 6-5-1 ATS, 10 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 73-27
ATS: 49-47-3
HF: 26-23-1
HD: 1-2
AF: 12-15-2
AD: 7-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Wolverines are 14-21 ATS versus non-conference opponents the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Michigan has covered seven of its last eight games at Minnesota.
IOWA (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS, 13 RS, 52 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 60-39
ATS: 56-39-2
HF: 24-12
HD: 8-4-1
AF: 4-11
AD: 14-10-1
Sportsbook Buster: At 56-39-2, the Hawkeyes have the best pointspread record in the Big Ten over the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Iowa has covered just once in its past 10 games versus state rival Iowa State.
ILLINOIS (9-4 SU, 7-5 ATS, 13 RS, 44 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 37-57
ATS: 40-50
HF: 10-14
HD: 12-10
AF: 6-5
AD: 12-16
Sportsbook Buster: The Illini are a surprising 11-5 ATS in Big Ten play the last two years.
Sports Betting Angle: Illinois has covered six of its last seven games against Ohio State.
MICHIGAN STATE (7-6 SU, 8-4-1 ATS, 13 RS, 37 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 45-51
ATS: 40-53-3
HF: 13-23
HD: 6-8-3
AF: 4-10
AD: 15-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Spartans are just 17-33 as a sports betting favorite the past eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Michigan State is 9-2-1 ATS the last 12 years versus traditional rival Notre Dame.
PURDUE (8-5 SU, 6-6 ATS, 12 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 58-42
ATS: 46-47-4
HF: 23-18-1
HD: 4-3
AF: 10-11-2
AD: 6-10-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Boilermakers have covered seven of their last eight against the Wildcats at Northwestern.
Sports Betting Angle: Purdue has covered four consecutive home games against Minnesota.
NORTHWESTERN (6-6 SU, 4-7 ATS, 15 RS, 47 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 44-52
ATS: 47-45-2
HF: 6-14
HD: 16-10
AF: 7-3
AD: 16-16-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are only 6-14 as a home favorite the past eight seasons, including 0-4 last year.
Sports Betting Angle: Northwestern has covered five in a row at Duke.
MINNESOTA (1-11 SU, 4-7 ATS, 15 RS, 42 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 49-49
ATS: 45-48
HF: 18-13
HD: 6-9
AF: 11-16
AD: 7-17
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Gophers are just 18-33 ATS on the road the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Minnesota has covered six straight games at home against Indiana.
INDIANA (7-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 13 RS, 50 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 32-61
ATS: 34-53-1
HF: 11-5
HD: 10-18
AF: 0-3-1
AD: 12-26
Sportsbook Buster: The Hoosiers are an atrocious 22-44 as sports betting underdogs since the 2000 season but 11-5 as a home favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Indiana is a surprising 10-1 ATS in its first conference road game of the year.
Legend:
SU = Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF = Home Favorite
HD = Home Underdog
AF = Away Favorite
AD = Away Underdog
This is the second installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting: Analyzing the Big XII
