TakeOhioState out of the mix and the remaining Big Ten teams are just 32-51-1 as home favorites the last two years, a development college football betting enthusiasts will watch closely this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS)--including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
LEGENDS DIVISION
NEBRASKA (10-4 SU, 6-6-1 ATS, 14 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:94-48
ATS: 68-67-2
HF:30-32-1
HD:6-4
AF:19-16-1
AD:7-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Cornhuskers are just 7-11 as road underdogs the last 11 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Nebraska is 6-1 as a favorite of more than 10 points versus Big Ten opponents.
Bets and Pieces: The Huskers have covered three in a row against MichiganState.
MICHIGANSTATE (11-2 SU, 6-6 ATS, 13 RS, 50 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:71-664
ATS: 56-72-5
HF:20-31-1
HD:7-10-3
AF:10-12-1
AD:17-16
Sportsbook Buster: The Spartans are 27-41-4 ATS at home the past 11 years.
Sports Betting Angle: MichiganState has covered seven consecutive trips to Notre Dame.
Bets and Pieces: The Spartans have covered eight of their last 10 visits to OhioState
IOWA (8-5 SU, 6-5-1 ATS, 10 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:88-50
ATS: 78-52-3
HF:33-19
HD:9-4-2
AF:8-14
AD:20-12-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Hawkeyes are 42-23-2 ATS at home the last 11 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Iowa has covered 10 straight games the week before playing Indiana.
Bets and Pieces: The Hawkeyes have covered five straight games versus MichiganState.
MICHIGAN (7-6 SU, 3-9 ATS, 15 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:88-49
ATS: 59-72-3
HF:30-32-1
HD:4-6
AF:12-20-2
AD:10-9
Sportsbook Buster: The Wolverines are 6-0 as non-conference underdogs of more than four points.
Sports Betting Angle: Since 2000, Michigan is 12-20-2 as a road favorite.
Bets and Pieces: The Wolverines have covered three in a row versus Minnesota.
NORTHWESTERN (7-6 SU, 3-9 ATS, 16 RS, 56 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:68-67
ATS: 63-65-2
HF:8-20
HD:19-15
AF:8-9
AD:24-18-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are only 8-20 as a home favorite the past 11 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Northwestern has covered eight of its last 11 games against Illinois.
Bets and Pieces: The Cats have covered three in a row versus both Michigan and Iowa.
MINNESOTA (3-9 SU, 7-4 ATS, 14 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:65-71
ATS: 63-65
HF:22-19
HD:10-13
AF:13-7
AD:14-21
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Gophers are 13-7 as road favorites last 11 years.
Sports Betting Angle: Since 2000, Minnesota is 7-3 ATS versus Illinois.
Bets and Pieces: The Gophers have covered seven straight visits to Northwestern.
LEADERS DIVISION
WISCONSIN (11-2 SU, 7-5 ATS, 11 RS, 56 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:97-45
ATS: 68-66-1
HF:25-31-1
HD:8-5
AF:16-16
AD:13-10
Sportsbook Buster: The Badgers are 5-0 as non-conference favorites of less than eight points.
Sports Betting Angle: Wisconsin has covered five in a row versus Purdue.
Bets and Pieces: The Badgers have covered four of their last five versus Indiana.
OHIOSTATE (12-1 SU, 10-2-1 ATS, 12 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:114-26
ATS: 80-56-2
HF:43-27-1
HD:2-2
AF:24-17-1
AD:4-5
Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Buckeyes are 14-7 ATS coming of a SU loss.
Sports Betting Angle: OhioState has covered the spread in eight consecutive games against Indiana.
Bets and Pieces: The Buckeyes are 67-44-2 as favorites the last 11 seasons
PENNSTATE (7-6 SU, 5-7 ATS, 15 RS, 42 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:84-52
ATS: 67-64-1
HF:29-26-1
HD:9-7
AF:17-11
AD:9-16
Sportsbook Buster: The Nittany Lions are 7-0 ATS the week before playing Illinois.
Sports Betting Angle: Since 2000, PennState is 17-11 as a road favorite but just 9-16 as a road dog.
Bets and Pieces: The Lions have covered seven of their last nine games versus Purdue.
ILLINOIS (7-6 SU, 8-4 ATS, 13 RS, 42 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:52-79
ATS: 56-68
HF: 14-20
HD:14-13
AF:8-9
AD:20-18
Sportsbook Buster: The Illini are 14-20 as a home favorite the last 11 years.
Sports Betting Angle: Illinois has covered seven of its last 10 games against OhioState.
Bets and Pieces: The Illini have covered four consecutive trips to PennState.
PURDUE (4-8 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 16 RS, 59 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:71-65
ATS: 61-64-6
HF:27-25-1
HD:8-8-1
AF:11-11-2
AD:13-17-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Boilermakers are 6-1 ATS the week before playing Illinois.
Sports Betting Angle: Purdue has covered five of its last seven games against OhioState.
Bets and Pieces: The Boilermakers have covered eight of their last 11 games versus Minnesota.
INDIANA (5-7 SU, 5-6 ATS, 13 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:44-85
ATS: 48-72-1
HF:12-10
HD:16-23
AF:1-3-1
AD:18-35
Sportsbook Buster: The Hoosiers are 34-58 as underdogs since the 2000 season.
Sports Betting Angle: Indiana is a surprising 11-3 ATS in its first conference road game of the year.
Bets and Pieces: The Hoosiers have covered three straight games versus Northwestern.
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 2011: The Big 12
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
