Big Ten Championship Odds 2023: Can Anyone Stop Michigan & Ohio State?

Big Ten country isn’t just one of America’s favorite spots for college football. It’s also one of the hottest spots for college football betting.

I’ve got plenty of analysis up on the blog right now for all the major college football futures markets, but Big Ten fans will likely want to take an additional stab at who’s going to win one of the premiere conferences in college football.

It all revolves around a simple question: Can anyone stop the Michigan/Ohio State duopoly?

Big Ten Championship Odds

Michigan Big Ten Championship Odds

Michigan is currently +180 to win the Big Ten championship at BetMGM.

The Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten championships and are seeking their first conference three-peat since 1947-49.

Ohio State Big Ten Championship Odds

Ohio State is currently +180 to win the Big Ten championship at BetMGM. 

Michigan vs. Ohio State

The equal odds between Michigan and Ohio State imply that the market sees the championship as a coin toss between the two most prominent football programs in the Big Ten. Additionally, the dual +180 numbers imply a 71.4% chance that either Michigan or Ohio State will win the conference.

Personally, I think it would be a pretty big shock if someone other than those two schools won the Big Ten, so the +180 numbers might be a little light. If you have a preference for either program, this might be a good year to buy a Big Ten championship ticket.

Penn State Big Ten Championship Odds

Penn State is currently +550 to win the Big Ten championship at BetMGM.

If anyone can get in the way of Michigan or Ohio State, it’s likely the Nittany Lions. James Franklin is a good coach; PSU has playmakers at virtually every level of the team; Drew Allar is a potential Heisman contender. 

The Big Ten won’t ditch divisions until next year, which means Penn State still needs to win the East in order to notch a spot in the championship game. The biggest challenges there will likely be road games at Michigan State and Ohio State.

Big Ten Football Underdogs: Longshots for the Championship

Statistically, the most likely underdog in the Big Ten championship market comes from the West, as it’s much more likely for an inferior team to score one upset in the championship game than it is for a team like Maryland or Indiana to outlast Michigan/Ohio State/Penn State in the division standings.

Wisconsin, the 2023 favorite to win the West, shapes the market out west at +550. The Badgers likely aren’t as good as Penn State this season, but they have equal odds precisely because of the single-game upset theory.

If you like someone else, like Minnesota (+3000) or Illinois (+5000), the payout is certainly lucrative. 

Depending on how fast you think Matt Rhule can turn the Cornhuskers around, Nebraska (+6000) might be the most interesting longshot on the board. 

Big Ten Championship Game History