Illinois
— Last year was Illinois’ first winning season since 2011.
— 6 starters back on offense, 6 on defense
— 55 starts back on offensive line.
— They’ll have a new QB; one candidate started 12 games at Ball State.
— since 2017, Illinois is 7-10 ATS as a home favorite.
— under Bielema, Illinois is 9-4 ATS as an underdog.
— Illinois is 3-2 in last five bowls; they were underdog in 4 of the 5 games.
Indiana
— Hoosiers are 6-18 SU the last two years.
— 5 starters back on offense, 3 on defense
— 97 starts back on OL, lot of those are transfers.
— They also hired a new offensive line coach, from Wisconsin.
— who will new QB be? Could be Tennessee soph transfer Tayven Jackson
— under Allen, Hoosiers are 12-4 ATS as a home favorite.
— under Allen, Indiana is 13-18 ATS on the road.
— Indiana lost its last six bowls; their last win was the 1991 Copper Bowl.
— Hoosiers did cover three of their last four bowls.
Iowa
— Iowa has had 10 straight winning years; they were never in top 25 last year.
— Iowa went 8-5 LY, despite scoring only 17.7 ppg.
— 9 starters back on offense, 7 on defense
— 114 starts back on offensive line
— new QB McNamara started 16 games at Michigan.
— last 10 years, Iowa is 21-6-1 ATS as a road favorite.
— Hawkeyes are 16-7-1 ATS in last 24 road games.
— Iowa won four of its last five bowl games (5-0 ATS)
Maryland
— Terps were 7-6/8-5 the last two seasons, after 6 straight losing years.
— 5 starters back on offense, 6 on defense
— 31 D-I starts back on offensive line; they added a I-AA OL star.
— senior QB Tagovailoa (Tua’s brother) has 28 career starts.
— under Locksley, Maryland is 8-14 ATS on the road.
— in his career, Locksley is 21-32 ATS as an underdog.
— Maryland won its last two bowls, 54-10/16-12.
Michigan
— last two years, Wolverines were 25-3 SU, 17-9-2 ATS
— 8 starters back on offense, 7 on defense— 145 starts back on offensive line.
— junior QB McCarthy has 13 career starts (22 TD passes, 5 INT LY).
— Last two years, Wolverines are 5-2-1 ATS as road favorites.
— Last two years, Michigan was 12-6-2 ATS in conference games.
— Since 2016, Michigan is 5-10 ATS coming off a loss.
— Michigan is 1-4 SU/0-5 ATS in last five bowls, giving up 40.3 ppg in last four
Michigan State
— Spartans were 5-7 LY, after going 11-2 the year before.
— 6 starters back on offense, 7 on defense
— 77 starts back on offensive line
— whoever new QB will be is an inexperienced QB.
— Under Tucker, MSU is 7-5 ATS as a favorite.
— since 2017, Spartans are 7-17 ATS coming off a win.
— since 2017, Spartans are 17-24-2 ATS in Big 14 games.
— Spartans won three of their last four bowls.
Minnesota
— Gophers went 9-4/9-4 the last two seasons.
— 8 starters back on offense, 9 on defense
— 49 starts back on offensive line
— soph QB Kaliakmanis started 5 games last year.
— In his career, Fleck is 34-25-1 ATS as a favorite.
— In his career, Fleck is 20-12-1 ATS as a road underdog.
— last four years, Gophers are 19-10-1 ATS coming off a win.
— Minnesota won its last six bowls, covering four of last five.
Nebraska
— New HC Rhule was HC at Temple/Baylor, Carolina Panthers.
— Last six years, Nebraska is 23-45 SU/30-36-2 ATS.
— 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 120 starts back on offensive line.
— QB Sims started 23 games at Georgia Tech.
— In his college career, Rhule is 31-13 ATS as an underdog.
— In his college career, Rhule is 28-12 ATS on the road.
— Since 2015, Cornhuskers are 12-21-1 ATS as a home favorite.
— Nebraska’s last bowl was in 2016; they’re 2-3 SU in last five bowls.
Northwestern
— Last two years, Northwestern was 4-20 SU/8-16 ATS
— 4 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 27 starts back on offensive line.
— QB’s all got hurt LY; Cincy transfer Bryant started 11 games there.
— since 2018, Wildcats are 4-11-1 ATS as a home favorite.
— Since 2014, Northwestern is 21-11-1 ATS as a road underdog.
— Wildcats are 4-12-2 ATS in last 18 non-conference games.
— Northwestern won its last four bowls, but last one was in 2020.
Ohio State
— Last ten years, Buckeyes are 116-15 SU/68-62-1 ATS.
— 7 starters back on offense, 7 on defense
— 66 starts back on offensive line; had 3 starters drafted last spring.
— whoever the QB is will be inexperienced.
— Last 10 years, Buckeyes are 4-2 ATS as an underdog.
— Under Day, Ohio State is 16-11 ATS as a home favorite.
— Under Day, Ohio State is 7-9 ATS outside the Big 14
— Ohio State split last six bowls, giving up 52-45-42 points in last three.
Penn State
— Last two years, Penn State is +11/+6 in turnovers.
— 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 66 starts back on offensive line.
— soph QB threw 60 passes as the backup LY.
— last two years, Penn State is 7-4-1 ATS as home favorites.
— last four years, Penn State is 9-4 ATS as road favorites.
— since 2015, Nittany Lions are 39-17-3 ATS coming off a win.
— Penn State is 3-2 SU/ATS in its last five bowls.
Purdue
— New HC Walters was DC at Illinois the last two years.
— 6 starters back on offense, 5 on defense
— 92 starts back on offensive line.
— all the QB’s are new; junior QB Card started 5 games at Texas.
— last two years, Purdue was 9-4/8-6 SU
— since 2018, Boilers are 4-13 ATS as a home favorite.
— since 2014, Purdue is 23-8 ATS as a road underdog.
— Purdue is 2-3 SU/ATS in last five bowls, giving up 52.8 ppg.
Rutgers
— since 2015, Rutgers is 25-69 SU/44-50 ATS.
— 6 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 101 starters back on offensive line; new OL coach comes from NFL.
— soph QB started 6 games last year.
— since 2018, Scarlet Knights are 6-1 ATS as a home favorite.
— since 2019, Rutgers is 4-14 ATS as a home underdog.
— in his college career, Schiano is 31-19-1 ATS as a road underdog
— Rutgers is 1-3 in its last four bowls; last bowl win was in 2014.
Wisconsin
— new coach Fickell has a 64-25 SU record as a head coach.
— Wisconsin’s 7-6 record LY was their worst since 2008.
— 10 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 97 starts back on offensive line.
— senior QB started 24 games at SMU.
— last 10 years, Badgers are 23-12 ATS as a road favorite.
— last 10 years, Badgers are 26-14 ATS outside the Big 14.
— In his career, Fickell 14-8 ATS as an underdog.
— Wisconsin won/covered its last three bowls.
