Part 1 of our Big 10 football preview……..
There are 18 teams in the Big 10, so from here on in, we’ll call it the Big 18
— Ohio State
Last ten years, Buckeyes are 115-15 SU; their last national title was in 2014.
Ohio State has 7 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
Cougars have 103 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Howard was poached from K-State; he has 33 career starts.
Coach Day is 21-12 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Day, Ohio State 24-17-1 ATS in conference games.
Buckeyes are 2-5-2 ATS in last nine games as a road favorite.
Buckeyes are 2-4 SU/ATS in their last six bowl games.
— Oregon
Last three years, Oregon is 32-9 SU, 23-16-2 ATS.
Oregon has 8 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
Ducks have 144 returning starts on the offensive line.
Ducks poached senior QB Gabriel (49 starts at UCF/Oklahoma).
Under Lanning, Oregon is 16-5 ATS as a favorite.
Oregon’s last three games TY are against teams coming off a bye.
Since 2015, Ducks are 18-25 ATS in non-league games.
Oregon is 3-2 SU/2-3 ATS in its last five bowls.
— Penn State
Last two years, Penn State was 11-2/10-3 SU, 18-7-1 ATS.
Nittany Lions have 6 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Penn State has 45 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Allar started 13 games last year.
Under Franklin, Penn State is 51-34-3 ATS as a favorite.
Under Franklin, Penn State is 10-15 ATS as an underdog.
Last two years, Nittany Lions are +27 in turnovers in 26 games.
Penn State is 2-3 SU/ATS in its last five bowl games.
— Word of the Day– Quagmire- Soft, often wet land that shakes or yields under the foot. Also, a difficult or precarious position.
— Michigan
Last three years, Michigan was 40-3 SU/26-14-3 ATS
Wolverines have 2 starters back on offense, 5 on defense, a new head coach.
New defensive coordinator Martindale has a significant NFL resume.
Michigan has 53 returning starts on offensive line (none at Michigan).
Senior QB Tuttle once started five games at Indiana.
Michigan was +19 in turnovers LY, in its 15-0 season.
Since 2016, Wolverines are 5-10 ATS coming off a loss.
Last three years, Michigan was 19-8-3 ATS in conference games.
Michigan is 2-4 SU/ATS in last six bowls; they won national title LY.
— Iowa
Last nine years, Iowa is 81-34 SU (42-30-2 ATS since 2018).
Hawkeyes have 10 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Hawkeyes have 154 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB McNamara has 21 career starts.
Iowa’s new OC was head coach at Western Michigan (2017-22).
Hawkeyes scored 15 or fewer points in six of last seven games LY.
In his career, Ferentz is 31-22-1ATS as a road favorite.
Since 2015, Iowa is 44-30-2 ATS coming off a win.
Hawkeyes are 2-2 SU/3-1 ATS in their last four bowl games.
— USC
Last three years, Trojans went 3-9/11-3/8-5 SU (16-23 ATS).
USC has 5 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
Trojans have 72 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Moss won only start 42-28 (bowl game); they also poached UNLV’s QB (11 starts).
In his career, Riley is 25-18 ATS as home favorite, 8-17-1 as road favorite.
Since 2017, Trojans are 15-22 ATS as a home favorite (7-5 under Riley).
In his career, Riley is 5-2 ATS as an underdog.
USC is 2-3 SU/1-4 ATS in its last five bowl games.
— Famous birthdays, August 4th:
Cleon Jones, 82
John Riggins, 75
Billy Bob Thornton, 69
Michael Holton, 63
Roger Clemens,, 62
BJ Surhoff, 60
Abigail Spencer, 43
Meghan Markle, 43
Brady Singer, 28
— Nebraska
Nebraska hasn’t had a winning season since 2016.
Cornhuskers have 9 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Nebraska has 152 returning starts on OL, mostly from transfers.
Looks like freshman QB Raiola will be the starter.
Since 2017, Nebraska is 9-18 ATS as a home favorite.
In his college career, Rhule is 33-17 ATS as an underdog.
Last five years, Cornhuskers are 5-12-1 ATS coming off a win.
Nebraska is 2-3 in its last five bowls (last one was 2016).
— Rutgers
Last year was Rutgers’ first winning season (7-6) since 2014.
Scarlet Knights have 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Scarlet Knights have 123 returning starts on offensive line.
Soph QB Kaliakmanis started 12 games at Minnesota.
Since 2018, Rutgers is 10-2 ATS as a home favorite.
In his college career, Schiano is 33-21-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Since 2015, Scarlet Knights are 28-39 ATS coming off a loss.
Rutgers is 2-3 SU/3-2 ATS in its last five bowls.
— Wisconsin
Last two years, Wisconsin was 7-6/7-6, their worst years since 2008.
Badgers have 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Badgers have 102 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Van Dyke started 25 games at Miami.
Since 2018, Badgers are 15-22 ATS as a home favorite.
In his career, Fickell is 15-8 ATS as an underdog.
Since 2018, Badgers are 23-29 ATS in conference games.
Wisconsin is 3-2 SU/4-1 ATS in its last five bowl games.
