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ESPN’s FPI updates odds to win B1G following crucial Week 5
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Following Week 5 of the Big Ten season, all but three teams have been eliminated from contention to win the league, according to ESPN’s FPI index.
After outlasting Indiana in Columbus, the Ohio State Buckeyes remain the odds-on favorite to emerge as conference champions and earn an opportunity to compete in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes are nearly an 81 percent favorite to take home the league title.
Northwestern pushed itself alone into the second position after taking care of West Division rival Wisconsin Saturday in Evanston. The Wildcats are currently installed at an almost dark horse 17.1 percent despite their second-place position:
- Ohio State: 80.9 percent
- Northwestern: 17.1 percent
- Wisconsin: 1.9 percent
These odds likely indicate that Ohio State would be a large favorite over Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats if they do indeed square off in Indianapolis.
There are three weeks left in the Big Ten regular season with the final week being used for the East vs West Champion’s Week, which includes the conference championship game, in this unique Covid-19 campaign of 2020.
Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.