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So what if college football doesn’t start for another 5 months. There’s still plenty to talk about/bet on.
There are some early lines for headliner B1G games from BetOnline, so I thought it’d be fitting to make some early wager picks.
These are subject to change as we get closer to the season as injuries and other things happen.
But for now, here’s where I’d put my money:
Arizona State vs. Michigan State (-6)
My bet: Arizona State +6 (+100)
It’s hard to have much faith in MSU’s offense until we see a healthy Brian Lewerke. Six just feels like a big number, especially considering the Sun Devils took care of business in Tempe last year. Maybe MSU plays to its competition like it often does in non-conference play, but it stays close and the Fighting Herm Edwards cover.
Michigan (-6) vs. Wisconsin
My bet: Wisconsin +6 (-110)
Wisconsin has two losses by more than 6 points at Camp Randall since Paul Chryst arrived. One of those games was an overtime thriller against Ohio State in 2016, and the other was the disaster to close last season against Minnesota. Vegas is banking on the public pulling for a 7-point Michigan win, but I’ll take the team with the B1G’s best offensive player to keep it close in an early-season game against a Michigan defense with new faces galore.
Ohio State (-7.5) vs. Nebraska
My bet: Nebraska +7.5 (-110)
Waaaaaaait a minute. Am I getting caught up in the Nebraska hype? Perhaps. But this was a 5-point game in Columbus last year when Ohio State had Dwayne Haskins. Nebraska still has Adrian Martinez, who is an awful matchup for the Buckeyes. Am I saying the Huskers win this one and set Lincoln ablaze? No, but keeping it within a touchdown certainly seems plenty realistic.
Michigan State vs. Ohio State (-13.5)
My bet: Ohio State -13.5 (-110)
Fun fact: In their last 8 quarters on the field together, Ohio State outscored MSU 74-9. What was once an extremely competitive rivalry in the middle of the decade hasn’t been that the last couple years. As long as Justin Fields is healthy, this should be a game in which the pass-happy Buckeyes put up their share of points. Again, I’m very much in wait-and-see mode when it comes to Lewerke and his health.
Michigan (-5.5) vs. Penn State
My bet: Michigan -5.5 (-105)
Maybe James Franklin will make me eat my words, but I’m down on Penn State this year. I just thought with all the offseason departures they had and how underwhelming they were for most of 2018, I don’t think Happy Valley serves as the home-field advantage it was the last time the Wolverines rolled into town. Speaking of that, here’s something that’ll make Penn State fans happier.
Notre Dame vs. Michigan (-8.5)
My bet: Notre Dame +8.5 (-115)
Didn’t the Irish just go to the Playoff thanks in part to a win against Michigan? That was without Ian Book, too. I’m not going to make a call like I did last year before the opener when I said Michigan would roll past Notre Dame in South Bend. This year, I still might pick Michigan to win, but 8.5 points against a team who only lost to Clemson last year seems like a lot.
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State (-9)
My bet: Ohio State -9 (-110)
Ohio State has been known to have a dud or two against B1G West teams, but those horrific collapses came on the road. In a late-October game, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jonathan Taylor had some big plays. But I have questions about Wisconsin’s passing game and how it would be able to handle a multi-score deficit early.
Iowa vs. Wisconsin (-5.5)
My bet: Wisconsin -5.5 (-110)
As much as the Badgers make me nervous without knowing what the passing game will look like — that could prove to be a bad combination against A.J. Epenesa and Co. — I have a hard time betting against them at home. Up until that Minnesota dud in last year’s regular season finale, Wisconsin hadn’t lost a home game to a division foe since that bizarre Northwestern game back in 2015 (one of the weirder endings I can remember). The Badgers definitely run the table at home in 2019.
Michigan State vs. Michigan (-11)
My bet: Michigan State +11 (-115)
You can show me all the talent deficit with recruiting rankings, preseason All-Americans and all of that. I still find myself thinking that MSU will always find a way to keep it close against Michigan. I realize last year that the Wolverines went into East Lansing and won by 2 touchdowns. That was also when Lewerke was a complete liability, and so was the MSU offense. Besides, Mark Dantonio is 2-0 at Michigan Stadium against Jim Harbaugh.
Penn State vs. Ohio State (-10.5)
My bet: Ohio State -10.5 (-110)
I actually think this will be the game that make people question if James Franklin is really going to be the long-term guy at Penn State. This could be an extremely humbling experience for the Lions that really magnifies just how much talent they lost the last 2 years. Instead of this being a fun, down-to-the-wire battle like it’s been in years past, the Penn State defense gets run off the field and the Buckeyes cover the 10.5 by a wide margin.
Ohio State vs. Michigan (-3)
My bet: Michigan -3 (-102)
I mean, it has to happen sometime. Right?
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.