Josh Moyer, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Projecting the B1G's win totals: What Vegas says

Last week, we showed you Las Vegas’ take on any given B1G team winning the conference title. (Sorry, 100-to-1 Purdue.) So, it’s only fair we share Vegas’ latest release on each team’s projected win totals in the regular season.

Once again, our friend over at ESPN.com’s Chalk -- David Purdum -- provided the numbers from CG Technology, which released them Monday. (And for those of you unfamiliar with the sports-betting landscape, a minus-120 betting line means $120 has to be wagered to win $100.)

Here they are:

Big Ten regular-season win totals (CG Technology)

Illinois: 4 (minus-175/over)

Indiana: 5.5 (minus-130/under)

Iowa: 7.5 (minus-120/under)

Maryland: 4.5 (minus-120/over)

Michigan: 7.5 (minus-125/under)

Michigan State: 9.5 (minus-130/over)

Minnesota: 6 (minus-145/under)

Nebraska: 8 (minus-140/over)

Northwestern: 6 (minus-140/over)

Ohio State: 11.5 (minus-180/under)

Penn State: 8 (minus-125/over)

Purdue: 4 (minus-120/over)

Rutgers: 5 (minus-120/over)

Wisconsin: 9.5 (minus-140/over)

Once again, it’s no surprise that Ohio State is on top -- but it is a little surprising to see that win total so high. As Purdum pointed out, that’s more than a win higher than any other listed team in the country. (TCU and Baylor each have the second-highest win totals with 10.)

Essentially, Ohio State fans are asked to bet on the odds of a perfect regular season. A $180 bet that the Buckeyes aren’t perfect would yield you a $100 profit.

Other surprises? I’m a little shocked to see Purdue’s win total at four games since, well, the Boilermakers have combined for four wins in the past two seasons -- and three of their four nonconference opponents (Marshall, Virginia Tech, Bowling Green) aren’t total cupcakes this season, either. Those three all had winning records last year.

Minnesota also isn’t getting a lot of love from CG Technology, as eight other B1G teams are expected to get as many -- or more -- victories. On paper, the Golden Gophers have plenty of question marks with the departures of RB David Cobb and TE Maxx Williams, but coach Jerry Kill always tends to overachieve. Plus, who really thinks the Hawkeyes are 1.5 games better than Minnesota right now? Underestimate the Golden Gophers at your own risk.

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