JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Bookmakers do a lot with numbers each and every off season, including their over/under wagers. For the uninitiated, they place a number and you would either wager that a team will win more games than their number or fewer games than their number.
5dimes.com has released it's 'number' for Iowa and it's 5.5. That's the first time in a long, long time where Iowa's total wasn't above .500. I saw this and other totals via a link from Mike Hlas of The Gazette, and you can see the totals for most BCS teams at this link.
Below are the Big Ten totals and my thoughts on each. Since Rutgers and Maryland are not playing a Big Ten schedule this year, I am not going to add them to this discussion. The teams are listed in order of their total:
Ohio State 11: To take the over you have to pick the Buckeyes to have an undefeated season. I happen to think the Buckeyes ARE that much better than everyone in the league, so if I were forced to 'get down' on this game (thank you Governor Ventura) I'd take the over as I don't see the Buckeyes losing a game this year and I believe they will make up one-half of the national title picture.
Michigan 9.5: I'd go with the under. I think 9-3 is the very top shelf for them and seven or eight wins are more likely.
Nebraska 9.5: This feels like a team (schedule) that is on the fence between nine or ten wins, so per usual the sharpies know what they are talking about. I'd lean closer to nine so I'd go under.
Wisconsin 9: I think nine wins is their ceiling. Given the coaching changes, I will take the under here.
Michigan State 8.5: Eight wins is what I see as their realistic ceiling, so under.
Northwestern 8.5: I am going to doubt the Cats one more time and take the under. I think this is a pretty high total for a team who has road games at Cal, Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska and hosts Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.
Penn State 8: Their schedule is pretty favorable. This program can't afford injuries now given the scholarship reductions and I think eight is their max. If I have to go one way or the other I take the under but eight is a great total here.
Indiana 6: I think the Hoosiers may go 7-5, so I will take the over.
Iowa 5.5: This ten seconds I am more comfortable with five than six.
Minnesota 5.5: I would definitely take the under here, because of their schedule.
Purdue 5:: I'd go with the under here too. I don't know if it's mathematically possible for all of these teams to hit the under.
Illinois 4: One more under for the road; under
On the whole, it's going to be an underwhelming collection of Big Ten teams...another 'down year' for the conference. Ohio State is so far ahead of the next best team and will run away with it. In fact, I have an over/under for you. The number of times Ohio State scores 60 or more points this year. I will put that at 5.5. Any takers?
5dimes.com has released it's 'number' for Iowa and it's 5.5. That's the first time in a long, long time where Iowa's total wasn't above .500. I saw this and other totals via a link from Mike Hlas of The Gazette, and you can see the totals for most BCS teams at this link.
Below are the Big Ten totals and my thoughts on each. Since Rutgers and Maryland are not playing a Big Ten schedule this year, I am not going to add them to this discussion. The teams are listed in order of their total:
Ohio State 11: To take the over you have to pick the Buckeyes to have an undefeated season. I happen to think the Buckeyes ARE that much better than everyone in the league, so if I were forced to 'get down' on this game (thank you Governor Ventura) I'd take the over as I don't see the Buckeyes losing a game this year and I believe they will make up one-half of the national title picture.
Michigan 9.5: I'd go with the under. I think 9-3 is the very top shelf for them and seven or eight wins are more likely.
Nebraska 9.5: This feels like a team (schedule) that is on the fence between nine or ten wins, so per usual the sharpies know what they are talking about. I'd lean closer to nine so I'd go under.
Wisconsin 9: I think nine wins is their ceiling. Given the coaching changes, I will take the under here.
Michigan State 8.5: Eight wins is what I see as their realistic ceiling, so under.
Northwestern 8.5: I am going to doubt the Cats one more time and take the under. I think this is a pretty high total for a team who has road games at Cal, Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska and hosts Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.
Penn State 8: Their schedule is pretty favorable. This program can't afford injuries now given the scholarship reductions and I think eight is their max. If I have to go one way or the other I take the under but eight is a great total here.
Indiana 6: I think the Hoosiers may go 7-5, so I will take the over.
Iowa 5.5: This ten seconds I am more comfortable with five than six.
Minnesota 5.5: I would definitely take the under here, because of their schedule.
Purdue 5:: I'd go with the under here too. I don't know if it's mathematically possible for all of these teams to hit the under.
Illinois 4: One more under for the road; under
On the whole, it's going to be an underwhelming collection of Big Ten teams...another 'down year' for the conference. Ohio State is so far ahead of the next best team and will run away with it. In fact, I have an over/under for you. The number of times Ohio State scores 60 or more points this year. I will put that at 5.5. Any takers?
