With three consecutive national championships, the Big Ten has a strong claim to the No. 1 spot among college football conferences entering the 2026 season. With Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon projected among the favorites to win it all this year, the Big Ten has an excellent chance to extend that championship streak to four and maintain bragging rights over the SEC.
Indiana (10.5) and Oregon (10.5) headline the teams with the highest over/under win totals this fall, with Ohio State a step behind at 9.5. The Buckeyes have one of the nation’s toughest schedules, but coach Ryan Day’s team is also loaded with talent. Outside of the top three, an intriguing group follows: Penn State (8.5), USC (8.5) and Michigan (7.5).
Athlon Sports highlights the best over/under win total bets using DraftKings odds for the Big Ten and predicts which side of each team’s total will hit in 2026.
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Big Ten Over/Under Win Total Picks
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Illinois (7.5)
Steven Lassan: Over
Kyle Wood: Under
Indiana (10.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
- Curt Cignetti Q&A: Indiana Coach Opens Up on Challenge of Title Defense
Iowa (7.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Maryland (5.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Under
Michigan (7.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Michigan State (4.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Under
Minnesota (5.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Nebraska (6.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Under
Northwestern (5.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Ohio State (9.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Oregon (10.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Under
Penn State (8.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
Purdue (3.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Under
Rutgers (5.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Over
UCLA (6.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Under
USC (8.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Over
- Related: The Big Ten Has Taken Over College Football — Here’s How the SEC Lost Its Grip
Washington (7.5)
Lassan: Over
Wood: Under
Wisconsin (6.5)
Lassan: Under
Wood: Under
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Best Big Ten Over/Under Bets for 2026
Michigan (Over 7.5)
Combine a coaching transition with a tough schedule, and it’s easy to see why Michigan’s win total is sitting at 7.5. However, I’m buying stock in this team. Kyle Whittingham is a massive coaching upgrade over Sherrone Moore, and the Wolverines should be strong on the line of scrimmage. Additionally, quarterback Bryce Underwood will take a step forward in an offense under coordinator Jason Beck that will fit his skill set. Key games against Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State and Indiana take place in Ann Arbor. A playoff spot might be too tall a task for Whittingham in his debut, but I think the Wolverines are closer to 9-3 than 7-5. -Steven Lassan
Penn State (Over 8.5)
I've been beating the drum all offseason about the ease of the Nittany Lions' schedule, and I'm not going to stop now. There are three tough games on Penn State's slate: USC, Michigan and Washington. Outside of that trio, there shouldn't be any slip-ups in Matt Campbell's debut. And even then, those games are all still winnable. Remember, Campbell brought the bulk an Iowa State team that went 19-7 over the last two seasons with him to ease the transition. -Kyle Wood
Indiana (Over 10.5)
Coach Curt Cignetti has lost just one regular-season game in his two seasons at Indiana. Although the Hoosiers are losing some key pieces from last year’s championship squad, Cignetti reloaded from the portal and has a manageable schedule should ease the transition. Indiana does not play Oregon in the regular season and catches key games against Ohio State and USC in Bloomington. Some tricky road dates at Nebraska, Michigan and Washington are on tap, but I’ll bet on Cignetti leading Indiana to a 12-0 or 11-1 mark.-Lassan
Maryland (Under 5.5)
Even as their talent level has increased, the Terps' late-season struggles remain. They are 1-13 in October and November over the last two seasons. That makes it hard keep playing football into December, which Maryland hasn't done since 2023. There are some winnable games on the schedule late in the year in 2026. The problem is, the Terps might not get off to such a hot start this time around as the pressure ramps up on coach Mike Locksley. -Wood
Minnesota (Over 5.5)
The Golden Gophers have won at least eight games in four out of the last five years, and I’d be stunned if this team struggled to get bowl eligible. Coach PJ Fleck’s squad returns rising star quarterback Drake Lindsey and steady running back Darius Taylor. Also, five starters are back to form a solid foundation on defense. Road dates versus Washington, Indiana, Penn State and Wisconsin are tough, but Mississippi State, Iowa, UCLA and Northwestern visit Minneapolis. Minnesota might not eclipse eight wins this season. However, Fleck should have this team back in the postseason and over the 5.5 total. -Lassan
Ohio State (Over 9.5)
I know how hard the Buckeyes' schedule is. I think they have the toughest draw in the Big Ten, and they have to play at Texas this fall. But that is not nearly enough to convince me to pick Ohio State to win fewer than 10 games in a full season for the first time since 2011. I trust in Ryan Day and the talent on this roster way too much to do that. -Wood
College Football Conference Betting Predictions
Athlon Sports picks over/unders and best bets for 2026:
- Pac-12
- SEC
- Big 12
- ACC
- Conference USA
- Mountain West
- Sun Belt
