2009 Big Ten NCAA Football Predictions: Nittany Lions Look Tough

College football is just around he corner and BetUS betting fans need to start thinking about the key teams for them to wager on this upcoming season. One of those teams, no doubt, will be the Penn State Nittany Lions. Not only does Penn State look tough to not bet on this year, they look tough not to pick to win the Big Ten. Let’s breakdown the Big Ten in 2009. Click here to bet on Big Ten Football at BetUS online sportsbook

College Football: Big Ten Breakdown

Teams That Can Win the Big Ten

Penn State Nittany Lions +250 – - Ohio State has more talent but Penn State gets to tackle Ohio State in Happy Valley and their schedule is downright embarrassing as they open the schedule facing Akron, Syracuse and Temple. Joe Pa’s team should lose maybe one game in the Big Ten, possibly against Ohio State. That might not be enough for them to lose the Big Ten outright or not get into a BCS game. These guys will roll this year because they play cream puffs all season. Only 9 seniors on their roster but, man, that schedule is easy.

Ohio Sate Buckeyes +155 – - Their schedule isn’t that much tougher than Penn State’s but they do have limited experience on the offensive line and have to play Wisconsin. They also have to play Penn State, Michigan and Purdue on the road. Any there of those games could result in an upset. They good, but it could be a down year for these guys.

Outside Contenders

Iowa Hawkeyes +550 – - Iowa definitely has the experience to be a force in the Big Ten this year but they play at Ohio State, at Wisconsin and at Penn State. Those are three ridiculously tough places to play and Iowa, even with their experience, won’t have the athletes to contend with Penn State and Ohio State. They are contenders but at the NCAAF odds they are an underlay.

Wisconsin Badgers +900 – - With 23 seniors on their squad, the Badgers definitely have the experience to contend for the Big Ten title. Unfortunately, like Iowa, they just don’t have the athleticism to deal with Ohio State and Penn State. They will be tough, like they are every year, but winning the Big Ten is a long shot.

Illinois Illini +650 – - Their odds are pretty low in the sportsbook even though they only have 10 seniors on their squad. Maybe, it has to do with the fact that they face Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State at home. Then again, they have to travel to Ohio State and no gambler in the world believes that a team with only 10 seniors is going to beat the Buckeyes on the road.

Best Long Shot

Michigan Wolverines +1200 – - Yes, Michigan, who won only 3 games last year, figures to be a team to watch in 2009. With 21 seniors, 21 juniors, 24 sophomores and only 1 freshman on their squad, the Wolverines should be ready to unveil Coach Rich Rodriguez’s spread formation offense with aplomb. They will definitely take a huge, huge step in the right direction this year and have an outside shot to win the Big Ten should the kids take to Rodriguez’s system. This team looks good going into the 2009 season.

Stay Away From

Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern just don’t have that Big Ten Champion look about them this year. Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern should have no shot at the title. Minnesota never does enough to win the Big Ten and Michigan State is a perennial bridesmaid. All of these teams also have gone through changes which means that they could be worse than they usually are every year.