2025 Big Ten Preview: Odds, Predictions, and 6 Win Totals to Consider Betting

The 2025 college football season is upon us! Can the USC Trojans bounce back after a disappointing 7-6 season in 2024? Will Matt Rhule and Nebraska take another step forward this season?

Get the answers to these questions and more by checking out our Big Ten preview, which includes 6 win total bets to make. So, without further ado, let’s dive into some futures bets for the new season.

USC Trojans OVER 7.5 Wins

Lincoln Riley has been a bit of a bust since coming to LA. If you throw out his 1st season, which was filled with players that he did not recruit, he has just a .580 winning percentage. While many of their losses to top teams came by less than a touchdown, it is still concerning that they cannot finish these close games.

Jayden Maiava will be the full-time starter after earning the role later in the season last year. His protection is not set to be all that great with an offensive line that will need to grow up quickly. However, if he can get time, he has good weapons on the outside.

Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon will be threats, along with a couple of transfers. The defense needs to continue its improvement. They dropped their points allowed per game by over 10ppg from 2023 to 2024. Their front line should be the strength of their defensive unit.

Washington Huskies UNDER 7.5 Wins

Much like Michigan last season, the expectations were low due to the loss of their head coach and a large portion of their playmakers. While they did not get the big storyline win like Michigan did when they defeated OSU, Washington still managed to get 6 wins in a tough schedule.

2nd-year head coach Jeff Fisch will have a security blanket at QB this year. Demond Williams will be running the show and looked good in his limited playing time last year. Jonah Coleman will be the main ball carrier, but the offensive line will be filled with new names.

The defense is filled with transfers, but the secondary will have Arizona transfer, Tacario Davis, who could be the best secondary get in the conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes OVER 6.5 Wins

Kirk Ferentz and his ball-control ways continued to be the story in Iowa last season. They finished a modest 8-5 but have even-keeled hopes this season. They will have the talent but also face one of the toughest schedules in the conference.

SDKST transfer, Mark Gronowski, will take over at QB for 2nd year OC Tim Lester. The offense made strides last season and upped their points per game by over 12 from the year prior. Patterson and Moulton will be tasked with taking over for the loss of Kaleb Johnson in the backfield. It will remain to be seen who emerges in the passing game as Gronowski’s top target.

On defense, the losses are great, but Phil Parker is trusted in making the new names just as popular as the previous ones. There is no reason to believe that the defense that is always tough will take major steps backward this season.

Nebraska Huskers UNDER 7.5 Wins

From one of the longest tenured coaches in the country with Kirk Ferentz, we move to Matt Rhule, who has been in Lincoln for a limited time but has the program heading in the proper direction. Last season was the 1st winning season in 8 years for the Cornhuskers.

One of the main reasons for Nebraska’s growth is due to QB Dylan Raiola’s play. While many speculated that he would enter the transfer portal, Rhule was pleasantly surprised to see him decide and stay in Lincoln.

This season will be the 1st after a full year under the tutelage of Dana Holgorsen. Rhule was able to get Raiola a couple of new toys in Kentucky’s Dane Key and Cal’s Nyziah Hunter. The defense will be mainly, with the exception of the secondary, which returns all 4 starters.

Minnesota Golden Gophers UNDER 7.5 Wins

In 3 of the last 4 years, PJ Fleck has seen his Minnesota Golden Gophers win 8 games. He will be dealing with a good amount of turnover this season which could make this one of his toughest years in recent history. Greg Harbaugh will certainly have his hands full on the offensive end.

Harbaugh and Fleck will look to establish the run early and often with Darius Taylor. But that could be tricky with an offensive line that returns just 2 starters. Drake Lindsey should get the nod under center and will need to learn on the fly after watching Max Brosmer excel last season in his lone with Minnesota.

The defensive side will have a bit less of an overhaul, which will be a good thing for new DC Danny Collins. Look for Koi Perich to be one of the best safeties in the conference this year.

Michigan State Spartans OVER 5.5 Wins

Sparty grabbed 5 wins in the inaugural season of Jonathan Smith’s tenure. They averaged under 20ppg last season and if they hope to increase their win total, it’ll need to start with scoring more points.

Omari Kelly from Middle Tennessee State and Chrishon McCray from Kent State have been brought in to help Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh in the passing game. That said, the offensive line struggled last season, and it could be more of the same this year.

They hope it can hold up enough to give Sacrament State transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver some opportunities on the ground. The defense returns a decent number of starters, and they hope both Grady Kelly from FSU and David Santiago from AF can step in and help the defensive front.