Odds favor Gophers struggling in Big Ten football next season
If P.J. Fleck and the Gophers are in search of bulletin board material, look no further than the over/under win totals for Big Ten football teams in 2024.
The FanDuel Sportsbook has released over/under win totals for all 18 Big Ten teams in 2024 and Minnesota and Purdue are tucked together at the bottom with the over/under set at 4.5 wins.
Ohio State (10.5) and Oregon (10.5) sit atop the conference projections, which makes sense as both are expected to be top-five teams when the official preseason polls are released later this year. Right behind the Buckeyes and Ducks are defending national champion Michigan (9.5) and Penn State (9.5), who are both also expected to be among the best teams in the nation in 2024.
Big Ten newcomers USC (7.5) and Washington (7.5) are next in line, tied with Nebraska (7.5), Iowa (7.5) and Maryland (7.5). Wisconsin (6.5), Rutgers (5.5), Northwestern (5.5), Michigan State (5.5), UCLA (5.5), Illinois (5.5) and Indiana (5.5) are jumbled together, followed by the Gophers and Purdue.
The local expectations for Minnesota appear to be higher entering 2024 than they were in 2023, and that's largely due to the arrival of FCS passing leader Max Brosmer, who will be under center as the Gophers' starting quarterback next season.
Minnesota's schedule is also somewhat favorable as they don't face Ohio State, Oregon, Washington or Nebraska, and they face Penn State, Iowa, USC and Maryland at home. That leaves their road games against Michigan, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Illinois and UCLA, the latter three who are expected to be rebuilding a bit in 2024.
Maybe the oddsmakers are sleeping on the Gophers in 2024?
Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) stays in bounds after the catch as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) chases and head coach P.J. Fleck (left) looks on during the third quarter at Kinnick Stadium.
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
