Big Ten Football Betting Tips: Top 4 Bets to Back Week 12

Quick Tips:

• Bet Indiana +28.5 over Michigan with SugarHouse.
• Bet Ohio State -14.5 over Maryland with 888Sport.
• Bet Wisconsin +5.5 over Purdue with 888Sport.
• Bet Northwestern -2.5 over Minnesota with SugarHouse.

The Big Ten West was won last week but the battle for the East division remains two weeks away. That pretty much sums up the Big Ten as the conference heads into Week 12 of the season.

Northwestern’s win over Iowa last Saturday coupled with Wisconsin and Purdue losing put the Wildcats in the conference championship game December 1 in Indianapolis.

Despite not winning a non-conference game this year -- losses to Akron, Duke and Notre Dame -- Northwestern controlled their own destiny with conference play and at 6-1 with two weeks remaining will take on the East winner for the conference title.

Michigan and Ohio State will not have their showdown until a week from Saturday, which means both teams will have to guard against looking ahead in their matchups this week with Indiana and Maryland, respectively.

As for the rest of the conference, several teams still have plenty to play for with bowl eligibility on the line and a number of schools are on the bubble and risk their season coming to an end prematurely.

Here are four games college football betting fans should consider this week in the Big Ten.

Big Ten Football Week 12 Best bets

Indiana at No. 4 Michigan

The line: Michigan -28.5 with SugarHouse

Michigan has had Indiana’s number for decades with the Wolverines winning 17 straight games against the Hoosiers. Indiana hasn’t won in Ann Arbor since 1967, and the Hoosiers are huge underdogs on Saturday.

Michigan avoided any possible letdown last week outplaying a Rutgers team that did not have a yard gained passing until the third quarter. Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson was tight with an 18-for-27, 260-yard, three-touchdown performance.

As expected, coach Jim Harbaugh’s defense was stellar and the squad comes into Week 12 No. 1 in the country in both total yards and passing yards allowed per game. The key here is for Michigan to simply stay healthy in the tune-up before Ohio State.

While Patterson played every snap against Rutgers, if this one gets too lopsided expect a change at QB as a safety precaution. Because of that possibility Michigan might not cover the spread. Take Indiana +28.5 with SugarHouse.

No. 8 Ohio State at Maryland

The line: Ohio State -14.5 with 888Sport

The Buckeyes have nearly the same scenario in their game Saturday as Michigan does. Don’t overlook Maryland and stay healthy. The Terrapins, with the DJ Durkin scandal still swirling around the university, remain in the hunt to become bowl eligible but have lost two straight games and remain stuck at five wins.

Since the devastating loss to Purdue two weeks ago, Ohio State has won two straight games most recently last week’s 26-6 victory over Michigan State. Although they only held a 7-6 lead at halftime, OSU scored the last 19 points of the game to lock up the win.

Coach Urban Meyer will no doubt monitor quarterback Dwayne Haskins and look to ensure health by sitting him if this one turns into a blowout.

The question here is not whether Maryland can win but cover. Last week’s offense generated 542 total yards including 353 on the ground. But that was in a loss to Indiana and the Hoosiers’ defense is not anywhere near Ohio State’s.

Take the Buckeyes -14.5 with 888Sport.

Wisconsin at Purdue

The line: Purdue -5.5 with 888Sport

Only a few weeks ago both these teams were entertaining hopes of winning the west division. Now with two games remaining they are fighting for what bowl might lay ahead.

Wisconsin has already made it to being bowl eligible at 6-4 and will look again to running back Jonathan Taylor to put yards and points on the board. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook remains questionable in concussion protocol so look for Jack Coan to again get the call.

Purdue quarterback David Blough has experience a pair of off games and for the Boilermaker to get their sixth win of the season, they’ll need better play from behind center. Take the Badgers +5.5 with 888Sport.

Northwestern at Minnesota

The line: Northwestern -2.5 with SugarHouse

The Wildcats know what their path is the next few weeks on the way to Indianapolis for the championship game. Minnesota has its sights on a bowl at 5-5.

Coach PJ Fleck took over the defense after firing coordinator Robb Smith and after giving up 55 points to Illinois held Purdue to just 10 last week. Northwestern has trouble scoring so this could be a low scoring affair. Take Northwestern -2.5 with SugarHouse.