Expectations often define success. A team could go 10-2 during the regular season and make the College Football Playoff, and leave fans underwhelmed because it was picked to win a conference or national title. Meanwhile, a team projected to win four games can create a positive buzz around the program with a. 7-6 campaign that includes a bowl win.
While expectations vary, a team’s preseason win total is the most reliable metric for judging whether a team lived up to its standard. After all, sportsbooks aren’t rooting for anybody; they’re only interested in making money.
While it’s only March, and the real games are months away, books have begun posting win totals for the 2025 season. So what better time to play out the entire season than right now? Sure, a lot of these schools don’t even know who their starting quarterbacks are, and there will be another flurry of roster movement once the spring portal opens up, but there’s no time for patience!
So I played out every game on the schedule in my head for all 18 Big Ten teams, and I know how the season will end. There’s no longer any need to wait. We’ll just ignore that when I did this exact exercise last year, I went 9-9 on my predictions for each team. This year, I’m setting my own over/under at 8.5. Odds below via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Over/under 7.5 wins
Wins: Western Illinois, at Duke, Western Michigan, USC, at Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, at Wisconsin, Northwestern
Losses: at Indiana, Ohio State, at Washington
Analysis: There’s plenty of buzz around the Illini as a…
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