3 Underdogs That Can Win the Big Ten in 2023

There is just one more season of Big 10 football left before West Coasters USC and UCLA join from the Pac-12.

As the oldest Division-I collegiate athletic conference in the country, the B1G is both decorated and proud on the gridiron -- with or without the presence of pleasant weather venues. Of course, outside of the Big Ten, the Big 12 is already adding schools this year -- it is the dawning of a new era in CFB.

In 2023, usual mainstays/arch-rivals Ohio State (+165 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook) and Michigan (+185) are favorites to win the conference, while also yielding among the top odds to make the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes and Wolverines are both built like -- with no disrespect to Purdue -- midwestern freight trains again this year, but there is always the possibility of another Big 10 squad taking the football season by storm.

Let's browse the catalog of possible underdogs that have an authentic chance of winning the 2023 Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium -- home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Here are the Big Ten conference championship odds via the college football odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

*Denotes 2022 Big Ten Championship Game participant

Penn State Nittany Lions

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +550

Michigan and Ohio State have combined to win seven of the past nine Big Ten football titles; Penn State has been one of the teams to chink through the armor in that span, last winning the conference in 2016. That year, Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley combined to run for 1,861 yards, scoring 25 total touchdowns on the ground.

Some of the best CFB teams throughout history have called Happy Valley home. In Central Pennsylvania, there is a certain football standard of excellence. The Nittany Lions are a good bet to return to that standard this season -- ESPN's College Football Power Index (FPI) has Penn State (17.5) at 10th in the nation and third among Big Ten schools.

Head coach James Franklin is looking to build off last year's 11-2 record, one that was capped by the second Rose Bowl victory in school history. In 2023, the Lions return many talented players, especially so on defense; cornerback Kalen King and edge rusher Chop Robinson (5.5 sacks last year) will both eventually be fine players on Sundays.

Still, to be considered for the 2023 Big Ten title game out of the tough East division, PSU will need to defeat at least one of Ohio State and Michigan -- look for a battle in Happy Valley against the Wolverines come Veterans Day.

Wisconsin Badgers

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +800

In true Dairyland fashion, the Badgers were led by a top-20 defense in 2022; just ask J.J. Watt to vouch for that when you see him next. Last season, Wisconsin held opponents to an average of 20.2 points per game, which was the 17th-best clip in the country.

Strangely enough, the Badgers cycled through multiple different head coaches last year before eventually settling on Luke Fickell prior to participation in the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl. In that game, Wisconsin rolled over Oklahoma State behind a stifling defense and a pair of rushing touchdowns.

The Badgers were good enough to finish only fifth in the Big Ten West last season, but that is below their expectations in the capital of Madison. Their slow, slugging style of football does not always make for the most exciting of games, but it does produce consistency. With exception to the COVID-abbreviated season (2020), Wisconsin has won at least seven games in every campaign since 2001.

Fickell could prove to be an ideal fit with the Badgers, and aided by playing in a weak division, Wisconsin could make some noise in Fickell's first campaign.

Iowa Hawkeyes

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +1200

Another flagship university of the Big Ten, Iowa essentially wrote the book on smashmouth, cold-weather football. Year in and year out, the Hawkeyes feature a defensive unit that is relentless like none other. In 2022, Iowa suffocated opponents into just 13.3 points per game, which was the second-best clip in Division I.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz is entering another season at the helm in Iowa City, which means he will have now held the post for a quarter-century. Through that span, the Hawkeyes have compiled 10 bowl victories.

For Iowa, last season ended with a vengeful shutout win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl (after losing to the same Wildcats in the 2021 Citrus Bowl).

Going forward, this year's FPI has the Hawkeyes rated 7.3 -- not the highest, but that still lands within the top-40 schools in the country.

Keep in mind, Iowa will always have two seminal qualities that they can consistently lean on -- a stout defense and their ability to operate in all conditions.

Longer Shots

Minnesota Golden Gophers +3000

As the only Power 5 school in history to three-peat as college football national champions (1934, 1935, 1936), Minnesota is ambitiously attempting to return to the top of the mountain. As noted in the introductory table, the Golden Gophers have not won a Big Ten football title since just after the famed "Summer of Love."

Regardless, Minnesota is actually rated slightly higher than Iowa in ESPN's FPI (7.7). Undeniably, head coach P.J. Fleck has made productive strides in the Twin Cities. In six seasons with Fleck, the Gophers have won at least seven games on four separate occasions -- all of which were capped with bowl victories. Last year, they bested Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, 28-20.

Maryland Terrapins +5000

Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, Maryland has yet to win a conference championship in football. However, the Terrapins seem to be rising with the tide, as their 2022 record on the gridiron (8-5) was their best through that span. In College Park, Mike Locksley is entering his fifth campaign as head coach. He has notched bowl wins at Maryland in consecutive seasons (and counting) for the first time in two decades.

Given Locksley's strong rapport with starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (who is brothers with Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins), the Terps will look to continue to progress in 2023. Last year, Maryland's Tagovailoa was a top-30 quarterback in the nation, yielding a 72.1 QBR, according to ESPN -- that clip was better than every signal-caller in the Big Ten except C.J. Stroud (87.7) and J.J. McCarthy (79.0).

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.