Opening Betting Line Released For Potential Big Ten Championship

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Nov 28, 2024 2:14 PM ET

It is rivalry week in college football, with conference championships on the horizon.

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks have already punched their ticket to Indianapolis after beating the Wisconsin Badgers 16-13 in their last game. The Ducks are in their inaugural season in the Big Ten after joining alongside the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and Washington Huskies this offseason.

Oregon is the last remaining undefeated team at 11-0 after the Indiana Hoosiers and Army lost over the weekend. Indiana moved from No. 5 to No. 10, and No. 19 Army fell out of the College Football Playoff rankings.

While Oregon has already clinched a spot, the Ducks' opponent in the game has not. The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes are second in the Big Ten standings but could miss out with a loss to the Michigan Wolverines in "The Game." Ohio State can also clinch a spot if the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions or Indiana lose.

The upcoming Big Ten Championship Game spread was announced Thursday before the matchup was confirmed.

With the second spot still up for grabs, FanDuel predicted that Oregon would meet Ohio State at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 7, picking the Buckeyes as a three-and-a-half-point favorite in that potential matchup.

If Ohio State and Oregon play each other for the Big Ten title, it would not be the first time they have met this season. The Buckeyes and Ducks played each other on Oct. 12.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel finished that game with 341 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks outlasted Will Howard and the Ohio State offense 32-31 in Eugene.

Gabriel leads the Big Ten with 3,066 passing yards and has 22 touchdowns with six interceptions. Howard has 2,685 passing yards and leads the Big Ten with 26 passing touchdowns

The game will allow both teams to showcase their defenses. Ohio State and Oregon are inside the top five in the Big Ten for multiple defensive categories.

Ohio State leads the conference in points allowed (10.7) and passing yards allowed (151.7) and is second in rushing yards allowed (90) per game. Oregon is third in points allowed (15.7) and third in passing yards allowed (168.8) per game.

One weakness for Oregon's defense is stopping the run, as the Ducks are ninth in rushing yards allowed per game (118.5).

The Big Ten Championship Game kicks off on Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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