In 2024-25, Michigan State ground through a deep Big Ten basketball conference to secure Tom Izzo’s 11th conference championship. It felt like the Big Ten teams would beat up on each other every week as the year ground on. Go figure that an experienced Spartans team and a talented Maryland roster finished in the top two positions.
Michigan State and Maryland have both taken a step back from last year. You can take both teams off your list as potential Big Ten conference champions. Michigan and UCLA have both taken a step forward, but are they the best bets in the conference? Not so fast, my friend. We’ve got a chalky play for the best bet to take, but it’s the side you’ll want to be on.
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2025-26 Big Ten Conference Champion Best Bet
Purdue Boilermakers to win the conference: +185
Purdue entered the 2024-25 season with a solid roster on paper, but early injuries derailed their season and limited their ceiling. The Boilermakers still don’t have Zach Edey, but they have added to their front court, and return a point guard/power forward duo that may be the best in the country.
Purdue returns the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year in point guard Braden Smith and All-Big Ten first team forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. The Boilermakers also return starting shooting guard C.J. Cox and starting small forward Fletcher Loyer.
Purdue brought in South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff to start at center this year. Cluff averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in the Summit League last year. Cluff is around seven feet tall and has the bulk that big men need to compete in the Big Ten.
The Boilermakers also return 7’4″ Daniel Jacobson to the lineup. Jacobson was slated to replace Edey last year, but suffered a season-ending injury early in the year, and Purdue really missed his presence. Purdue also added shooter Liam Murphy from North Florida and brought in highly rated freshman Omer Mayer from the EuroLeague.
This Purdue team looks much deeper on paper this year, and their key players are a year older. Getting a legit top-five team in the country at almost 2-to-1 odds is a great bet to make. Michigan has reloaded its roster after losing Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. They also added a lot through the portal and appear to be ready for a solid year-two under Dusty May. However, Purdue has a bit more depth, and it’s clear how their roster fits together. The Boilermakers also have more in terms of experience, and that experience has spent a lot of time together.
Purdue is the odds-on favorite, but it’s the side you’ll want to be on when looking for a winning ticket in the 2025-26 Big Ten basketball conference.
The College Basketball Experience
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