I examined every point spread available for future B1G conference games on sportsbook.com. I then filled in the unavailable spreads (either the teams aren't playing this year, or it's not an attractive enough game to post a line this early) by averaging their spreads vs. common opponents. Finally, I averaged each team's average spread relative to each other team's average spread, to determine a final ranking.
Wisc | Neb | OSU | MSU | PSU | Mich | Iowa | Ill | NU | |
Wisconsin | 0 | -1 | -5 | -8 | -10.5 | -10.5 | -12 | -11 | -12.5 |
Nebraska | 1 | 0 | -4 | -6.5 | -8 | -8.5 | -11 | -9 | -10.5 |
OSU | 5 | 4 | 0 | -3.5 | -4.5 | -6 | -7 | -6 | -8 |
MSU | 8 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 0 | -2.5 | -2 | -4.5 | -2 | -4 |
PSU | 10.5 | 8 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0 | -0.5 | -3 | -0.5 | -2.5 |
Michigan | 10.5 | 8.5 | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | -0.5 | 0 | -2 |
Iowa | 12 | 11 | 7 | 4.5 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | -1.5 |
Illinois | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | -0.5 | 0 | -2 |
NU | 12.5 | 10.5 | 8 | 4 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 |
Here are the results
Wisconsin------Nebraska------------Ohio St------------Michigan St------Penn St---Michigan/Illinois------Iowa--NU
(0) (+1.6) (+4.9) (+8.2) (+9.9) (+10.6) (+11.9) (+12.6)
Expected point spreads for Northwestern's Conference Schedule:
NU (+5) @ Illinois
Michigan @ NU (-1)
NU (+3.5) @ Iowa
Penn St @ NU (pick)
NU @ Indiana (?)
NU (+14) @ Nebraska
Minnesota @ NU (a lot)
Michigan St @ NU (+1.5)
Footnotes:
1. I assumed a standard 3-point home field advantage
2. I probably committed one or more basic statistical errors.
3. I didn't include the Indiana-Purdue-Minnesota crew because they had no betting lines available and are bad at football.