Never has a conference been so overwhelmingly celebrated at the beginning of the season and written off so completely at the end of the season as the Big Ten. Every year it seems like Ohio State is falling short or Penn State is missing the big one. The mistake people make is to disrespect the conference so vehemently once the national championship inevitably goes to someone else after weeks of anticipation that “this could be the year.”

The truth is this: The Big Ten is a quality football conference that may get too much attention and may not be able to consistently live up to the pressure. No matter. Gearing up for the 2009 college football season, there are some big bets to be made, and here are the top three Big Ten conference football picks to watch out for:

3. Michigan State: Last season, the Spartans recorded nine wins and four losses. Running back Javon Ringer kept the Spartans in the conference title mix all season until a late loss to rival Penn State ended any and all hopes. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they are losing quarterback Brian Hoyer and Ringer, but expectations are high for the talent pool that lies ahead. Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Greg Jones compensates a lot on the other side of the ball at linebacker. Look for this team to do better than expected and beat some teams that probably shouldn’t.

2. Ohio State: After an impressive 10-3 season by most teams’ standards, the Buckeyes were ultimately disappointed by their 2008-09 performance, just their first. On more than one occasion they have made it to the title game only to flop big in front of a national audience. This troubled history is the only thing keeping Ohio State from getting a vote of confidence to lead this season’s Big Ten class. That, and effectively they’ve lost all their big shots: James Laurinitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Robiske and Chris Wells. That’s not to say the Buckeyes aren’t talented. They’re just in a “low year” position, and it will take some old-fashioned “fighting the ropes” bravery to get to the top of the heap.

1. Penn State: Penn State is coming off a Rose Bowl appearance and a win over rival Ohio State. The Nittany Lions may have a young receiving corps, but they have All Big Ten behind Evan Royster to carry some of the load. Defensively, they return to Sean Lee, a top linebacker, to lead the defense. All it takes is the same tenacity they had last year to clinch the conference and maybe get another BCS appearance.

Whether you agree with these three Big Ten football picks for the 2009 college football season or not, one thing is for sure: there is money to be made betting on college football. However, before placing your bets on the season, please note that you must select a reputable and established sportsbook. Keep an eye out for reputation, reviews and a bookmaker bonus. Many services that allow you to bet on their soccer selections will offer you a courtesy bookmaker bonus for using their service. A bookmaker bonus allows you to play longer with less risk, and you should make the most of it.

So break out the piggy bank and foam finger #1 – football season is here again!