The　advantages　brought　by　opportunistic　data　delivery　make　mobile　opportunistic　networking　a　promising　technology　for　big　data　computing.　Thus,　it　is　important　to　study　the　potential　of　mobile　opportunistic　networks　in　supporting　big　data　applications　by　analyzing　their　fundamental　data　dissemination　properties.　However,　such　an　analysis　is　nontrivial　as　a　large　dimension　of　elements　may　affect　the　data　spreading　behavior　in　mobile　opportunistic　networks.　In　this　article,　we　first　outline　the　challenges　of　analyzing　the　potential　of　mobile　opportunistic　networks　for　big　data　applications.　Then　we　survey　the　state-of-the-art　analytical　results　on　data　dissemination　properties　in　mobile　opportunistic　networks.　Finally,　we　summarize　our　analytical　results　and　present　a　few　open　research　issues　that　may　foster　future　research　endeavors　on　mobile　opportunistic　networks　to　support　big　data　applications.