No. 2 Michigan is on the brink of another College Football Playoff berth heading into its matchup against No. 16 Iowa in the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night. The Wolverines beat rival Ohio State for the third consecutive time last week, earning the East Division title. They will have head coach Jim Harbaugh back on the sidelines following his three-game, conference-imposed suspension. Iowa came out on top in the weaker West Division by winning low-scoring games throughout the season, including a 13-10 win over Nebraska last week.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Wolverines are 21.5-point favorites in the latest Michigan vs. Iowa odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under is 35. Before locking in any 2023 Big Ten Championship Game picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine football expert Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years.
Kaylor has been red-hot all season, going 73-28-2 overall on his college football best bets for SportsLine this season so far. He is up over 46.05 units, returning a profit of $4,605 for $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed his picks this season is way up.
Now, he has set his sights on Michigan vs. Iowa and just locked in his picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Kaylor's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Iowa vs. Michigan:
- Michigan vs. Iowa spread: Michigan -21.5
- Michigan vs. Iowa over/under: 35
- Michigan vs. Iowa money line: Michigan -2840, Iowa +1212
- MICH: The Wolverines have covered the spread in six of their last eight games.
- IOWA: The Hawkeyes have won seven of their last eight games.
- Michigan vs. Iowa picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Michigan vs. Iowa live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Michigan can cover
Michigan has not had a problem with Iowa's defensive brand of football in recent years, covering the spread in five of the last six meetings between these teams. The Wolverines picked up their biggest win of the season last week, taking down Ohio State in a pivotal rivalry game. Iowa is known for its stout defense, but Michigan is the top-ranked defensive team in the country, allowing just 10.3 points per game.
The Hawkeyes are not going to keep pace offensively, as they are scoring just an average of 14.7 points per game over their last six outings. Their defense has not kept them in games like this, as they are winless straight up and against the spread in their last five games as double-digit underdogs. Michigan running back Blake Corum racked up 133 rushing yards and a touchdown when the Wolverines visited Iowa last season. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Iowa can cover
A conference championship game is rarely viewed as a letdown spot, but it could be considered that for Michigan this year. The Wolverines are coming off a huge win over Ohio State and are heavy favorites for this game prior to their presumed berth in the College Football Playoff. They crushed Iowa in the Big Ten title game two years ago, so they might be overlooking the Hawkeyes on Saturday night.
Iowa is a difficult team to blow out, as it has not allowed more than 16 points in eight straight games. The Hawkeyes rank fourth nationally in scoring defense and have won seven of their last eight contests. They have covered the spread in four of their last five games as underdogs, so they are comfortable playing in this role. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Big Ten Championship picks
Kaylor has analyzed this matchup from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
Who wins Michigan vs. Iowa on Saturday, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see the picks, all from the expert who has covered college football for over a decade and is 73-28-2 on his best bets in 2023, and find out.
