The Michigan Wolverines are set to face the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Michigan-Iowa prediction, odds, and pick.
Jim Harbaugh finally did it. Everyone who studies college football odds, and everyone who is preparing to make a Michigan Iowa pick, knows that Harbaugh finally climbed the mountain he needed to climb in order for his tenure at Michigan to realize its potential. Harbaugh and his Wolverines finally defeated Ohio State, playing the kind of game everyone knew the Maize and Blue would have to play.
Ohio State has more speed than Michigan, a constant feature of the classic football rivalry in recent years. Michigan needed to punch Ohio State in the teeth before the Buckeyes' speed on the edges could take full effect. That's exactly what Harbaugh's team did. Michigan finally played iron-tough football while Ohio State was tissue-soft. The Wolverines sledgehammered the Buckeyes with letter-perfect blocking. They overpowered Ohio State from start to finish, always driving the ball downfield for a score whenever they truly needed to.
If you are thinking about a Michigan Iowa prediction, you know that the Wolverines are playing in their first Big Ten Championship Game. They have won the Big Ten East for the first time. They are in position to notch their first appearance in the College Football Playoff with a win. Harbaugh has already done so many things with his first win over Ohio State as a coach (he won in the 1980s as a player). Now he will try to notch several more “firsts” at UM, which will reshape the trajectory of his tenure if he can achieve them.
Iowa went 10-2 this season, dancing around the landmines and obstacles on its schedule. Iowa was convincingly defeated by Wisconsin and Purdue, but managed to escape Penn State and, more recently, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Hawkeyes were in deep trouble at Nebraska, trailing 21-9 midway through the second half. However, a blocked punt returned for a touchdown started a stirring rally which carried them past the Huskers. Veteran coach Kirk Ferentz is in the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time since 2015. He is coaching to make the Rose Bowl for the first time since that very same 2015 season. It's a huge game in Indianapolis.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:
College Football odds: Michigan-Iowa Odds
Michigan: -11.5 (-110)
Iowa: +11.5 (-110)
Over: 43.5 (-112)
Under: 43.5 (-108)
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Why Michigan Could Cover the Spread
The Wolverines enter this game with total belief in who they are and what they do. After beating Ohio State, Michigan will know it is capable of doing anything. The offense might have problems against Iowa's tough defense. The Hawkeyes are more physical than Ohio State. However, Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson is one of the very best defensive players in the country. Iowa's offense is frail and not particularly potent. Hutchinson should make sure Iowa scores very few points in a game which could take on the contours of a rockfight.
Why Iowa Could Cover the Spread
The Hawkeyes' defense, as mentioned above, could give Michigan's offense far more problems than Ohio State's defense managed to do. Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara is solid, but hardly spectacular. Iowa can certainly get a turnover, maybe two, from McNamara. If it can cash those mistakes into touchdowns, it can win this game outright, not merely cover the spread.
Final Michigan-Iowa Prediction & Pick
The Iowa defense will play well, but the Iowa offense will leave this team in a predicament. The Iowa offense will have a very hard time finishing drives against Michigan's defense. Covering the spread is a very realistic expectation for Iowa; winning outright, less so. Michigan 20, Iowa 13.
Final Michigan-Iowa Pick: Iowa +11.5
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