The second-ranked Michigan Wolverines will try to avoid a letdown Saturday when they face the No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines (11-1) come off their monumental victory against Ohio State last Saturday, their first against the Buckeyes under Jim Harbaugh and just the second since their last conference championship. The Hawkeyes (10-2) were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country this season before consecutive losses to Purdue and Wisconsin. They have one of the nation’s top defenses, while Michigan is among the best on both sides of the ball. Both teams last won a conference title in 2004, when they shared it.
Kickoff from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are the 11-point favorites in the latest Michigan vs. Iowa odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 43.5. Before locking in any Iowa vs. Michigan picks or college football predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Championship Week 2021 on a 42-28 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has zeroed in on Iowa vs. Michigan and just locked in its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the CFB odds and betting lines for Michigan vs. Iowa:
- Iowa vs. Michigan spread: Wolverines -11
- Iowa vs. Michigan over-under: 43.5 points
- Iowa vs. Michigan moneyline: Hawkeyes +350, Wolverines -450
- IOWA: It is 18-16-1 in conference games since 2018
- MICH: It is 19-14 in Big Ten games since 2018
Featured Game | Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines
Why the Wolverines can cover
Michigan is 10-2 against the spread this season. It has a chance to play for its first national title since 1997 — its 12th overall — and won’t want to let the opportunity slip away. The Wolverines are dangerous on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 25 in most major categories. QB Cade McNamara (2,301 yards, 14 TDs) and RBs Hassan Haskins (1,232 yards, 18 TDs) and Blake Corum (865, 10) lead the offense. They will face a tough Hawkeyes defense, but Haskins had 169 yards and five TDs against an OSU unit that was ranked in the top 15 against the run.
McNamara doesn’t put up huge numbers, but he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He has thrown three interceptions and been sacked six times and has 14 TD passes to 10 receivers. The Michigan defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, will pressure Iowa QB Spencer Petras all night. Hutchinson has 13 sacks after getting three against OSU, while Ojabo has 11, with six in the past five games. Ojabo has forced five fumbles, and the Wolverines have recovered eight. Michigan is 18-13 ATS following a victory since the start of the 2018 season.
Why the Hawkeyes can cover
The underdog is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings. The Hawkeyes have won four straight since the losses derailed what they hoped to be a dream season. A win Saturday would make up for a lot of that disappointment. They have one of the nation’s best defenses, and that unit had Iowa ranked as high as No. 2 this season. It ranks 10th in the nation in scoring (17.3 points per game) and 13th in total yards (315.8). Linebacker Jack Campbell is a tackling machine, putting up 124 to tie for eighth in FBS, and Joe Evans and Lukas Van Ness both have six sacks.
Iowa leads the nation with 22 interceptions, led by Dane Belton (five) and Riley Moss (four). The Hawkeyes also have recovered two fumbles, with Campbell getting two. The offense is based around running back Tyler Goodson, who has 1,101 yards rushing and 219 receiving on 25 catches. He has scored seven TDs. Petras has 1,532 passing yards, with nine TDs and six interceptions, and Sam LaPorta is his main weapon. The tight end has a team-high 40 catches for 486 yards. The Hawkeyes are 7-2 ATS vs. ranked teams since the start of the 2019 season.
How to make Iowa vs. Michigan Big Ten Championship picks
The model is projecting over on the point total, suggesting the teams will combine for 47 points. The model also has generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the model’s Michigan vs. Iowa pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Saturday’s Big Ten Championship matchup? And which side of the spread is hitting well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the Michigan vs. Iowa spread to back Saturday, all from the advanced model on a 42-28 run on its top-rated college football picks, and find out.
