Michigan vs Northwestern Prediction, Spread & Best Big Noon Kickoff Bets

• Michigan is a heavy 11.5-point favorite to defeat Northwestern in a Big Ten battle Saturday afternoon
• The Wolverines have won 16 of their last 18 against the Wildcats
• See below for my Michigan vs Northwestern prediction, spread picks, and best Big Noon Kickoff bets for Saturday afternoon CFB

It’s a Big Ten showdown Saturday between a pair of familiar foes, featuring the #18 Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-6-0 ATS) taking on the unranked Northwestern Wildcats (5-4, 5-3-1 ATS) in this Big Noon Kickoff matchup.

The books believe the Wolverines will smack their counterparts pretty handily for their fourth straight triumph. That would send the Wildcats to a third straight loss, making Michigan the favorites in the College Football odds.

This Big Noon Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET from famed Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, with FOX providing the coverage.

Michigan vs Northwestern Prediction

• Best Bet: Michigan -11.5 (-115)

My Michigan vs Northwestern prediction has the Wolverines covering the spread, something they’ve easily achieved in three of their last four games against Northwestern, with 44-, 38-, and 26-point triumphs.

The Wolverines’ third-ranked rushing defense (in the Big Ten) will stymie Northwestern, who doesn’t have much of a passing attack. They’ve held the last three opponents (all wins) under 140 yards on the ground while accumulating 185+ yards themselves running the football.

RB Justice Haynes may miss a second straight game (foot), but Jordan Marshall didn’t miss a beat last week versus Purdue, torching them for 185 yards on 25 carries and three times finding paydirt. In two absences for Haynes this year, Marshall has stepped up for the Wolverines with 50 carries for 318 yards and four rushing TDs.

In three of their four losses this season, Northwestern has been pasted by at least 20 points. If their running game can’t get going and Marshall tears it up, it could be a very long day for the Wildcats faithful at Wrigley Field.

Michigan vs Northwestern Spread

Michigan is an 11.5-point favorite on the spread for Saturday afternoon CFB, with an opening listed total of 41.5 points. The Wolverines are significant -480 favorites on the moneyline, with Northwestern coming back as the +370 underdogs.

A $480 wager on the favorites would pay out $100, while a $100 bet on the underdogs returns $370 should they prevail. For the best Big Noon Kickoff bets, consider Michigan to cover the spread as they’ve dominated this matchup historically.

In the National Championship odds, Michigan is a massive longshot at +10000, while Northwestern isn’t on the board. Simply put, the Wolverines still have lots to play for, while the Wildcats do not.

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Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of 11:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. Read our FanDuel Review before wagering on Saturday CFB.

Our SBD model prediction has a 22.4-17.6 victory for the favorites, but that points to the underdogs covering the spread and the under points total hitting in the College Football lines.

Michigan vs Northwestern Preview

This matchup would ostensibly be the death knell for Michigan should they lose, or even win in an unconvincing fashion. On FanDuel, they are +650 to make the College Football Playoffs, an implied probability of just 13.3%.

The quarterback battle features Bryce Underwood for the visitors, who hasn’t thrown for more than 145 yards in the last two outings, with one rushing TD against one interception. He’s up against Preston Stone, who has eleven TD passes and nine INTs on the campaign.

Neither team is a top passing unit, but their running games have been solid. Michigan’s two-headed monster of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall has accounted for 18 TD rushes and 1,586 yards. The Wildcats’ Caleb Komolafe, meanwhile, has racked up 726 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns.

Michigan vs Northwestern Matchup Analysis

Despite holding a 7-2 record, Michigan hasn’t exactly been proficient covering the spread, as they’ve gone 3-6-0 on the campaign. Northwestern comes back at 5-3-1 ATS, pretty much on par with their 5-4 overall record. The Wolverines have won three in a row and six of seven, while the Wildcats have dropped two straight contests.

Key Offensive & Defensive Stats (Out of 18 Big Ten Teams)

Michigan has been rolling, coming off three victories in a row, taking care of Washington 24-7, Michigan State 31-20, and Purdue 21-16. On the flip side, Northwestern has stumbled in their latest two duels, losing 28-21 to Nebraska and 38-17 to USC.

In three battles against the same opponents, Michigan has two wins, while Northwestern has one. The Wolverines beat the Cornhuskers, while the Wildcats lost; they both took down Purdue, while they both lost to USC.

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Michigan vs Northwestern Recent H2H History

This matchup has been decidedly one-sided for many years, with Michigan pounding Northwestern 50-6 last November, their eighth straight victory in the series. In all, the Wolverines have snatched a W in 16 of their last 18 affairs with the Wildcats.