Upcoming Match-ups

Opening 2021 Big Ten Championship Game Odds – Michigan a 10.5-Point Favorite vs Iowa

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Football

Updated Nov 28, 2021 · 11:52 AM PST

Michigan running back Hassan Haskins leaping over Ohio State players during a football game.
Michigan running back Hassan Haskins (25) leaps over Ohio State defenders for a touchdown in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
  • Michigan has opened as a 10.5-point favorite over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game
  • Both teams are on four-game winning streaks
  • A look at the early odds can be found below with analysis

Despite playing in the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time, Michigan has opened as a double-digit favorite in the title game.

The Wolverines are 10.5-point choices over Iowa in the game that will be played at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

#5 Michigan (11-1) has won four games in a row since its lone loss of the season to Michigan State. #16 Iowa (10-2) is also on a four-game winning streak following back-to-back losses to Purdue and Wisconsin.

Michigan vs Iowa Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Michigan -470 -10.5 (-102) Over 44.5 (-112)
Iowa +340 +10.5 (-120) Under 44.5 (-108)

Odds as of November 28th at FanDuel.

The spread opened at 10.5 and the over/under at 44.5. There was no line movement in the first few hours after the odds were posted.

Coming Off Big Wins

Michigan notched an emotional win Saturday, upsetting archrival #2 Ohio State 42-27 in Ann Arbor in a showdown for the Big Ten East title. The Wolverines had lost eight straight games to the Buckeyes and Jim Harbaugh won for the first time in seven seasons as Michigan’s coach.

Hassan Haskins matched a school record with five touchdowns to lead Michigan and Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks. They helped give the Wolverines have a chance to win a Big Ten title for the first time since 2004.

Haskins had 169 yards rushing on 28 carries, scoring a go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter and four more in the second half. Blake Corum returned from a two-game absence to run six times for 87 yards to help the Wolverines gain 297 yards on the ground.

On Friday, Iowa rallied to beat Nebraska 28-21 on the road. The Hawkeyes then got help Saturday to win the Big Ten West when Wisconsin lost at Minnesota 23-13 and missed its chance to win the division.

Quarterback Spencer Petras had a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:58 left to give Iowa its first lead as the Hawkeyes came back from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter. Jermari Harris sealed the win by intercepting Logan Smothers’ pass at the Iowa 2 with 43 seconds left.

Iowa’s Tyler Goodson ran for 156 yards on 23 carries to become Iowa’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Akrum Wadley in 2017. Iowa used a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, two field goals and a safety to wipe out a 21-6 deficit and tie it 21-21 with 7:21 remaining.

Michigan vs Iowa Injury Update

Michigan is almost completely healthy. The only key player missing is wide receiver Ronnie Bell, who been out since sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the opening game.

Iowa’s Matt Hankins, one of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten, missed the game against Nebraska. The Hawkeyes’ other starting corner, Terry Roberts, also sat out because of injury.

Movement on the Line?

The 10.5-point spread seems just about right. Perhaps the line will drop a little as backing a 10-2 team getting double-digit points in a conference championship game could be enticing to bettors.

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