For many of the so-called college football experts, it’s a foregone conclusion that No. 2 Michigan has already done everything it needed to do to make the College Football Playoff. It beat No. 6 Ohio State last week, and now all that’s left is to knock off No. 16 Iowa to win the Big Ten title.
No problem, right?
Well, the point spread in this game certainly suggests that Michigan won’t be challenged, but it’s not the first time Iowa has been written off and has a chance to prove the skeptics wrong. After all, this is a Hawkeyes team that comes into the game averaging fewer yards per game on offense than any other team in the country, but here they are. This is an Iowa team that lost one of its best defensive players to a suspension before the start of the year. It then lost its starting quarterback, its tight end, its second-best player on defense and a host of others during the year, but still finished 10-2.
Can the Hawkeyes continue to pull rabbits out of hats? If they do, it will upend the college football landscape and send shockwaves across every corner of the country.
Michigan vs. Iowa: What you need to know
This is the third Big Ten Championship appearance for both programs: It may come as a surprise considering how both programs are viewed, but it will be the third time both teams have participated in this game. It’s the third straight appearance for Michigan, which won its previous two trips and advanced to the College Football Playoff. Indianapolis hasn’t been so kind to the Hawkeyes. They narrowly lost 16-13 to Michigan State in 2015 and likely would have advanced to the College Football Playoff with a win that day. Their final appearance of 2021 wasn’t nearly exciting – a 42-3 loss to the same Michigan team they’ll face this week.
Blake Corum rewrites Michigan record books: Corum scored twice against Ohio State last week, setting a new single-season rushing touchdown record at Michigan, surpassing Hassan Haskins. Corum has 22 rushing scores this season, bringing his career total to 53. That puts him two touchdowns shy of the 55 touchdowns Anthony Thomas scored with the Wolverines between 1997 and 2000. Of course, Michigan’s official records database only goes back to 1949. Perhaps the true record is 72, set by Willie Heston in 1901-2004. At least Corum has a chance to score more touchdowns with the Wolverines than anyone has in over a century.
Iowa could pull off the biggest upset in conference championship game history: At the time of publication, the point spread for the Michigan game is 23 points. If Iowa stuns the world, it would be the biggest upset in conference championship game history. The current mark was set in the 1996 Big 12 Championship, when No. 3 Nebraska was a 20.5-point favorite over a 7-4 Texas squad. The Longhorns won the game 37-27, securing a spot in the Fiesta Bowl while Nebraska missed out on a potential national title.
Follow Live coverage of Michigan vs. Iowa in the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game all Saturday.
Here’s how to watch Michigan vs. Iowa live
Date: Saturday December 2nd | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: fox | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
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Michigan vs. Iowa prediction, tips
SportsLine consensus odds
I won’t mess with the spread. First, while anything is possible, I don’t think Iowa will shock the world here. I just don’t know how the Hawkeyes are going to score points. Although they had success against the Big Ten West, this is still the same team that lost 31-0 to Penn State this year. And the Hawkeyes were much healthier back then. Michigan is Penn State on steroids. The question is: How motivated will the Wolverines be to increase the score? They have no need. Win and they go to the playoffs. Aside from Blake Corum getting a few touchdowns, I don’t see why Michigan would risk anything in the second half when it has a lead it would like to protect. Selection: Under 35
What college football picks can you make with confidence in conference championship games? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all using a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit over the last seven-plus seasons – and find out.