The Michigan Wolverines beat the Ohio State Buckeyes for a third successive season and remain on a collision course for the College Football Playoffs. But first, they must face the Iowa Hawkeyes and their formidable defense in the Big Ten title game.
Can the Hawkeyes put a halt to an undefeated Michigan season or will the Wolverines be too hot for Iowa to handle? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Big Ten Championship Game prediction.
Big Ten Championship Game Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Big Ten Championship Game odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Michigan -23.5 - Moneyline
Michigan -2400 - Over/Under
35.5 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN - How to Watch
FOX, FuboTV
Looking to make a little money on Michigan? Hanging your betting hopes on the Hawkeyes? If you’re going to take advantage of the Big Ten Championship Game odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Michigan and Iowa are thrown together in a repeat of the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game, the middle game in a three-game losing streak for the Hawkeyes. In fact, Kirk Ferentz’s team comes into the game with a 15-44-4 losing record in head-to-head games with the Wolverines. It doesn’t feel likely that they’ll close that deficit when the two teams meet in Lucas Oil Stadium.
After rampaging through the regular season, Michigan is an understandable favorite for the Big Ten Championship. No team has shorter odds on Championship Weekend than the Wolverines. As a result, backing the maize and blue on the moneyline is going to net you less return than a fair catch. There are, however, other Big Ten Championship Game odds to investigate.
The spread opened at 22 points but has since shifted out to 23.5 in Michigan’s favor. While the Wolverines have been hit and miss covering the spread — going 6-6 in the regular season — Iowa failed to cover the only other time they were a double-digit underdog this year. The last time they met in a title game, Jim Harbaugh’s team put up a 39-point winning margin.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Michigan Depth Chart | Iowa Depth Chart
- QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
- QB Deacon Hill, Iowa
- RB Blake Corum, Michigan
- RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
- RB Kalel Mullings, Michigan
- RB Leshon Williams, Iowa
- RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
- RB Jaziun Patterson, Iowa
- WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
- WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
- WR Semaj Morgan, Michigan
- WR Nico Ragaini, Iowa
- WR Kaleb Brown, Iowa
- WR Seth Anderson, Iowa
- TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
- TE AJ Barner, Michigan
- TE Addison Ostrenga, Iowa
There are eight college football games on the Saturday of Championship Game weekend to compile your DFS team from. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “Superflex” that can be any of the above or a tight end.
Kicking off your Big Ten Championship Game picks, Blake Corum is a name you should incorporate into your DFS lineup. The Michigan running back is the second-highest scoring player in Big Ten football, has scored a touchdown in every single game this year, and has found the end zone multiple times in eight of his 12 games played this season. Dominant.
MORE: Big Ten QB Rankings
With his exciting speed and current good run of form, Roman Wilson is a wide receiver who could attract some DFS attention in the Big Ten Championship. Only Marvin Harrison Jr. has more fantasy points among Big Ten East wide receivers, with Wilson hitting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career. He is also averaging 16.5 yards per catch as a big-play threat.
Due to the repugnant nature of the Hawkeyes offense and the total score of our Big Ten Championship Game prediction, there aren’t any realistic Iowa options for DFS purposes. That said, Leshon Williams is coming off a 111-yard performance where he averaged 6.9 yards per carry and could be a value-added player.
Prediction for the Big Ten Championship Game
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Big Ten Championship Game odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can the Hawkeyes hang with the reigning conference champions when the two teams meet in Indianapolis, or is Michigan on a ruthless march to retaining its crown and guaranteeing a spot in the College Football Playoffs?
MORE: CFB Playoff Rankings
If the old adage that defense wins championships holds true, then Iowa might actually stand a chance on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes had the fourth-ranked scoring defense in the nation, having given up an average of just 12.2 points per game. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker is a Broyles Award finalist for his efforts in leading this unit.
Linebacker Jay Higgins has been a force in all facets, but there’s talent at every level of the defense — despite losing star cornerback Cooper DeJean. No team in the Big Ten has allowed fewer rushing scores, and they are giving up just 3.09 yards per carry this year. Only one other team in the conference has allowed fewer yards per attempt in the passing game.
Yet, in the biggest game of their season to date, that defense allowed 31 points to Penn State. Between the Michigan offensive line, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and a dominant ground game, the Wolverines offense is a far more difficult offense to account for than the Nittany Lions. Similarly, the Wolverines boast the top-scoring defense in the nation. Michigan wins big.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Iowa 3