Michigan vs. Iowa Betting: Should the Wolverines be on upset watch for their trip to Iowa City?

It had been mostly clean sailing for Michigan this month until an inspired Maryland squad made things interesting in Ann Arbor this past Saturday.

Is that a sign of potential trouble for this weekend’s trip to Iowa? Or should we look more at the fact that the Wolverines did what they needed to do down the stretch to handle their first test of the season?

Michigan dispatched Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn by a combined score of 166-17, but Maryland proved to be difficult to put away, leading late in the second quarter and pulling within 24-19 with nine minutes left.

But Blake Corum, who ran for 243 yards and two scores, put the Wolverines up 34-19 late, and they held on from there for a 34-27 win.

This Saturday will bring their first road test of the season, as they visit the Hawkeyes, who will certainly be counting on their defense to guide them to a win that would propel them into the rankings and put them in a strong position in the wide-open Big Ten West.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: #4 Michigan Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
• Venue & Location: Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)
• Date: Saturday, October 1, 2022
• Game Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (11:00 a.m. local time)
• How to Watch Michigan vs. Iowa: FOX

Michigan vs. Iowa Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other recommended sports betting sites may also be included in this article.

Spread

• Michigan -10.5 (-105)
• Iowa +10.5 (-115)

Over/Under

• Over 41.5 (-114)
• Under 41.5 (-106)

Moneyline

• Michigan -420
• Iowa +320

Michigan vs. Iowa Prediction and Best Bets

Michigan vs. Iowa Prediction: Michigan to win

Michigan vs. Iowa Best Bets: Michigan -10.5 (Best Value: -105 at BetOnline) & Michigan/Iowa under 42.5 (Best Value: -110 at Bovada Sportsbook, BetUS & BetMGM)

Whether or not the Michigan vs. Iowa matchup will end the Wolverines’ College Football Playoff hopes fully intact will depend on the answers to these two questions:

1) Will Michigan’s offense be able to generate modest success without making mistakes?

2) Can Iowa’s offense generate enough against Michigan’s defense?

Iowa’s Offensive Offensive Numbers

• South Dakota State (7-3 W): 166 yards, three points, two turnovers
• Iowa State (10-7 L): 150 yards, seven points, three turnovers
• Nevada (27-0 W): 337 yards, 27 points, zero turnovers
• Rutgers (27-10 W): 277 yards, 13 points, zero turnovers

Iowa’s defense is certainly good enough to win this game. But their offense is still every bit as hard to watch as it was last year, if not harder. At least last year they had RB Tyler Goodson, who is now with the Green Bay Packers.

The last two games have been better than the first two games, but the Nevada game, their best performance, was a week after the Wolf Pack gave up 55 points and 616 yards (406 passing) to FCS Incarnate Ward and a week before they gave up 48 points and 541 yards (461 rushing)

Saturday will be a real test for Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, but as long as Iowa’s offense is what it is, it is hard to really have much faith in do enough to win the game.

And while I think the Hawkeyes will keep it close for a while, I expect the Wolverines to create some space late and cover.

If you like to spend your Saturday watching entertaining football, this will not be the game to start your day with. Take the under (the sooner the better, because this total should go down, not up), tune in to another game, and follow the fate of your Michigan vs. Iowa bets on your phone.