Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Odds, Picks and Preview
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Odds, Picks and Preview
Among the notable games in the early window of the Week 8 college football betting slate is a Big Ten Conference clash between the Northwestern Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines. Optimism is high for the unbeaten Wolverines, especially now that they have a No. 6 overall ranking next to their name. The betting odds for Saturday's Northwestern vs Michigan showdown heavily favor the home team.
Northwestern vs. Michigan Week 8 College Football Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
Northwestern Wildcats (3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS) vs. Michigan Wolverines (6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS)
Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Start Time: 12 PM EST
Location: Michigan Stadium — Ann Arbor, MI
TV Coverage: FOX
Northwestern vs. Michigan Odds
Northwestern Wildcats Preview
Northwestern enters Saturday’s game on the heels of undoubtedly their most impressive victory to date this season. Pat Fitzgerald’s defense stiffened in a big way as the Wildcats knocked off an improved Rutgers team at home last week. Quarterback Ryan Hilinski impressed against a stout Rutgers defense, passing for 267 yards and a pair of scores. Wideout Stephon Robinson Jr. finished the day with 115 yards receiving.
Considering that their other two wins this season have come against a horrendous Ohio team and FCS-level Indiana State, it’s no surprise to see the betting market pretty soured on Northwestern ahead of Saturday’s matchup. The Wildcats also lost by 49 to the same Nebraska team that Michigan narrowly beat in their most recent game. Speaking of recent games, Northwestern will also have a rest disadvantage in this college football betting contest. The Wildcats were in action last week while Michigan had a bye.
Michigan Wolverines Preview
Are the Wolverines for real? The Michigan fan base and current AP Polls certainly suggest that they are. Despite starting 6-0, it is fair to question the quality of competition that Jim Harbaugh’s squad has faced thus far. Victories over Washington and Wisconsin don’t look near as impressive as they were expected to back before the season began. The Wolverines also caught several big breaks in their most recent outing against Nebraska two weeks ago.
While the legitimacy of their ranking is up for debate, one thing that cannot be questioned is the poise of QB Cade McNamara. Harbaugh has spoken highly of his signal-caller and his football intelligence. Michigan’s run game is the backbone of the offense, and McNamara is good about not trying to do too much. That ground attack gashed Nebraska big time in the win two weeks ago. Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum combined for over 210 yards rushing and a pair of scores. Michigan enters this week’s contest ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring offense.
Northwestern vs. Michigan Betting Odds and Line Movement
| Team | Moneyline | ML Implied Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | +1150 | 8% | +24 (-112) | O 51 (-110) |
| Michigan | -1400 | 93.3% | -23 (-118) | U 51 (-108) |
Northwestern vs. Michigan Odds
The lopsided college football betting odds on this matchup have only gotten larger since opening numbers came out. Michigan has taken money and has been bet up four and a half points. After opening as 19-point favorites, Michigan is now laying 23.5 on the Las Vegas consensus line. The point spread varies between 23 and 24 across the betting market.
Bettors would have to lay $14 to win $1 on an outright Wolverines victory. Those moneyline odds carry an implied probability of over 93% that Michigan wins this game. Finally, the total has trickled down a bit after opening at 53.5. The over/under line now sits at an even 51 points.
Northwestern vs. Michigan Betting Picks and Prediction
While upsets are always thrilling to witness, the likelihood of one occurring at the Big House this Saturday is slim to none. Northwestern played well in their two-touchdown win over Rutgers last week, but they’ll be hard-pressed to score against Michigan in this college football betting matchup.
The key to this game might actually be the Northwestern defense. Can they put up a spirited effort and slow down Michigan’s offense? Last week’s effort was certainly encouraging. It has caused the total to be adjusted down two and a half points. The other thing to note is Michigan’s reliance on the ground game. Less passing will keep the clock running and shorten this game. While that theoretically bodes well for the Wildcats’ chances to cover the large point spread, the best lean here is to play under the total.
Northwestern vs. Michigan Prediction: Under 51 (-108)
Henry has had a passion for sports that few can match for as long as he can remember. What started out as a five-year-old taking interest in the New York Jets and their green jerseys has since become a full-fledged career as a writer and sports betting analyst. His coverage primarily includes the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, and college basketball. In 2020, he ranked among the top-10 most accurate experts ATS in the BettingPros NFL season contest. You can follow Henry’s sports work on Twitter and other social media platforms @HankTimeSports.