Big Ten Championship preview: Early success imperative to Michigan, Iowa in potential defensive battle

The Big Ten Championship Game, according to betting odds, could be the most lopsided of this week’s title bouts with Michigan entering the contest as more than a three-touchdown favorite. Iowa’s sputtering offense may be no challenge for the Wolverines’ elite defense, but the Hawkeyes’ ability to keep teams off the scoreboard has been the great equalizer all year.

In what could be the most smash-mouth game of the 2023 college football season, Michigan has a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line while Iowa seeks to play spoiler and pull off one of the biggest conference title game upsets in recent memory. With the Wolverines favored so heavily, the first quarter could be telling of whether the game will get out of hand or whether the Hawkeyes will stay competitive.

TheMichiganInsider staff writer Alejandro Zuniga and HawkeyeInsider staff writer David Eickholt convened to preview the star-studded matchup between the Wolverines and Hawkeyes, highlighting key players and noting storylines that could impact the game’s outcome.