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Matchup preview

Iowa vs Michigan

Iowa visit Michigan in Week 4. The model favors Michigan by 0.2. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
50%
50%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 23 · refreshed weekly

SP+ rates this a coin flip and actually leans Iowa on rating, 17.3 (18th) to Michigan's 15.1 (21st), with a projected Michigan margin of just 0.2 points and a 50 percent win probability each way. The market disagrees sharply: the consensus line of Michigan -5.5 implies 63 percent, and the ProphetX exchange is firmer still at Michigan -194 (66 percent) against Iowa +186 (35 percent). That is a wide gap between a model dead even and a market pricing Michigan as a clear favorite.

The unit ranks explain the low total of 38.5. Both defenses grade elite, Iowa 9th and Michigan 11th, while the offenses lag at 37th and 41st. Results reinforce it: Iowa has posted two shutouts (40-0, 55-0) plus a 16-13 win over Iowa State, and Michigan ground out 13-12 and 17-10 wins before a 52-17 run past UTEP. Two stingy defenses under a sub-40 total fits the profile.

Series history favors Michigan at 1-4, including a 26-0 shutout in the 2023 meeting, and season outlooks stay close: Iowa projects 8.3 wins and 26.3 percent Playoff odds, Michigan 7.6 wins and 15.6 percent. The read is straightforward: the even model line makes Iowa +186 the priced-off side against a market anchoring Michigan near 66 percent.

The model splits this 50/50 while the market prices Michigan near 63%, leaving Iowa the value side on the ratings.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 2 books
Spread
MICH -5.5
Total (O/U)
38.5
Favorite
MICH
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)
Iowa
37%

Real consensus line across 2 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Iowa34%-20 ptsvsMichigan66%+20 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Iowa favoredMichigan favoredSep 14Sep 16Sep 18Sep 20Sep 22Sep 23

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Iowa's win price; Michigan's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Iowa is favored, below it Michigan is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#18SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#21
#18FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#20
1937EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1786
0.8%Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.0.9%
IowaMichigansolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Michigan lead 4-1
Michigan have won the last 4
20162023
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2023
26-0
Michigan
neutral site
2022
27-14
Michigan
at Iowa
2021
42-3
Michigan
neutral site
2019
10-3
Michigan
at Michigan
2016
14-13
Iowa
at Iowa
More Week 4 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Iowa vs Michigan game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Iowa vs Michigan market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Iowa and Michigan play?

Week 4 of 2026, on Sep 26, 2026 at Michigan.

Who is favored?

The model projects Michigan by 0.2 (50% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Michigan lead 4-1 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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