Number 2 Michigan heads to Lincoln to take on unranked Nebraska at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday on FOX. Can the Wolverines cover the 17.5-point spread as road favorites this weekend? Read our Michigan vs. Nebraska Betting Prediction to find out.
Michigan is 4-0 straight up this season and 0-3-1 against the spread. Their best win came against Rutgers last weekend.
Nebraska is 2-2 straight up this season and 2-2 against the spread. Their best win came against Northern Illinois, and their worst loss came against Minnesota.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
163 Michigan Wolverines (-17.5) at 164 Nebraska Cornhuskers (+17.5); O/U 39
3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 30, 2023
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Michigan vs. Nebraska Public Betting Information
As of this writing, the public is favoring the Wolverines in this game. Our CFB Public Betting page shows that 68% of public bets are on Michigan -17.5. Note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once game time rolls around.
Michigan Wolverines Game Notes
Michigan will likely be without their best defensive tackle Mason Graham on Saturday. Graham is dealing with an undisclosed injury and could miss another week or two on top of sitting out Saturday’s clash with Nebraska. On the season, Graham has 9 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in three games of action.
Michigan’s secondary could lack depth this weekend. Three Wolverines backup defensive backs are listed as questionable with undisclosed injuries for this weekend’s game. They are CB Amorion Walker, S Zeke Berry, and NB Ja’Den McBurrows. This could come into play if one of Michigan’s starting defensive backs suffers an injury or is disqualified on Saturday.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Game Notes
Nebraska has some uncertainty at the quarterback position going into this weekend’s game. The normal starting signal-caller for the Cornhuskers is Jeff Sims. Sims missed last week’s game with an ankle injury and he’s questionable for his team’s game against Michigan this weekend. Sims has completed 20 of 34 passes for 220 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions while running for 156 yards and a touchdown in three games of action this year. The problem is, that Sims’ backup might not be available this weekend.
Nebraska backup QB Heinrich Haarberg was decent in his team’s win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday, as he threw for 107 yards and a touchdown and ran for 157 yards and a touchdown in his club’s 28-14 win. He was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury however, and he’s officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. Nebraska’s third-string QB is Chubba Purdy, who has only thrown 107 career college passes in 4 seasons split between Florida State and Nebraska.
Michigan vs. Nebraska Betting Trends
Nebraska is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 September games.
Michigan is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games against the Big Ten West.
Michigan is 3-2-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Nebraska.
The under is 7-3 in Nebraska’s last 10 games.
Michigan vs. Nebraska Betting Prediction
I can’t get past Nebraska’s injuries at quarterback. Their starter Jeff Sims struggled to pass the ball when he played, and the backup Heinrich Haarberg has only completed 51.1% of his passes this season. If Nebraska is forced to start Brock Purdy’s younger brother, Chubba Purdy, things could get ugly in a hurry. Purdy has a career completion percentage of 50.5% and a touchdown pass-to-interception ratio of 4-4. I don’t like his or any other Nebraska QB’s chances against a Michigan defense that ranks 10th in the country in opponent yards per play. I’ll roll with the Wolverines on the road in Lincoln on Saturday.