Central Michigan Chippewas vs Michigan Wolverines Prediction, Odds and Picks for Saturday, 09/13/25

This is a classic sandwich spot for Michigan. Last week, the Wolverines ventured to Norman, Oklahoma for a marquee showdown with the top-15 ranked Sooners. Many in the market backed Michigan as a dog to win outright, but the Sooners controlled the game and won by 11. Conventional wisdom would suggest it’s time to back off the Wolverines, but instead, the market is doubling down in a supposed “bounce-back” spot.

The problem? Nebraska looms next. Michigan heads to Lincoln next week to face a likely undefeated and potentially ranked Cornhuskers team in a game with conference implications. It’s what has been called a “hinge game” by others. If the Wolverines want to get back into the playoff conversation, that matchup is far more important than dispatching Central Michigan.

That makes this game the definition of a let-down spot. There’s no real impetus for Michigan to run up the score here. They’ll want to get out clean, stay healthy, and focus on Nebraska. Laying nearly four touchdowns in this setting feels rich, especially given the total. With an Over/Under of just 42.5, the market is projecting a low-scoring contest. That’s not the environment where favorites comfortably cover massive numbers and Michigan so far this year has done nothing to convince anyone that they are capable of covering such a number.

Central Michigan doesn’t need to win—they just need to keep it respectable. With Michigan’s focus elsewhere and the number inflated by name brand bias, the value lies squarely with the Chips.

Central Michigan vs. Michigan prediction: Central Michigan +27.5 (+110) at the time of publishing. Playable to 54.