The Iowa Hawkeyes play the Missouri Tigers in the Music City Bowl on Monday, Dec. 30, at 2:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.
Iowa (8-4) ended the year with a 13-10 win over Nebraska and ended the season going 4-1 in its final five games. Missouri (9-3) ended the year with a 28-21 win over Arkansas.
Iowa vs Missouri: Preview
Iowa is a three-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 40 points.
The Hawkeyes had a very up-and-down season but will look to cap it off with a bowl win. However, Iowa does have some key players in the portal, as the list of Hawkeyes not playing is as follows:
- Rusty Vanwetzinga, FB (transfer portal)
- James Resar, QB (transfer portal)
- Cade McNamara, QB (transfer portal)
- Johnny Pascuzzi, TE (transfer portal)
- Jeffrey Bowie, DL (transfer portal)
- Kaleb Brown, WR (transfer portal)
- Leshon Williams, RB (transfer portal)
- Kaleb Johnson, RB (NFL Draft)
Iowa will start Brendan Sullivan at quarterback, who went 24-for-35 for 344 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Hawkeyes relied on its run game, but star running back Kaleb Johnson won't play because he is preparing for the NFL Draft.
Missouri, meanwhile, has some key players who are not playing in the Music City Bowl, including star receiver Luther Burden, who declared for the NFL Draft.
- Kewan Lacy, RB (transfer portal)
- Williams Nwaneri, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Brody Boehm, K (transfer portal)
- Jack Kautz, LS (transfer portal)
- Orion Phillips, P (transfer portal)
- Boyton Cheney, CB (transfer portal)
- Luther Burden, WR (declared for NFL draft)
Missouri is led by Brady Cook, who threw for 2,248 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. Nate Noel, meanwhile, rushed for 804 yards and three touchdowns, while Marcus Carroll rushed for 578 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This should be a low-scoring game, as Iowa's offense struggled all year, while Missouri will likely focus on the run game with Burden not playing.
The Hawkeyes do have a good defense, but Missouri will likely start with a good field position as Iowa will struggle to move the ball, especially without Johnson.
Ultimately, Missouri should win the Music City Bowl in a relatively low-scoring match.
Prediction: Missouri 21, Iowa 13
Iowa vs Missouri: Betting Tips
Tip 1: Missouri -3 (-108)
Tip 2: Missouri ML (-155)
Tip 3: Under 40 points (-108)
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