Insight Bowl Betting – Tigers Roar Against Short-Handed Hawkeyes In The Desert
Online betting players will see two teams who ended their seasons on opposite ends of the momentum spectrum in the Insight Bowl in Tempe, as the Iowa Hawkeyes stumbled badly, while Missouri rebounded after a couple of tough losses. The Hawkeyes’ worst problems didn’t even come on the field, and missing a major part of their offense will be the reason why they fall to the Missouri Tigers.
- What: NCAA football betting
- When: Tuesday, December 28th, 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
- Pick: Missouri -3
What’s On The Line
The No.12 Tigers (10-2) had their third 10-win season in the last four years, but losses at the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Texas Tech Red Raiders derailed their bid for their first Big 12 title. The Hawkeyes (7-5) dropped their last three games of the year to fall to fourth in the Big Ten, and to make matters worse, star receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was suspended for keeping a drug house on December 9th. Both teams have been good in bowls recently, and there is a lot at stake for bragging rights as both programs often recruit from the same area.
Offensive Matchups: Insight Bowl Betting
Mizzou is very balanced offensively, led by quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who has also become a part of the rushing attack. They spread the ball around and take care of it as well, coming in 14th in turnover margin. Gabbert doesn’t have the numbers he did last season through the air, but the Tigers have taken some pressure off him with their running game that features a trio of running backs, so they don’t get tired. T.J. Moe has emerged as a very good receiver for the Tigers, who are 45th in total offense and 44th in points scored.
The Hawkeyes are 61st offensively, and Ricky Stanzi, like Gabbert, struggled late in the season. He may have to lean more on receiver Marvin McNutt with Johnson-Koulianos out, but someone else will have to step up as well. Running back Adam Robinson is just short of 1,000 yards, but he’s just hoping to be able to play after missing the last game of the regular season with a concussion. The line has to hold off a fierce Mizzou pass rush and give Stanzi some time to make plays in his last game at Iowa.
Betting Edge: Missouri
Defensive Matchups: Insight Bowl Betting
The Tigers are 41st in total defense, but they’re sixth in points allowed, and the name of the game is to keep the other team from scoring, no matter how many yards you give up. Mizzou is sixth in the country in sacks, and they have an excellent front four led by Brad Madison. The Tigers are more likely to give up a passing touchdown than on the ground, and the secondary will be happy to see that Iowa’s top touchdown target is on the sidelines.
Iowa finished 15th in total defense and seventh in points allowed, and they’re pretty solid from front to back. The Hawkeyes are tough to run on, coming in sixth in rush defense, but they’re susceptible to the pass as they come in 55th in pass defense. Iowa will have to do a better job of generating a pass rush after coming in T-83 in sacks, because they do have a very capable secondary led by safeties Brent Greenwood and Tyler Sash.
Betting Edge: Draw
Notable Injuries: Insight Bowl Betting
Linebacker Luke Lambert (knee) and defensive lineman Dominique Hamilton (ankle) won’t play this game, while defensive back Jasper Simmons (suspension) missed the last two games of the season and may be held out again by the Tigers.
Losing Johnson-Koulianos (suspension) is a huge blow, while linebacker Jeff Tarpinian (concussion) is questionable for the Hawkeyes.
Betting Edge: Draw
Outlook and Pick: Insight Bowl Betting
NCAA football betting odds have the Tigers favored by a field goal in their second trip to the Insight Bowl (they won 34-31 over West Virginia in 1998), while the Hawkeyes are going for their third straight bowl win. These two were supposed to play a four-game series between 2005- and 2008 before Mizzou backed out, so there is a little history between the two. Iowa’s strength is their passing game, and losing one of their best receivers is a fatal blow for them against the Tigers, who are stingy when it comes to points. The Hawkeyes have fallen apart down the stretch, and we’re betting on Mizzou to take advantage of this for a big sports betting victory.
Blake’s Pick: Missouri
