Insight Bowl Betting Odds

Opening point spread odds - total lines at 5Dimes : Missouri -3 / Iowa +3 O/U 46.5

Time: 10 PM EST Tuesday December 28, 2010 on ESPN / ESPN3

These teams had very different ending to their seasons, as Missouri (10-2) won their last 3 games while Iowa (7-5) lost their last 3. The Hawkeyes will likely have to rely on their defense to win this game, as they will be without 2 of their main weapons on offense. WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (46 rec 745 yards 10 TD) was kicked of the squad because of a drug arrest and leading RB Adam Robinson (941 yards 10 TD) was suspended from the team.

In their season finales Iowa lost to Minnesota 27-24 and Missouri beat Kansas 35-7.

This season Missouri is 7-5 ATS and Iowa is 5-6-1 ATS. While Iowa has covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 bowl games they were only 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games this season.

Mizzou has a balanced offense ranking 43rd in passing yards per game and 48th in rushing yards per game. QB Blaine Gabbert (2,752 yards 15 TD) played well this season and even though Missouri won their last 3 games he only threw 3 TD with 3 picks in that span. TE Michael Egnew (83 rec 698 yards 4 TD) is a John Mackey Award finalist for the best TE in the nation and he and WR T.J. Moe (77 rec 893 yards 6 TD) will be tough for Iowa and their 55th ranked passing defense to contain. It can really help the Hawkeyes’ secondary if their pass rush can pressure Gabbert, but Iowa only had 20 sacks on the season.

De'Vion Moore (485 yards 8 TD) and Henry Josey (425 yards 4 TD) have been a solid RB duo all season. While Iowa has the nation’s 6th ranked rushing defense they gave up 216 rushing yards to Minnesota in their season finale.

Iowa is led by QB Ricky Stanzi and this season he threw for over 2,800 yards with 25 TD and only 4 picks, which is a career low for the senior. With Johnson-Koulianos out WR Marvin McNutt (51 rec 798 yards 8 TD) will have to step up and be THE WR in this game. Freshman RB Marcus Coker (403 yards 1 TD) will take over the rushing duties with Robinson suspended and he will have to run the ball well and take some pressure of Stanzi.

The Tigers’ D ranks 36th against the pass and 57th against the run, but where they are solid on D is their pass rush, which ranks 6th in the nation with 37 sacks.

In some other betting trends for this Insight Bowl:

Missouri is 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games against teams with a winning record, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

Iowa is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games, 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog of 0.5-3, and has an Under record of 4-0-1 in their last 5 games.

Our Selection : The Tigers were only beaten two times this season and both were against solid competition. We also believe that Missouri palyers were reading their own press clippings after their convincing win over the Sooners. They lost their following two games on the road at Nebraska and Texas Tech, but righted the ship with dominating wins in their last two.

They catch an Iowa team that has lost 3 in a row a and has struggled on the road winning only 2 of 5 which included a loss to Big Ten bottom feeder Minnesota in thier finale. It gets worse for the hawkeyes as they will most likely be without stud RB A. Robinson who is doubtful with head injury and their number 2 receiver who is out for disciplinary reasons. Take Missouri -3 at 5Dimes.


Future Betting Odds

NCAAF Handicapping

NCAAF Toolbox