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This Missouri vs. Iowa Insight Bowl betting preview is courtesy of Sportsbook.com, where the line is -2.5 in favor of Missouri with a total of 46.5.
Two teams heading in opposite directions meet in this top-notch pre-New Year’s Day matchup. Iowa has lost three straight games (all by four points or less) while Missouri has won three in a row, all by double-digits. Iowa has been bad away from home this year (2-3 SU, 1-4 ATS), and will have to play without top WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos after his arrest for drug charges. The Hawkeyes have also suspended RB Adam Robinson (941 rush yds, 11 total TD), who might not have played anyway due to his head injury. Freshman Marcus Coker (403 rushing yards, 5.0 YPC) will replace Robinson in the starting lineup.
Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi has had a brilliant year with 25 TD and just 4 INT. Missouri’s signal caller, Blaine Gabbert, has taken a step back as a junior with 15 TD and 7 INT after 24 TD and 9 INT last year. Although Iowa has the edge under center, Missouri is the superior defensive team, ranking sixth in the nation in both scoring defense (15.2 PPG) and sacks (3.1 per game).
Iowa, 13-10-1 all-time in bowls, has a chance to win three straight bowl games for the first time in school history. The Hawkeyes won the 2009 Outback Bowl and the 2010 Orange Bowl. Missouri is playing in its sixth straight bowl game and 28th overall, carrying a 12-15 SU record in these games. The Tigers will play in their second Insight Bowl, having won a thrilling 34-31 game over West Virginia in 1998.
Last year’s six-turnover, 14-13 win for Iowa State over Minnesota notwithstanding, the Insight Bowl is usually a high-scoring affair with the Over at 13-4-1 since 1992. The Big 12 team has won four straight Insight Bowl games, with Minnesota on the losing end of three of those contests.
These schools haven’t played for 100 years, when Missouri beat Iowa 5-0 in 1910.
IOWA is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. The average score was IOWA 25.8, OPPONENT 14.9
MISSOURI is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - averaging >=5.9 yards/play over the last 3 seasons. The average score was MISSOURI 29.3, OPPONENT 33.9
77% of action on spread at Sportsbook.com is backing the Tigers. 61% on the Over.
