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This should be a good one. There are a few key opt-outs, but not enough to make a massive difference in how good the game should be - more on this in a moment.
Missouri is looking to close strong, winning three of its last four with a shot at the second ten-win season since 2014. The program beat Ohio State in last year’s Cotton, but lost four straight before that.
Iowa won four of its last five games and can make it nine wins or more in five of the last seven seasons with a victory. It lost two of its last three bowl games with the 35-0 disaster against Tennessee in the Citrus arguably the worst bowl performance of last year.
The two schools just 223 miles apart have only played eight times - they’re 4-4.
Iowa vs Missouri: How to Watch the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Game Preview
Date: Monday, December 30, 2024
Game Time: 2:30 pm ET
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Teams: Iowa (8-4), Missouri (9-3)
Fiu Bluesky | CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Bowl Schedule, Scoreboard, Predictions
Why Missouri Will Win
Iowa still doesn’t have a passing game.
Starting quarterback Brendan Sullivan is back after missing time hurt, and this isn’t the same Iowa offense of past years that can’t do anything through the air, but it’s still the worst passing game in the Big Ten with little to nothing happening down the field.
The Mizzou defense is terrific on third downs, the offense controls the clock even better than Iowa does, and the apes defense is strong enough to keep the Hawkeyes from doing anything big.
Take out Iowa star RB Kaleb Johnson who opted out, and it’ll take something shocking for Iowa to keep things moving.
The Hawkeyes are 6-0 when running for 220 yards or more, and 2-4 when they don’t. Missouri allowed over 200 yards to Texas A&M and Alabama, and that’s it. It’s 9-1 against everyone else.
Why Iowa Will Win
Leading Missouri yardage receiver Theo Wease is expected to go, but star top target in catches Luther Burden is getting ready for the NFL.
Iowa’s defense might not be quite as nasty as part seasons, but it’s not far off. It forces a ton of mistakes, allows just 17 points per game, and it’s Iowa - it doesn’t screw up.
Missouri doesn’t have a massive penalty or turnover problem, but Iowa is No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalties, there’s a good pass rush, and it wins when it doesn’t get gouged against the run.
Iowa got hammered on by Michigan State, UCLA, and Ohio State - all three ran for over 200 yards. Iowa lost those three, and beat everyone else but Iowa State in a last second loss.
Missouri can run and hit 200 yards four times, but it doesn’t quite have the power to get there in this. However …
Iowa vs Missouri: Who Will Win?
Missouri is just boring enough - in a good way - to handle Iowa and what it wants to do.
Most importantly, the Tigers don’t screw up, either, turning it over just nine times on the season and just twice over the final four games.
They’ll win the time of possession battle, will control the tempo, and should be able to handle the low scoring style this will be.
Both kickers - Iowa’s Drew Stevens and Missouri’s Blake Craig - will be busy, but the Tigers should be able to pull away a bit in the fourth quarter.
Iowa vs Missouri TransPerfect Music City Bowl Prediction, Betting Lines
Prediction: Missouri 23, Iowa 20
Line: Missouri -2.5, o/u: 40.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 4
- TransPerfect Music City Expert Picks and Predictions COMING
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