Let’s not kid ourselves here; Iowa loves to shove the rock down the throats of their opponents and while that may appear to be bland for certain viewers, the Hawkeyes’ smash-mouth brand of football has translated into a ton of success over the years for Iowa. Simply put, with third-stringer QB Joe Labas in line to get the start ahead of this New Year’s Eve bout, running the ball more often than not should be the formula for success. However, the biggest difference-maker on this squad will be this offensive line. In years past, this positional unit has been a large reason for Iowa’s success, but they will need to be at their best if they want to keep Labas healthy and on his feet.
Ranked as high as 8th in the Top 25 after a 4-0 start to the season, the Wildcats limped down the stretch by losing three of their final games which eventually saw themselves finish at 7-5 on the season. With QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez electing to sit out in this one and declare for the NFL Draft, can some fresh faces lead Kentucky to their eighth win of the campaign? Here are the Iowa-Kentucky college football odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
Music City Bowl Odds: Iowa-Kentucky OddsIowa: -2. 5 (-110)Kentucky: +2. 5 (-110)Over: 31. 5 (-104)Under: 31. 5 (-118)Why Iowa Could Cover The SpreadWhile there were memes throughout the season that poked fun at which offense was more sluggish between the Hawkeyes and Denver Broncos, it was Iowa that at least look far more improved as the season progressed. In fact, while Iowa was far from perfect, they managed to score at least 24 points in three of their final five games which also directly translated into four wins in the final month of the regular season. Yes, the Hawkeyes were bested by the Cornhuskers on the day after Thanksgiving, but this team has been trending positively as of late. With a possible spread covering victory hanging in the balance, Iowa could seek to get their revenge over when Kentucky downed them in the Citrus Bowl a year ago if they can stick to their script of running the pigskin.
The Hawkeyes are looking for their 10th bowl win (and fourth straight) under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Kentucky is looking to improve to 4-2 in bowl games under Mark Stoops; the Wildcats won their third straight bowl game a year ago with a 23-21 win over NC State in the Gator Bowl. Kentucky is a 3-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 44 points. How to watch Iowa vs. Kentucky in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (College Football Bowl Season 2021-22):How can I watch coverage on TV? When will it air? On what TV channel? - Saturday’s game will kick off at 1:00 p. m. EST and will air on TV via ABC. Live stream options: WatchESPN | Sling | fuboTV - Viewers who have cable can use login credentials from their TV provider to watch via WatchESPN.
Music City Bowl Odds: Iowa Vs. Kentucky Prediction, Odds And Pick - 12/31/2022New Year’s Eve is almost here as the Music City Bowl will be the talk of Nashville when the Iowa Hawkeyes battle it out with the Kentucky Wildcats on the final day of 2022. Let’s take a look at our College Football odds series where our Iowa-Kentucky prediction and pick will be unveiled. Although plagued with a dull offensive attack that only averaged 17 points per game, the Hawkeyes will turn to a backup QB to ignite the offense and lead the program to an 8-5 record in head coach Kirk Ferrentz’s 24th year in Iowa City.
Listen to UK Sports Network Radio Coverage of Kentucky
Citrus Bowl 2021 | Iowa vs. Kentucky: Live stream, start time, TV, how to watch college footballIowa head coach Kirk Ferentz high fives Sam LaPorta (84) following a touchdown against Nebraska during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa defeated Nebraska 28-21.
The star of the Wildcats’ defensive onslaught is led by junior linebacker D’Eryck Johnson who has managed to show that he has an instinctive nose for the football. Against a well-below-average Iowa offense, Kentucky’s ticket to covering the spread will no doubt come from the defensive side of the ball. Final Iowa-Kentucky Prediction & PickClearly, this matchup does not stand out on paper, but if you are a fan of strong running games and stingy defenses, then this is the game for you. However, it would be wise to put your money on the Wildcats’ ability to get more stops when needed.
(AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)APThe 2021-22 college football bowl season continues on New Year’s Day with a top-25 matchup in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. The No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3) take on the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats (9-3) in the first-ever meeting between the schools at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Iowa, the Big Ten West champion, is looking to bounce back after a 42-3 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Iowa vs. Kentucky FREE LIVE STREAM (1/1/21): Watch Citrus Bowl online | Time, TV, channelIowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) runs from Michigan defensive back Brad Hawkins (2) during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. APBig Ten runner-up Iowa faces Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl on Saturday, January 1, 2022 (1/1/22) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of fuboTV. Here’s what you need to know:What: Big Ten Championship GameWho: Iowa vs.
Music City Bowl Prediction: Iowa and Kentucky Stage a
Fans who don’t have cable can also watch the game with a la carte streaming options such as Sling or fuboTV, which has a free seven-day trial. More coverage via the Associated Press:No. 25 Kentucky (9-3, SEC) vs. No. 17 Iowa (10-3, Big Ten), Jan. 1, 1 p. ETLOCATION: Orlando, FloridaTOP PLAYERSKentucky: Quarterback Will Levis, a Penn State transfer, threw for 2, 593 of his 2, 980 yards and 23 of his 32 total touchdowns. Chris Rodriguez Jr. added 1, 272 yards rushing and eight TDs and Wan’Dale Robinson 1, 164 yards receiving and three TDs. Iowa: Junior back Tyler Goodson rushed for 1, 151 yards and six TDs. Defensive back Dane Belton is tied for second nationally with five interceptions.
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs Kentucky Game Center
Nevertheless, head coach Mark Stoops has done a wonderful job in resurrecting a program that always seemed to play second fiddle to the school’s basketball program. At first glance, Kentucky will attempt to fill massive void left by Levis and Rodriguez by spreading the wealth around offensively to a slew of other playmakers. With that being said, it could be up to backup quarterback Destin Wade to get the ball into the hands of his halfbacks and receivers. While Wade does not currently possess the type of experience and skillset that Levis has, one good showing in the Music City Bowl could establish himself as the starter under center for the Wildcats in years to come. While the offense may miss a beat, Kentucky is led by one of the top defenses not only in the SEC but in all of the nation.
Citrus Bowl 2022: Iowa vs. Kentucky time, channel and how to
Believe it or not, Iowa’s emergency backup QB is tight end Sam LaPorta, so maintaining Labas with a clean pocket and keeping him free of injury is going to be key. Why Kentucky Could Cover The SpreadIt is hard to argue against there fact that Kentucky concluded their season on a sour note, as this football program once had lofty expectations of a luxurious New Year’s Six bowl game after the Wildcats looked the part versus an up-and-down Florida squad.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. added 1, 272 yards rushing and eight TDs and Wan’Dale Robinson 1, 164 yards receiving and three TDs. Iowa: Junior back Tyler Goodson rushed for 1, 151 yards and six TDs. Defensive back Dane Belton is tied for second nationally with five interceptions. Linebackers Jack Campbell and Seth Benson had 126 and 95 tackles, respectively. NOTABLEKentucky: The Wildcats began 6-0 before finishing 9-3 for the first time since 2018 and just the second since 1977. Their start included consecutive upsets of Florida and LSU, outcomes that ultimately contributed to the respective firings of coaches Dan Mullen and Ed Orgeron. Wildcats coach Mark Stoops played at Iowa in the late 1980s under Hayden Fry before becoming a Hawkeyes graduate assistant. Iowa: The Hawkeyes are coming off a 42-3 loss to No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten championship game.
Iowa vs Kentucky Football Game Summary - NCAA.com