Canceled: Iowa at Missouri: 12/30/20 College Football Picks and Prediction

On the season, Iowa averaged 31.8 ppg on 368.6 total yards per game (197.6 passing yds/g; 171.0 rushing yds/g). Offensively, Iowa was led by the RB duo of Tyler Goodson (143 att, 762 yards, 7 TD) & Mekhi Sargent (76 att, 432 yards, 7 TD). QB Spencer Petras completed 57.1% of his passes for 1,569 yards, 9 TD, & 5 INT. The top receiving threats for the Hawkeyes were Ihmir Smith-Marsette (25 rec, 345 yards, 4 TD), Sam LaPorta (27 rec, 271 yards, TD), Brandon Smith (23 rec, 231 yards, 2 TD), and Nico Ragaini (18 rec, 191 yards).

Defensively, Iowa held their opponents to an average of 16.0 ppg on 313.8 total yards per game (206.1 passing yds/g; 107.6 rushing yds/g).

The Missouri Tigers finished their regular season with an overall record of 5-5, while finishing 3rd in the SEC (East) standings with a 5-5 conference record. Missouri had a rough start to their season as they lost by a combined 73-31 margin to Alabama and Tennessee, however, Missouri was able to turn it around against the weaker the SEC teams winning 5 of their next six games. The Tigers did however, struggled over the finished two games, which included a 51-32 loss to the 3-7 Mississippi State Bulldogs in their regular season finale. Missouri hasn’t won a bowl game since 2014 and most recently lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 38-33, in the 2018 Liberty Bowl.

On the season, Missouri is averaging 26.7 ppg on 402.0 total yards per game (266.8 passing yds/g; 135.2 rushing yds/g). Offensively, Missouri has been led by RB Larry Rountree III who had 972 rushing yards & 14 TD’s on 209 carries. QB Connor Bazelak completed 67.3% of his passes for 7 TD & 6 INT while also adding 2 rushing TD’s. The top receiving threats for the Tigers were Keke Chism (35 rec, 458 yards, TD), Damon Hazelton (30 rec, 397 yards, TD), and Tyler Badie (28 rec, 333 yards, 2 TD).

Defensively, Missouri is allowing their opponents to average 32.3 ppg on 406.9 total yards per game (245.8 passing yds/g; 161.1 rushing yds/g).

The Hawkeyes are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games in December and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Tigers are 5-12 ATS in their last 18 games overall and 3-14 ATS in their last 17 December games.

Iowa comes into this game with a bunch of momentum after reeling off six straight wins, however, it’s tough to really gauge how good the Hawkeyes are as they avoided having to play the top teams in the Big Ten with their best win coming against Wisconsin in the season finale. Missouri’s defense is a major concern, especially after seeing Georgia & Mississippi State put up a combined 100 points against them over their last two games, however, the Tigers offense does have some nice weapons and can hurt you both through the air & on the ground. Iowa is a good team and should win this game, however, being favored by more than 2 TD’s is a tall task to ask the Hawkeyes to cover and as I think Missouri will be able to put up some poitns, I’m taking Missouri to cover in this one. Good Luck!