Transperfect Music City Bowl: Missouri Tigers (9-3) vs Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4)
Key Facts: These two teams don’t perform as expected in bowl games. You would think Missouri is positioned to do well, while Iowa and their consistent lack of offense would be exposed. Yet Missouri has won only 1 of their last 5 bowl games and Iowa has won 4 of their last 6. Iowa had a very different home road split this year. The Hawkeyes were a wagon at home blowing out teams but had very questionable performances away from home so we’ll see how that impacts them. What also doesn’t help is the Hawkeyes main weapon Kaleb Johnson has declared for the draft and won’t play. Missouri seems set to have QB Brady Cook but will be without receiver Luther Burden.
Previous Meetings: There’s a lot of old history here. These two programs are less than 4 hours apart. They played 12 times between 1892-1910 and then went ONE HUNDRED YEARS without playing each other despite being in neighboring states. Finally they met in the 2010 Insight Bowl. It was a back and forth battle but yet Iowa’s defense got the game winning score (some things never change) when they got a pick 6 on Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert.
Motivation Edge: This game is pretty equal motivation wise. Iowa is always excited for their bowl games while Missouri will be happy to have a shot at a neighboring state foe and an opportunity to finish the season with 10 wins.
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