Orange Bowl

Iowa (+5.5) vs. Georgia Tech

As we still await TCU's arrival to the BCS (the Fiesta Bowl was last night guys, sorry maybe next year) the attention of college football turns to Miami where the Orange Bowl is set to host Iowa and Georgia Tech. Fans from the Midwest will have vacationed for days in the oasis that is Miami, yet 48 degree highs with gusting winds might not be ideal weather for the beach or football. After Boise State's uninspiring win over a hapless TCU team (thanks again guys, no vacation for me after last night's bet) we turn to what most have said is the least interesting of the BCS Bowls, Iowa versus Georgia Tech. Triple Option offense versus stout defense and a cardiac offense. Big 10 versus ACC. It will be worth the price of admission if the Tech offense does not falter as it did last year in the Peach Bowl (it's still the Peach Bowl to me, no Chick Fil-A) to LSU 38-3, a whooping that Les Miles put on Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech with the Jackets as 3-point favorites. This year though Georgia Tech has put up a stellar season while winning the ACC and has a chance for their best finish since their shared national title in 1990. Iowa as well could finish with its most wins and highest ranking since 1960. Both teams should have good crowds at Land Shark Stadium and this game could surprise people and be the best of all the BCS games, as Iowa has several late 4th-quarter comebacks this season and played Ohio State to a fantastic overtime loss. It should be a close game and I expect both teams to play well, unlike last night with TCU and Cincinnati and Oregon in earlier BCS games.

The trend has been toward underdogs in this year's bowl games, with many teams favored by 3-5 points getting upset outright. I will go with the underdog here as well, as Iowa is 4-0 ATS as an underdog this year including 3-1 winning outright. Over 3 seasons those stats go up to 11-3 ATS and 7-7 SU. So judging by Iowa's past they usually are underdogs only in numbers. The Yellow Jackets also have been good this year ATS, going 8-4 on the year. They were upset outright to Georgia on Thanksgiving weekend though and have shown weakness on defense. The Hawkeyes have relied on winning close games with a stout defense and balanced offense that has engineered comeback drives late in wins over Michigan State and Michigan and the loss to Ohio State. Georgia Tech, led by QB Josh Nesbitt, RB Jonathan Dwyer and a host of other playmakers, have only been held to under 200 rushing yards in one game, a loss to Miami on this same field, while Iowa has only allowed over 200 yards once all season. Contrasting styles and a battle of wills will be on display and whichever team can play their game and avoid mistakes and turnovers should win. With GT superior offensively, Iowa defensively, the special teams could make the difference and I belive Iowa is better in that department. Remember a fake punt won the game for Boise last night. Iowa also has not lost a game when QB Ricky Stanzi plays the entire way (he left their first loss to Northwestern to injury and didn't play in the Ohio State game) and he will start in this one. Take the points (the money line if you feel greedy) and hope Iowa can stop the Tech offense with a month to prepare. Both teams trend towards the Under this year as well so with a total of 51 points, if you feel lucky take the under and make it a big pay day. Iowa 23 - Georgia Tech 22