Subscribe to newsletter

Home US News Iowa Iowa and No. 23 Missouri face off in the Music City Bowl

Iowa and No. 23 Missouri face off in the Music City Bowl

0
Iowa and No. 23 Missouri face off in the Music City Bowl

Music City Bowl Preview: Iowa vs. No. 23 Missouri

On December 30, the Music City Bowl will feature an intriguing matchup between Iowa (8-4) and Missouri (9-3), with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST. According to current odds from BetMGM, Missouri enters the game as a 2.5-point favorite.

KEY MATCHUP

The focal point of this contest lies in the contrasting strengths of both teams. Missouri’s offensive unit is currently ranked 60th in the NCAA, averaging 29.1 points per game. In stark contrast, the Iowa defense sits at ninth in the nation, allowing just 17.1 points per game. Furthermore, Iowa’s passing game is struggling at 131.6 yards per game, which places them last among all FBS teams. They will face a Missouri defense that ranks 26th, permitting 185.5 yards through the air each game.

LAST GAMES

In their most recent contest, Missouri achieved a 28-21 victory over Arkansas. Quarterback Brady Cook threw for 168 yards, completing 10 of 20 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions, while also running for 63 yards and a touchdown. Running back Marcus Carroll contributed significantly, accumulating 90 rushing yards on 22 carries and scoring a pair of touchdowns. Additionally, Theo Wease had a stellar outing with four receptions totaling 100 yards.

On the other hand, Iowa secured a narrow 13-10 win against Nebraska. Quarterback Jackson Stratton managed 115 yards, completing 8 of 15 passes with one touchdown and no turnovers. Kaleb Johnson was a key player for Iowa, rushing for 45 yards on 17 carries and also making two catches for 73 yards, one of which was a touchdown. Jacob Gill recorded one reception for 17 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For Missouri, Brady Cook has amassed 2,238 passing yards this season, averaging 203.5 per game, with a passing completion rate of 63.2% (182 completions out of 288 attempts), registering nine touchdowns versus two interceptions. Additionally, Cook has contributed to the ground game, rushing for 169 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Nate Noel has also been instrumental, recording 804 rushing yards on 157 attempts, equating to 80.4 yards per game, along with three touchdowns. Theo Wease has been a reliable receiving option, tallying 809 yards through 55 receptions.

Iowa’s Cade McNamara has passed for 1,017 yards during the season and has a completion percentage of 60.5% (104 of 172) with six touchdowns against five interceptions. Kaleb Johnson boasts notable rushing statistics, ranking seventh in the NCAA with 1,537 rushing yards on 240 carries, averaging 128.1 yards per game and scoring 21 touchdowns. He is also a threat in the passing game, with 22 receptions for 188 yards. Wide receiver Jacob Gill has made 32 catches for a total of 382 yards and has two touchdowns to his name.

FACTS & FIGURES

Missouri has managed to outscore its opponents by an average of nine points per game this season, while Iowa has a slightly better margin, outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per game. Despite sitting at 60th for points scored with 29.1 per game, Missouri has excelled defensively, ranking 20th in the nation for points allowed at 20.1 per game. Conversely, Iowa has been impressive on defense, standing as the ninth-best team in points allowed with just 17.1 per game, while their offense ranks 66th, compiling an average of 28 points per game.