Let’s dive into this one! We’ve got Iowa taking on Missouri in the Music City Bowl, and the storylines for both teams are all about who’s missing and who’s stepping up.
Iowa Hawkeyes
RB Kaleb Johnson is out, preparing for the NFL Draft. While his absence is big, Iowa's got depth with Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson, who’ve both shown they can carry the load when called upon.
QB Cade McNamara hit the portal, but Brendan Sullivan is back under center after missing two games. Stability here will be key for Iowa’s offense.
Missouri Tigers
WR Luther Burden, their electric playmaker, is opting out for the NFL Combine. But don’t panic—Theo Wease has been just as productive, and he’ll be a reliable weapon for QB Brady Cook.
Speaking of Cook, the guy is the real deal—over 2,200 passing yards, 9 TDs to only 2 INTs, and 5 rushing scores. He’s a dual-threat who can make Iowa’s defense pay in the red zone.
Key Matchup Insight
Iowa’s Defense vs. Missouri’s Offense: Iowa’s known for locking things down, but this season they’ve been vulnerable against teams with a strong run game. Missouri’s got that in spades with Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, a thunder-and-lightning backfield duo.
Missouri’s Defense: They rank among the best in third-down stops. If they can force Iowa into third-and-long situations, it could be a rough day for the Hawkeyes.
The Play
This game comes down to balance and explosiveness, and Missouri has the edge. With a more versatile offense and a defense that thrives in big moments, we’re rolling with Missouri -2.5 to cover the spread.
💥 Fontaine’s 5 Pick: Missouri -2.5🎯 Lock it in and let’s cash!
You can’t win if you don’t lock!
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