Champs Sports & Insight Bowl News and Notes 12/28

Champs Sports Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

Sometimes, it’s an entirely new experience when two teams are paired in a bowl game. Not so for the two teams who will play in one of the City of Orlando’s two postseason pageants.

The West Virginia Mountaineers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack locked horns on two previous instances in the same bowl game, the Peach Bowl (now called the Chick-Fil-A Bowl). NCSU won the 1972 meeting before West Virginia – led by a coach you just might have heard of, Bobby Bowden - evened the score in 1975 at Atlanta’s old Fulton County Stadium. Now, the two teams meet in – as resident Lee Corso would say – “Beautiful Downtown Orlando” for the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl, the precursor to the Capital One Bowl, which will be played on the same field just a few days later.

The Mountaineers really think and feel that they should be squaring off against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl, but because of their miscues, they’ve been kept outside the BCS bowl storefront and are forced to look inside Miami through a TV; they’ll have to settle for Orlando as the site of their own bowl battle. West Virginia fumbled seven times in a game against eventual Big East champion Connecticut in October. Yet, the Mountaineers didn’t wiped off the gridiron; their defense, coordinated by Jeff Casteel, continued to hold UConn under wraps. However, the offense of coordinator Jeff Mullen continued to implode against the Huskies, and that’s why Connecticut was able to steal away with a 16-13 win over the Mountaineers in overtime. That one loss in bonus cantos, which never should have taken place, denied WVU a chance to go to a BCS bowl as the Big East champion. The Mountaineers are very talented and have shown in past years that they can own the big stage, as shown in the 2006 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl romp over Oklahoma, but in the past three seasons under head coach Bill Stewart, they have plainly shown that they rarely get out of their own shadow.

The Wolfpack frankly have a similar tale of woe to tell. The boys from Raleigh and the North Carolina research triangle would tell you that they should have won the ACC Atlantic Division title for the first time in their history, but mind-numbing mistakes against both Clemson and Maryland led to wrenchingly close defeats that prevented coach Tom O’Brien’s troops from marching to the ACC Championship Game. North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson – like the West Virginia team he will size up in this square dance – possesses a skill set of an elite player, but he, like the Mountaineers’ offense itself, commits far too many turnovers, especially in the red zone. If Wilson can display good ball security near the West Virginia goal line, the Wolfpack will be in very good shape.

This is a matchup in which the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. That might seem like overly simplistic analysis, but the point is that some teams can overcome mistakes; not these two ballclubs. So many teams in the 120-member realm of the Football Bowl Subdivision have distinct personalities. NCSU and WVU are twins who share the same psychologically frail profile and the same disturbing tendency to squander talent with untimely goofs and gaffes. Minimizing mistakes is the main mantra for the Wolfpack and Mountaineers on the eve of their encounter in Florida.

STAT PACK

West Virginia:

Passing Yards Per Game: 214.4 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 66)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 162.2 (Ranking: 49)

Points Per Game: 26.7 (Ranking: 65)

Points Allowed Per Game: 12.8 (Ranking: 2)

North Carolina State

Passing: 281.7 ypg (Ranking: 19)

Rushing: 125.0 ypg (Ranking: 93)

Scoring: 32.6 ppg (Ranking: 29)

Scoring Defense: 22.5 ppg (Ranking: 40)

Insight Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

The next time the Missouri Tigers catch a break in the bowl selection and slotting process, it will be their first, at least since the Dan Devine era from roughly four decades ago, when a proud program gained a legitimate level of respect. Evidently, Missouri isn’t held in high regard by the ranks of bowl-game power brokers.

The Missouri Tigers finished 10-2. The Iowa Hawkeyes finished 7-5. Yet, they’ll be playing each other in the Insight Bowl this December. The matchup simply flies in the face of common sense, but it will take place at Sun Devil Stadium on the east side of Phoenix and its suburb of Tempe.

Missouri deserved a far better bowl than what the Tigers have been given. The kids from Columbia and the heartland of America should have expected a Cotton Bowl or Holiday Bowl ticket, but they’ll have to settle for this underwhelming (non-) opportunity against a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team from Iowa that is sexy in name but light on substance and heft. Missouri put forth a very commendable effort this season. The Tigers were downed at Nebraska – no shame there – and tripped up only one time in an ugly seven-point loss at Texas Tech, a loss – it turns out – which denied coach Gary Pinkel’s team a Big 12 North Division title. Nevertheless, 10 wins is never anything to sneeze about; only three Mizzou crews had done the deed before. It’s just that there should have been a pot of gold, not a stocking full of coal, at the end of the regular-season rainbow. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been a trooper all season, buying time in the pocket and taking stacks of hits but still conjuring big-time plays on a regular basis. Missouri beat two bowl teams (Illinois, San Diego State) in non-conference play, so this is a legitimately good club that’s now in pursuit of an 11th win.

The Hawkeyes are in the Insight Bowl instead of the Rose Bowl for a very simple reason: The athletes from Iowa City have constituted the single most disappointing team in college football this season, with the possible exception of Texas, with Florida perhaps rating a (reverse) bronze medal of mediocrity. Iowa was tabbed a Big Ten and national-title contender by many college football observers before the season started. A veteran group with an NFL-ready defensive line was expected to wreak havoc after winning the previous season’s Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech in a most decisive fashion. Yet, Iowa tumbled on five separate occasions in 2010, losing a close game to Wisconsin because of poor game management and then losing to Ohio State because its offense remained stuck in the muck. Iowa then appeared for all the world to fold the tent in abysmal losses to Northwestern and especially Minnesota to end the season.

This is a tricky game to view precisely because the matchup is so irregular in nature. Missouri could grumble about being here, while Iowa could rally around the flag and decide to put a happy face on what has been an awful season. The problem with Iowa, though, is that the Hawkeyes are not young; they’re loaded with upperclassmen who will probably feel disappointed more than anything else about being here.

After all, being in suburban Phoenix in late December while most of America gets snowed in has its limits. Glendale is the Phoenix suburb where Iowa wanted to be. Life can be cruel that way.

STAT PACK

Missouri:

Passing Yards Per Game: 238.2 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 43)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 162.9 (Ranking: 48)

Points Per Game: 30.3 (Ranking: 44)

Points Allowed Per Game: 15.2 (Ranking: 6)

Iowa

Passing: 237.4 ypg (Ranking: 45)

Rushing: 142.0 ypg (Ranking: 76)

Scoring: 29.1 ppg (Ranking: 49)

Scoring Defense: 16.4 ppg (Ranking: 7)

NCAA Odds: Missouri and Iowa stay 'under'
By: Willie Bee

Their campuses less than 250 miles apart, one might think the Missouri Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes make for solid geographic rivals. But there's really no gridiron rivalry to speak of. The Insight Bowl matchup between the two universities will be just the 13th meeting between Iowa and Missouri, and the first in more than 101 years.

Both schools spent time ranked in the top 10 and with designs for a BCS invite. Instead they meet in Tempe, Arizona where the Tigers and Hawkeyes tee it up Tuesday at Sun Devil Stadium with a 7 p.m. PT kick (ESPN).

Iowa opened ninth in the AP preseason poll and was still just outside the top 10 in each set of rankings after a 5-1 start. Missouri, unranked by both the writers and coaches to begin the campaign, climbed as high as No. 6 on the AP chart in late-October when the Tigers stood 7-0.

Ricky StanziThe Hawkeyes suffered their second loss of the year to Wisconsin about that time, then fell apart at the tail-end of their slate with three successive defeats at Northwestern, to Ohio State and at Minnesota to finish 7-5 straight up (5-6-1 against the spread). Iowa's five losses were by a combined 18 points.

Missouri (7-5 against the spread) stumbled with consecutive road defeats at Nebraska and Texas Tech after the 7-0 start, but ended a respectable 10-2 and ranked 12th in the BCS.

Despite the disparity in records and rankings, oddsmakers opened the contest fairly level with Missouri favored by a single point. That was before Iowa ran into some troubles off the field that pushed the number up to the Tigers minus three at shops like BetJamaica.

Tuesday's total moved up a point in early college football betting action, but has since settled back where it began, 46½.

Iowa's troubles started just after the bowl lineup was set earlier this month. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, the Hawkeyes' career receiving leader, was arrested on felony drug charges. That was followed by head coach Kirk Ferentz announcing Adam Robinson had been suspended for violating team rules. Robinson, a sophomore, was the team's leading running back this season with 941 rushing yards.

Running back Jewel Hampton, who was injured early in the season and already out of the picture, also decided to leave Iowa and transfer to another school in the spring. The running back corps also will be without second-string fullback Brad Rogers after a heart test came back with concerns in the last week.

It leaves quarterback Ricky Stanzi left holding the ball both literally and figuratively for the Hawkeyes offense. The senior out of Ohio had a fabulous season with a 25:4 TD-to-interception ratio, and he still has a nice offensive line in front of him plus talented junior wideout Marvin McNutt to look for downfield.

But Stanzi will need some help on the ground, with true freshman Marcus Coker (81 carries, 403 yards, 1 TD) left to carry that load.

Missouri arrived in Tempe with its full complement on offense, a well-balanced group that ranked in the top 50 this season in both passing (238.2) and rushing (162.9) yards per game. At the helm is junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert who threw for over 2,700 yards and 15 scores.

The Tigers employed a running back by committee led by De'Vion Moore and Henry Josey who did just enough to keep defenses honest. Gabbert's two primary targets through the air are tight end Michael Egnew, recently named a 1st-team All-American, and wide receiver T.J. Moe. However, as good as the unit can be, Missouri's offense never fulfilled its preseason promise.

One thing the two squads share in common is their ability to keep the opposition off the scoreboard. Iowa allowed just 16.4 points per game, seventh-best in the nation, while Missouri was one notch higher on the charts surrendering just 15.2 per contest.

Another commonality is giving the ball up way less than taking it away. Iowa's numbers were outstanding in 2010, committing just nine turnovers while registering 23 takeaways. Missouri comes into this matchup with a plus-11 in the turnover battle, committing 16 while taking 27.

Mistake-free offenses and strong defenses sounds like a stalemate, and stale is exactly what this game should be. But will it stay 'under' as the stats suggest? Both Missouri and Iowa stayed below the total eight of their 11 lined games during the regular season, the Hawkeyes ending their slate with five consecutive 'unders' with all six Tigers games outside Columbia going that direction on the scoreboard.

We're dealing with a bunch of 20-year-olds who will have spent the better part of a holiday week away from home. Iowa has the off-field issues, and Missouri could feel slighted to be playing in this game instead of perhaps against LSU in the Cotton Bowl where Texas A&M will rep the Big 12. The Tigers blasted the Aggies in October as four-point road underdogs, 30-9. One or both teams could be restless and/or out of the mood by kickoff which could lead to early mistakes.

I still like Missouri, though I wished I had grabbed the Tigers minus the single point earlier. And I still like the 'under,' just too many stats that way along with the fact it's hard for me to see Iowa putting more than 17 on the board if both teams play up to par. Missouri scores one for the Big 12 by a 24-17 count.

Tuesday's Bowl Tips
By Brian Edwards

**North Carolina State vs. West Virginia**

The ACC and Big East will square off against each other in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Most betting shops are listing West Va. (9-3 straight up, 7-3-1 against the spread) as a 2½-point favorite with a total of 49. Gamblers can take the Wolfpack to win outright for a plus-120 payout (risk $100 to win $120).

North Carolina State (8-4 SU, 8-3 ATS) had a golden opportunity to get to the ACC Championship Game for the first time, but it lost a 38-31 decision at Maryland as a one-point favorite in its regular-season finale.

Since losing 16-13 at UConn on Oct. 29, WVU has won four in a row while posting a 3-0-1 spread record. The Mountaineers closed the regular season by beating Rutgers 35-14 as 21-point home favorites. Geno Smith connected on 23-of-28 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown without an interception. The sophomore signal caller also rushed for 44 yards. Tavon Austin had six receptions for 121 yards, including a 46-yard TD grab that put the game on ice early in the fourth quarter.

Smith has completed 65.8 percent of his throws for 2,567 passing yards in his first year as a starter. Most importantly, he has protected the ball with an outstanding 23/6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Senior WR Jock Sanders is his favorite target, hauling in 64 catches for 670 yards and four TDs. Austin has a team-high eight TD receptions.

WVU senior RB Noel Devine is one of the country’s most explosive players. However, he hasn’t put up the type of numbers he has in the past due to various injuries throughout the year. Devine has rushed for 886 yards and six TDs and also made 30 catches for 237 yards and another score. With the time off leading up to the bowl, he should be as fresh and healthy as he’s been in months.

N.C. St. is led by junior QB Russell Wilson, who has accounted for 35 TDs (26 passing, nine rushing), 3,288 passing yards and 394 rushing yards. He has been intercepted 14 times after throwing just 12 picks in 23 starts as a freshman and sophomore.

Wilson will be facing the nation’s second-best scoring defense, as WVU has allowed just 12.8 points per game. The Mountaineers haven’t given up more than 21 points in a game all season long. They’ve allowed just three rushing touchdowns.

N.C. St. senior LB Nate Irving is one of the premier defensive players in the ACC. Irving, who missed the entire 2009 campaign after sustaining a badly broken leg in a car accident, has 16 tackles for losses, five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

N.C. St. has been dynamite as an underdog this season, compiling a 4-2 SU record and a 5-1 ATS mark. The Wolfpack won outright as a ‘dog at UCF, at Ga. Tech. vs. FSU and at North Carolina.

WVU has been a single-digit ‘chalk’ three times this year, going 2-1 both SU and ATS.

Both schools have seen the ‘under’ go 7-4 overall this season. N.C. St. saw the ‘under’ cash in five consecutive games until its regular-season finale went ‘over’ the number.

WVU had won four straight bowl games before losing a 33-21 decision to FSU at the Gator Bowl last year. As for N.C. St., it lost 29-23 to Rutgers in its last bowl game two seasons ago.

ESPN will have television coverage at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

**Missouri vs. Iowa**

We’ve got a Big 10-Big 12 showdown for the Insight Bowl in Tempe at Sun Devil Stadium. Most books are listing Missouri (10-2 SU, 6-5 ATS) as a 2 ½-point favorite with a total of 47. Bettors can take the Hawkeyes on the money line for a plus-125 return (risk $100 to win $125).

Missouri got off to a 7-0 start this year, including a riveting 36-27 home win over eventual Big 12 champ Oklahoma as a three-point home underdog. However, the Tigers dropped their next two games (31-17 at Nebraska and 24-17 at Texas Tech) before winning the last three games of the regular season.

Iowa (7-5 SU, 5-5-1 ATS) is looking to salvage a disappointing campaign with a postseason victory. The Hawkeyes, who were squarely in the mix to win the Big Ten coming into November, lost their last three regular season games and went 1-4-1 ATS down the stretch.

Iowa’s regular season ended in embarrassing fashion when it lost 27-24 at Minnesota as a 14 ½-point road favorite. The loss to the Gophers was preceded by defeats at Northwestern (21-17) and vs. Ohio St. (20-17).

Iowa senior Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who passed Tim Dwight as the school’s all-time leading receiver this season, will not play after his arrest earlier this month on drug charges. Johnson-Koulianos had 46 catches for 745 yards and 10 TDs during the regular season. Also, the Hawks’ leading rusher, sophomore RB Adam Robinson, is suspended for a violation of team rules. Robinson rushed for 941 yards and 10 TDs this year. He also had 24 receptions for 290 yards and another TD.

Iowa fans can’t blame senior QB Ricky Stanzi for the team’s late-season woes. Stanzi has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,804 yards with an excellent 25/4 TD-INT ratio.

Missouri junior QB Blaine Gabbert threw for 2,752 yards with a 15/7 TD-INT ratio, but he had just four TD passes and four picks in the last five games. T.J. Moe is his favorite target. The sophomore wideout enjoyed a breakout campaign with 77 catches for 893 yards and seven TDs.

Kirk Ferentz’s squad was an underdog twice during the regular season, going 0-2 SU and 0-1-1 ATS.

Missouri has only been a single-digit ‘chalk’ once this year, losing 24-17 at Texas Tech (as previously mentioned) as a 5 ½-point road favorite.

The ‘under’ has cashed tickets at an 8-3 overall clip for the Tigers, who have seen four ‘unders’ in their last five outings.

The ‘under’ is on a 4-0-1 run in Iowa’s last five games. The Hawkeyes saw the ‘under’ go 6-3-2 overall for the year.

Iowa has won back-to-back bowl games, thumping South Carolina 31-10 at the Outback Bowl two seasons ago and beating Ga. Tech 24-14 in last year’s Orange Bowl. Missouri got spanked by Navy 35-13 at the Texas Bowl last season.

Kick-off is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

vegasinsider.com.

Champs Sports Bowl: What Bettors Need to Know

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (-25.5, 48.5)

This matchup is fairly straightforward: North Carolina State's explosive offense against one of the best defenses in the nation.

N.C. State (8-4, 9-3 ATS) finished second in the ACC Atlantic Division after losing to Maryland in its regular-season finale. The Wolfpack got the ACC's No. 3 bowl slot.

West Virginia (9-3, 7-4-1 ATS) was in the Big East title hunt until the last weekend of the season and settled for a share of the championship with Pitt and Connecticut. Making their ninth straight bowl appearance, the Mountaineers are ranked 21st in the USA Today Coaches' poll.

Odds

This line has remained fairly steady, moving up to -3 before sharps bought back North Carolina State at a field-goal underdog. The total has also stayed put at 48.5 points.

Neer and far

The Mountaineers rank second nationally in scoring defense, allowing 12.8 points a game and have yielded just three rushing touchdowns. The defense ranks third overall (251 yards per game), second against the rush (85) and 11th against the pass (166). The Mountaineers have not allowed more than 21 points in a game all season.

Defense kept West Virginia in every game, and it was turnovers that doomed the Mountaineers in their three close defeats. They've lost the ball 23 times, including three turnovers in the red zone against Rutgers.

Cornerback Brandon Hogan injured a knee against Rutgers and is out for the bowl game. Nose tackle Chris Neild, who missed the Rutgers game because of a hamstring injury, is expected back. The Mountaineers will need them both to keep N.C. State in check.

Hungry like the wolf

The Wolfpack bring the strongest offense that the Mountaineers have seen all year, averaging 406 yards and 32.6 points a game. Quarterback Russell Wilson has accounted for 35 touchdowns, 3,288 yards passing, 394 rushing and thrown 14 interceptions. In N.C. State's last game, he threw 60 times in a 38-31 loss at Maryland.

N.C. State's passing attack ranks 19th nationally, averaging 281 yards a game. Owen Spencer has 57 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns, Jarvis Williams has 636 yards and four touchdowns, and tight end George Bryan (32 catches, 344 yards) adds another dimension. The Wolfpack have rushed for 125 yards a game, 93rd in the nation.

N.C. State's rushing defense is sound, ranking 12th in the nation with a yield of 113 yards a game. Linebacker Nate Irving has 16 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Moving mountains

West Virginia's offense came to life during a four-game winning streak to end the regular season, averaging 31 points in that span. Quarterback Geno Smith had a career-high 352 yards in a season-ending victory over Rutgers. Overall, he has thrown for 2,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with just six interceptions in 333 attempts.

Running back Noel Devine has been slowed by injuries to his toe and ankle, but gained 886 yards on 201 carries, caught 30 passes for 237 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He is expected to be full speed for the bowl game.

Tavon Austin has caught 53 passes for 757 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

Weather

The sun will be shinning in Orlando Tuesday with game-time temperatures in the high 50s. There will be a light wind blowing northwest at 7 mph across the field.

Trends

The teams have met only nine times and not at all since 1979, when N.C. State won 38-14. West Virginia leads the series 5-4.

- Wolfpack are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four bowl games.
- Mountaineers are 0-4 ATS in their last four bowl games as favorites.
- Under is 5-1 in Wolfpack last six non-conference games.
- Over is 5-1 in Mountaineers last six bowl games.

Insight Bowl: What bettors need to know

Insight Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (+3, 46.5)

If things had played out differently, the Missouri Tigers might have been members of the Big Ten Conference next season. Instead, the Big Ten tapped Nebraska to join its ranks and the Tigers stayed put in the watered-down Big 12.

Now Missouri will get a chance to show at least one member of the Big Ten what the conference will be missing when the Tigers take on Iowa in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

The one-time border rivals met 12 times between 1892 and 1910, with Missouri holding a 7-5 advantage, but they have not played in the century since. They had arranged a four-game series beginning in 2005, but the Tigers backed out a year before it was set to begin.

The long-dormant rivalry will be renewed in the desert.

Odds

The Hawkeyes opened as 1-point underdogs but when news of player suspensions hit the public, books bumped the spread to +3. The total opened at 46.5 and, after a brief move to 47.5, has settled at its original post.

Road to the bowl

Ironically, the Tigers (10-2, 7-5 ATS) got the nod from the Insight Bowl over Big 12 North Division champion Nebraska, reversing a trend of three consecutive years in which Missouri felt it was snubbed by various bowls. In 2007, the Tigers missed out on a BCS bid when the Orange Bowl instead took rival Kansas, whom Missouri had beaten to reach the Big 12 title game. In 2008, the Tigers again won the Big 12 North but slipped to the Alamo Bowl, and they fell to the Texas Bowl last year, losing 35-13 to Navy.

While Missouri will look for a bowl victory to cap its third 10-win season in four years, the Hawkeyes will use the opportunity to earn a bit of redemption.

Iowa (7-5, 5-6-1 ATS) began the season with great promise, but a 34-27 loss at Arizona on Sept. 18 foreshadowed the disappointment to come. The Hawkeyes lost four times in Big Ten play. Their hopes of reaching the Rose Bowl slipped away with three consecutive losses to end the regular season, culminating with a 27-24 loss at Minnesota.

The Eyes don't have it

Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,804 yards with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions, but he struggled down the stretch. Stanzi was 10-for-22 for 127 yards in the season-ending loss to Minnesota and he failed to top 200 yards passing in three of Iowa's last five games after doing so in each of the first seven.

It won't be easy for Stanzi to get back on track against a Missouri defense that ranks sixth in the nation in scoring defense (15.2 points allowed per game) and sacks (3.1 per game).

And it won't help that Stanzi likely will be without receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who was suspended from all team activities after his arrest on drug charges earlier this month, and his top two running backs in Adam Robinson and Jewel Hampton. Johnson-Koulianos caught 46 passes for 745 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns this season. Robinson, who led the team in rushing with 941 yards, was suspended for failing to meet team expectations, coach Kirk Ferentz announced Dec. 13. Hampton, the second-leading rusher, intends to transfer.

In his absence, the Hawkeyes will depend heavily on receiver Marvin McNutt, who led the team with 51 catches for 798 yards and added eight touchdowns.

Catch a Tiger

Despite allowing 20-plus points in each of the three losses to end the season, Iowa ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 16.4 points per game. The Hawkeyes are especially tough against the run — sixth best in the nation, allowing 103.5 yards per game — but their focus against Missouri will be stopping quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the Tigers' passing attack.

Gabbert completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,752 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he had four receivers catch 32 passes or more. Converted quarterback T.J. Moe (77 catches, 893 yards, 6 TDs) and tight end Michael Egnew (83 catches, 698 yards, 4 TDs) led the way.

Like Stanzi, Gabbert had his share of struggles down the stretch. Over his last five games, he completed just 53 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Tigers were off to a 7-0 start after beating Oklahoma — then the No. 1 team in the BCS standings — 36-27 on Oct. 23 in Columbia, Mo., but they stumbled to consecutive road losses at Nebraska and Texas Tech to squander their Big 12 title hopes.

Nonetheless, they rebounded with three consecutive victories to finish the season ranked 12th in the final BCS standings, making the Tigers the highest-ranked team to appear in the Insight Bowl in its 22-year history. It will mark Missouri's second appearance in the game — the Tigers beat West Virginia 34-31 in 1998.

Weather

The forecast in Arizona is calling for partially cloudy skies, a light wind blowing north-northeast downfield at 4 mph and game-time temperatures in the high 60s.

Trends

- Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games vs. Big Ten.
- Tigers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven neutral site games as a favorite.
- Hawkeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last four neutral site games.
- Hawkeyes are 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 games as underdogs.
- Under is 8-1 in Tigers last nine non-conference games.
- Under is 7-0 in Hawkeyes last seven games vs. Big 12.

Tips and Trends

North Carolina St. Wolfpack vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

WOLFPACK: North Carolina St. had a very productive season, going 8-4 SU and 9-3 ATS. 9-3 ATS was one of the most profitable numbers of any team in the nation. The Wolfpack were 3-3 SU and 4-2 ATS away from home this year. North Carolina St. was 5-1 ATS as the listed underdog this season. QB Russell Wilson is one of the most dynamic players in the country, as he leads an offense that averaged 32.6 PPG this year. Wilson had nearly 3,700 total YDS this year, with 35 TD's. Wilson threw TD passes to 12 different receivers this season. Defensively, the Wolfpack allowed 22.5 PPG during the regular season, 40th in the country. The Wolfpack are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 bowl games. North Carolina St. is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss. The Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. North Carolina St. is 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games as the listed underdog. The Wolfpack are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games played on grass. North Carolina St. is 5-2 ATS against a team with a winning record.

Wolfpack are 4-0 ATS last 4 games following a SU loss.
Under is 5-1 last 6 non-conference games.

Key Injuries - PK Josh Czajkowski (hamstring) is out.

Projected Score: 27 (SIDE of the Day)

MOUNTAINEERS: (-2.5, O/U 48.5) West Virginia comes into tonight winners of their past 4 games. The Mountaineers have won all season long with their defense, as only 1 opponent scored more than 20 PTS against them all season long. West Virginia allows just 12.8 PPG this year, 2nd best in the nation. The Mountaineers are 9-3 SU and 7-4-1 ATS overall this year. West Virginia is 3-2 both SU and ATS away from home this season. The Mountaineers are 2-1 ATS as a single digit favorite this year. QB Geno Smith has thrown for more than 2,550 YDS this season, including 23 TD's. RB Noel Devine hasn't had a dynamic season this year, but he does have nearly 900 rushing YDS and 6 TD's. The Mountaineers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall. West Virginia is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. The Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 bowl games. The Mountaineers are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games against the ACC. West Virginia is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games played in December.

Mountaineers are 7-1 ATS a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 last 6 games as a favorite.

Key Injuries - LB Donovan Miles (head) is out.

Projected Score: 20

Missouri Tigers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

TIGERS: (-2.5, O/U 47) Missouri had an outstanding regular season, finishing the year ranked #12 in the nation. The Tigers are 10-2 SU and 7-5 ATS overall this year. The Tigers lone losses SU were to Nebraska and Texas Tech on consecutive weeks, both on the road. Missouri was 2-2 both SU and ATS on the road this season. Missouri will be playing just their 2nd game of the year as a single digit favorite. QB Blaine Gabbert leads this Missouri offense, as he's thrown for more than 2,750 YDS and 15 TD's this season. WR T.J. Moe leads the team with 77 catches for nearly 900 YDS this year. The Tigers defensive unit was one of the biggest surprises in the nation, as they were simply relentless in the red zone. Missouri only allowed opponents to average 15.2 PPG this season, 6th best in the nation. The Tigers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU win. Missouri is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win. The Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against the Big Ten. Missouri is 5-12 ATS against a team with a winning record. The Tigers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as the listed favorite. The Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games played in December.

Tigers are 4-0 ATS last 4 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 8-1 last 9 non-conference games.

Key Injuries - DL Brad Madison (finger) is probable.

Projected Score: 21 (UNDER-Total of the Day)

HAWKEYES: Iowa threw in the towel to end the regular season, a tough thing to watch considering how well coached this team is. Iowa lost their final 3 games SU, ending the year at 7-5 SU and 5-6-1 ATS. The Hawkeyes were 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS away from home this year. Iowa was 0-2 SU and 0-1-1 ATS as the listed underdog this season. QB Ricky Stanzi threw for more than 2,800 YDS this season, while completing nearly 65% of his passes. Stanzi threw 25 TD's against only 4 INT's this year. Star RB Adam Robinson rushed for 940 YDS and 10 TD's this year. Considering the skill players the Hawkeys had on offense this year, they underachieved as a unit. Defensively, Iowa remained one of the best teams in the nation. The Hawkeyes allowed just 16.4 PPG this year, 7th fewest in the country. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games. Iowa is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 bowl games as the listed underdog. The Hawkeyes are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS loss. Iowa is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in December. The Hawkeyes are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games. Iowa is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played on grass.

Hawkeyes are 5-1 ATS last 6 bowl games.
Under is 7-0 last 7 games against the Big 12.

Key Injuries - OL Adam Gettis (undisclosed) is questionable.

Projected Score: 20

Champs Sports Bowl

This is only second bowl game since 2005 for Wolfpack; they lost 29-23 to Rutgers in '08 (+6.5)- they've covered last four bowls. O'Brien is 7-1 in bowl games, covering all but one; Wolfpack has better QB in the game, but their freshman RBs will struggle vs WVa rush defense that is one of best in country. Dogs covered five of their last six games. Wolfpack lost last game to Maryland, which cost them a shot at playing in ACC title game. Underdogs covered this bowl four of last five years.

West Virginia hired a new OC for next year who will become head coach in 2012, so they're basically phasing Stewart out despite a 28-11 record at WVa. Mountaineers play high scoring bowls, winning four of its last five bowls, with only one of the wins by more than 3 points. They'll be well-supported in this bowl, since their fans travel well. WVU has big edge on defense in this game- they were playing well at end of regular season, allowing average of 11.9 ppg in last eight games. Average total in WVU's last five bowls is 67.4.

Insight Bowl

Iowa lost its last three games, all by 4 or less points, then after season, star WR Koulinaos was suspended for drug-related offenses. Hawkeyes lost 34-27 at Arizona back in September; they're 3-2 in last five bowls, allowing 10-14 points in last two bowl games. DC Parker missed lot of this year with diabetes-related problems. Iowa was leading/tied in 4th quarter in all five of its losses. Hawkeyes crushed rival Iowa State of Big 12 back in September.

Missouri is 10-2, scoring 17 points each in back/back losses at Nebraska, Texas Tech; Tigers beat Big 11's Illinois 23-13 in season opener. Mizzou is 3-2 in last five bowls, getting crushed 35-13 by Navy LY, first time in last five bowls they scored less than 30 points. Missouri has better OL and better kicker; QB is pretty much a push. Underdogs are 4-3 against spread in this bowl last seven years; until LY, this had been high scoring bowl, averaging 79.2 ppg over 6-year stretch before LY's 14-13 Iowa St win over Minnesota.