The Big Ten will take on the SEC in Monday afternoon’s Iowa vs. Missouri Music City Bowl at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. With the Tigers laying 2.5 points and the total sitting at just 40.5, what’s the best bet in today’s matchup?
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
Iowa Hawkeyes (+2.5) vs. Missouri Tigers (-2.5); o/u 40
3:30 p.m. ET, Monday, December 30, 2024
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV: ESPN
Iowa vs. Missouri Music City Bowl Public Betting: Bettors Backing Tigers
As of this writing, our CFB Public Betting page shows that 61% of bets are on Miami. That said, this page is updated frequently so make sure that you click on the link provided so that you’re getting the most updated information.
Sullivan to start for Iowa in bowl game
Brendan Sullivan (ankle) will be the Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback for their bowl game against Missouri on Dec. 30, David Eickholt of 247Sports reports. Sullivan has an opportunity to redeem himself from his previous game, in which he logged a 0-2 TD-INT ratio and one fumble without recording a touchdown. Before then, he had registered five total touchdowns (one passing, four rushing) across his last six games.
Mizzou’s top WR Burden to skip bowl game
Luther Burden will skip Missouri’s bowl game in preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft, per Alvin Reid of STLAmerican.com. Burden previously announced his decision to declare for the NFL Draft but had not publicly made a decision about the team’s upcoming bowl game. The junior receiver finished his time in Columbia with 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons. The Tigers will have to look elsewhere for production at the receiver spot when they face Iowa in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on December 30.
Iowa vs. Missouri Music City Bowl Betting Trends
Iowa is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Iowa’s last 12 games
Missouri is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Missouri is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
Iowa vs. Missouri Music City Bowl Prediction
At Fanduel, the first half total sits at 20.5 points and the juice is shaded to the under for good reason. Following a successful 2023 campaign and successful offseason that brought in top talent through the portal, Mizzou’s offense never reached its full potential this season. The Tigers didn’t lose a step in the running game thanks to Nate Noel, but Brady Cook battled injuries and inconsistent play despite having a pair of top receivers in Burden and Theo Wease. Now Burden is out today as he prepares for the NFL draft.
On the other side, the Hawkeyes were better offensively this season but that wasn’t exactly a high hurdle to clear. Sullivan is coming back from injury and could be rusty, plus the Mizzou defense is excellent on third downs. Even with their issues on offense, the Tigers can also control the clock with long, sustainable drives.
With the total sitting at just 40 and several bowl games already reaching overtime, I’m not risking the full game under. But I’ll gladly take advantage of the number that Fanduel is giving us on the first half under.
Iowa vs. Missouri Music City Bowl Prediction: Under 20.5 First Half (-138)