Outback Bowl Florida Gators vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Predictions 1/2/17

2017 Outback Bowl Prediction

Today’s Outback Bowl between Florida and Iowa kicks off at 1:00PM ET. Will the Gators cover as a small favorite?

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Gators are now 3-point favorites over the Hawkeyes after opening as a 2-point favorite when the bowl lines were first released last month. As for the total, the number hit the board at 40.5 and that’s where it currently sits at the majority of online and Vegas sports books.

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FLORIDA KEY TRENDS: The Gators are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven bowl games and are 5-1 against the number in their last six games when coming off a double-digit loss. That said, they’re winless at 0-7 against the number in their last seven non-conference games and are 1-4-1 at the betting window in their last six games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous contest.

IOWA KEY TRENDS: The Hawkeyes are a perfect 4-0 at the betting window in their last four games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game. They’re also 5-2 against the number in their last seven games overall and are 4-0 ATS in thie rlast four games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. That said, they’re just 1-4-1 against the spread in their last six neutral site games.

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OUR PREDICTION: Motivation could be a problem for Florida but I don’t see how the Hawkeyes move the ball offensively if the Gators are focused today. Florida ranks fifth in the nation in total yards, are third in passing yards allowed, 33rd in rushing yards allowed and surrendered just 17.9 points per game in 2016. Granted, their offense remains a massive work in progress but the Gator defense should provide plenty of quality field position throughout the game today. Jump on this spread now before it climbs past the key number of 3.

 

OUTBACK BOWL PREDICTION: FLORIDA GATORS -3