Holiday Bowl Prediction
Will No. 22 USC be able to pick up a nice upset win to end its season when the Trojans take on No. 16 Iowa tonight at 8PM ET in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl?
Game Snapshot & Odds
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
233 USC vs. 234 Iowa
Friday, December 27, 2019
8PM ET – SDCCU Stadium
TV: FS1
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new NCAAF Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Iowa is the slim favorite in this game, as the Hawkeyes are getting odds of -2.5 points against USC. The over/under total is listed at 52 points. The public betting currently has 57 percent going on Iowa as the favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Iowa winning with defense
Iowa won the final three games of its regular season, all by single digits. The three wins pushed the Hawkeyes to 9-3 on the season. They are also 5-7 against the spread and 8-3-1 with the under.
The Hawkeyes are one of the stronger defensive teams in the nation, allowing just 13.2 points and 304.3 yards per game. A.J. Epenesa is leading the defense with 45 tackles and nine sacks. Offensively, Iowa is putting up 23.8 points and 369.8 yards per contest. Nate Stanley has thrown for 2,738 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead the offense this year. Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the leading receiver with 42 catches for 6767 yards and four scores. Tyler Goodson has been the top rusher with 590 yards and four touchdowns.
USC comes in with momentum
USC won its final three games of the regular season and announced that it would be retaining Clay Helton as head coach. The Trojans are 8-4 on the season, 6-5-1 against the spread and 7-5 with the over.
The Trojans have been productive on offense this season, but have struggled to stop teams. USC is averaging 33.2 points and 462.2 yards per game on offense while allowing 27.8 points and 415.2 yards per game on defense. USC has been riddled with injuries throughout the season. Kedon Slovis has thrown for 3,242 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead the offense. Michael Pittman Jr. is his leading receiver with 1,222 yards and 11 touchdowns. Vavae Malepeai missed a lot of time with injury, but is still the leading rusher with 466 yards and six scores.
College Football Betting Trends
Iowa
The Hawkeyes are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight non-conference games, but 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on grass.
USC
The Trojans are 2-9 against the spread in their last 11 non-conference games and 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games as an underdog.
Prediction:
USC has shown some improvement to end the season, but the Trojans are running into a physical defense that will play with a lot of pride. Iowa isn’t a team that is going to take a bowl game off. If USC is going to win, it’s going to be because its offense is just better than the Iowa defense. I don’t know that to be true. I think Iowa is mentally tougher and that is going to go a long way. I think the Hawkeyes will be able to win up front on offense as well, grinding out possessions in order to win and cover.
Holiday Bowl Prediction: Iowa -2.5
Related: Holiday Bowl Total Prediction