FedEX Orange Bowl - Iowa vs Georgia Tech

#9 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) vs. #10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-2)
Tuesday, January 5th ---Land Shark Stadium, Miami, FL---FOX
NCAAF Betting Line: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -5 (50.5)

Bet on the FedEX Orange Bowl Now! Click Here!

The 2010 Orange Bowl features the defensive minded Iowa Hawkeyes versus the triple option offense of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The BetUS.com bookmakers have the Yellow Jackets favored by -5 points and have set the over/under at 50.5 points.  The line opened at -2.5 GT but has moved 2.5 points against the Yellow Jackets; don’t let that scare you off GT.

Iowa started the season 9-0 but an injury to starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi during their Northwestern game forced them to go with freshman James Vandenberg. Vandenberg couldn’t keep the Hawkeyes streak alive as they dropped the Northwestern game and their next contest to ACC rival Clemson. According to reports, Stanzi is 100% healthy for the Orange Bowl and he will give a much-needed boost to their 86th ranked scoring offense. Iowa only managed to score 23.1 a game versus opponents this season.  While their passing game was a respectable 55th in the nation, their rushing offense was horrible, gaining only 109.4 yards a game. Injuries played their part in Iowa’s poor running game. The Hawkeyes have used a patchwork offensive line most of the season and their top two rushers this season, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher, are nursing injuries but will be available for the game.

Bet on the FedEX Orange Bowl Now! Click Here!

Defensively the Hawkeyes were one of best in the nation, Iowa held opponents to 15.5 points a game, due to their effectiveness against the pass. They picked off opposing quarterbacks 21 times but against Georgia Tech, it may not be much of a factor.

Georgia Tech boasts the second best rushing offense in the nation, lead by tailback Jonathan Dwyer (1345 yards) and Quarterback Josh Nesbitt who only needs nine more rushing yards to reach the 1000-yard plateau. The two combined to score 30 touchdowns on the ground this season. The third weapon in the GT attack is stellar wide out Demaryius Thomas who caught 46 balls for 1154 yards and 8 scores. When Thomas catches the ball, chances are it will be a huge gain as he averaged an amazing 25.1 yards a catch in 2009. The Yellow Jackets led the nation in time of possession.

Bet on the FedEX Orange Bowl Now! Click Here!

Defensively, GT was average allowing 24.6 a game but the Yellow Jackets win and lose their games when they have the ball.

When making your Orange Bowl Prediction two areas of concern are the Hawkeyes injuries to their offensive players and the Yellow Jackets 1-2 record against team with a top-40 run defense.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says his team is ready to go but with Stanzi missing a couple of practices this week and running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have both been seen limping around the practice facilities this week I don’t think we can trust the coach here.

Even if Iowa can slow the high-powered Georgia Tech offense, they won’t be able to stop them and considering their injuries, they won’t have the guns to get back in the game.

Free Pick: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -6

Bet on the FedEX Orange Bowl Now! Click Here!