Pinstripe Bowl Point Spread: College Football Bowl Odds, Prediction

Andrew Rogers | Updated Dec 23, 2017

Wadley-1

The ground game will be the focus for both teams Wednesday as the Iowa Hawkeyes and Boston College Eagles face off at the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Iowa
7-5
AT
December 27, 2017, 5:15 PM ET
Yankee Stadium
Pointspread -2.5 -105
Moneyline -130
Over / Under o +46.5

37%

Betting Action

63%

Pointspread +2.5 -115
Moneyline +110
Over / Under u +46.5

37%

Betting Action

63%

Fans travelling to the Bronx will see two teams who ran the ball far more than they passed it – and that should be the order of the day in the Bronx, with temperatures expected to be in the high-20s by the start of the game. Iowa comes in a slight favorite, but the Eagles were a cover machine this season.

Hawkeyes vs. Eagles Spread and Betting Analysis

The Hawkeyes looked like they were headed for big things after crushing powerhouse Ohio State by 31 points on Nov. 4, but lost two of their next three games to settle for a Pinstripe Bowl appearance. They covered just once in five games away from Iowa this season, and are 1-4 ATS in their last five bowl games. Boston College opened the season 0-3 ATS – including two blowout losses – but ended it in style, racking up eight covers and a push in its last nine.

Roughly two-thirds of Sports Interaction wagerers are taking the Eagles and the points in this one, while bettors are split down the middle on the game’s 45.5-point total. Iowa has gone under the total five times in its last six non-conference games and is 3-9 O/U in its previous 12 neutral site contests. Boston College has gone under in 24 of its last 35 games overall, and has exceeded the total just twice in its previous seven meetings with Big Ten opponents.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa’s biggest strength this season was its defence; the Hawkeyes were one of only 22 Division I schools to limit opponents to fewer than 20 points per game. Yet, while Iowa also did a terrific job of limiting turnovers via interception – throwing just six all season – it had trouble hanging onto the football otherwise, losing a whopping 13 fumbles over 11 games; only five FBS schools lost more. RB Akrum Wadley is coming off a three-TD effort in the season finale vs. Nebraska.

Boston College Eagles

If the Hawkeyes do get tempted to air it out, the Eagles will be ready. They limited opposing passers to a 100.8 passer rating – behind only Wisconsin, Alabama and Michigan among Division I pass defenses. Boston College finished tied for sixth in the nation in interceptions with 18, while also ranking inside the top-20 nationally in turnover margin (plus-8). RB A.J. Dillon averaged 184.5 rushing yards with seven touchdowns over his final four games of the season.

Pinstripe Bowl Prediction

SportsInteraction