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.
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
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
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Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | IOWA | -3 -105 | O +46.5 -110 |
Closing 27 Dec 10:16pm | IOWA | -2.5 -105 | O +46.5 -110 |
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.
Injuries
Toks Akinribade (RB)
Cole Banwart (OL)
Nick Easley (WR)
Alaric Jackson (OL)
Michael Ojemudia (DB)
Miles Taylor (DB)
Amani Hooker (DB)
Manny Rugamba (DB)
Josey Jewell (LB)
Brandon Snyder (DB)
Kamrin Moore (DB)
Anthony Brown (QB)
Harold Landry (DE)
Connor Strachan (LB)
Elijah Johnson (OL)
Charlie Callinan (WR)
Max Richardson (LB)
Shane Leonard (OL)
Jon Baker (OL)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
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Toks Akinribade (RB) | out for season | Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Akinribade is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an unspecified ailment. |
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Cole Banwart (OL) | Ques Wed | Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Banwart has an unspecified injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College. |
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Nick Easley (WR) | Ques Wed | Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Easley is dealing with an unspecified injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College. |
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Alaric Jackson (OL) | out for season | Suspension - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Jackson has been suspended for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College due to a violation of team rules. |
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Michael Ojemudia (DB) | Ques Wed | Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Ojemudia has an undisclosed injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College. |
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Miles Taylor (DB) | Out Wed | Leg - 19 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Taylor will not be available for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College due to a leg surgery. |
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Amani Hooker (DB) | Prob Wed | Knee - 14 / 11 / 17 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
Hooker missed the last two games with a knee injury but is expected to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College. |
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Manny Rugamba (DB) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 12 / 11 / 17 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
Rugamba has an ankle injury and it is undetermined if he will play Saturday against Purdue. |
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Josey Jewell (LB) | Prob Sat | Shoulder - 29 / 10 / 17 | 2-2 | 3-2 | + - |
Jewell is dealing with a shoulder injury but it is not expected to hinder his availability against Ohio State on Saturday. |
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Brandon Snyder (DB) | out for season | Knee - 21 / 10 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Snyder is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a torn left ACL. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kamrin Moore (DB) | out for season | Shoulder - 12 / 11 / 17 | 3-0 | 1-2-1 | + - |
Moore suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. |
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Anthony Brown (QB) | out for season | Knee - 11 / 11 / 17 | 3-0 | 1-2-1 | + - |
Brown is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a right knee injury. |
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Harold Landry (DE) | Out Wed | Ankle - 27 / 10 / 17 | 5-0 | 3-2-1 | + - |
Landry sat out the last four games with an ankle injury and will not play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa. |
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Connor Strachan (LB) | out for season | Knee - 28 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Strachan has a knee injury and is expected to sit out the remainder of the season. |
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Elijah Johnson (OL) | out for season | Knee - 27 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Johnson tore his ACL and is not expected to play again in the 2017 season. |
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Charlie Callinan (WR) | Out indefinitely | Foot - 24 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Callinan will miss a substantial amount of time due to an injured foot. |
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Max Richardson (LB) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 24 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Richardson is dealing with a knee injury and it is unknown as to how long he will be sidelined. |
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Shane Leonard (OL) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 12 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Leonard has been sidelined by a knee injury and there is currently no timetable for his return. |
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Jon Baker (OL) | out for season | Knee - 07 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
Baker will sit out the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. |
Pinstripe Bowl Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm IOWA -3 -105 O +46.5 -110 Closing 27 Dec 10:16pm IOWA -2.5 -105 O +46.5 -110 -
Injuries
Toks Akinribade (RB)
out for season Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17Cole Banwart (OL)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17Nick Easley (WR)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17Alaric Jackson (OL)
out for season Suspension - 20 / 12 / 17Michael Ojemudia (DB)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17Miles Taylor (DB)
Out Wed Leg - 19 / 12 / 17Amani Hooker (DB)
Prob Wed Knee - 14 / 11 / 17Manny Rugamba (DB)
Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 11 / 17Josey Jewell (LB)
Prob Sat Shoulder - 29 / 10 / 17Brandon Snyder (DB)
out for season Knee - 21 / 10 / 17Kamrin Moore (DB)
out for season Shoulder - 12 / 11 / 17Anthony Brown (QB)
out for season Knee - 11 / 11 / 17Harold Landry (DE)
Out Wed Ankle - 27 / 10 / 17Connor Strachan (LB)
out for season Knee - 28 / 09 / 17Elijah Johnson (OL)
out for season Knee - 27 / 09 / 17Charlie Callinan (WR)
Out indefinitely Foot - 24 / 09 / 17Max Richardson (LB)
Out indefinitely Knee - 24 / 09 / 17Shane Leonard (OL)
Out indefinitely Knee - 12 / 09 / 17Jon Baker (OL)
out for season Knee - 07 / 09 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Toks Akinribade (RB) out for season Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Akinribade is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an unspecified ailment.
Cole Banwart (OL) Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Banwart has an unspecified injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
Nick Easley (WR) Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Easley is dealing with an unspecified injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
Alaric Jackson (OL) out for season Suspension - 20 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Jackson has been suspended for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College due to a violation of team rules.
Michael Ojemudia (DB) Ques Wed Undisclosed - 20 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Ojemudia has an undisclosed injury and his status is unclear for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
Miles Taylor (DB) Out Wed Leg - 19 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Taylor will not be available for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College due to a leg surgery.
Amani Hooker (DB) Prob Wed Knee - 14 / 11 / 17 1-2 2-1 + - Hooker missed the last two games with a knee injury but is expected to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
Manny Rugamba (DB) Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 11 / 17 1-2 2-1 + - Rugamba has an ankle injury and it is undetermined if he will play Saturday against Purdue.
Josey Jewell (LB) Prob Sat Shoulder - 29 / 10 / 17 2-2 3-2 + - Jewell is dealing with a shoulder injury but it is not expected to hinder his availability against Ohio State on Saturday.
Brandon Snyder (DB) out for season Knee - 21 / 10 / 17 - - + - Snyder is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a torn left ACL.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kamrin Moore (DB) out for season Shoulder - 12 / 11 / 17 3-0 1-2-1 + - Moore suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Anthony Brown (QB) out for season Knee - 11 / 11 / 17 3-0 1-2-1 + - Brown is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a right knee injury.
Harold Landry (DE) Out Wed Ankle - 27 / 10 / 17 5-0 3-2-1 + - Landry sat out the last four games with an ankle injury and will not play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa.
Connor Strachan (LB) out for season Knee - 28 / 09 / 17 - - + - Strachan has a knee injury and is expected to sit out the remainder of the season.
Elijah Johnson (OL) out for season Knee - 27 / 09 / 17 - - + - Johnson tore his ACL and is not expected to play again in the 2017 season.
Charlie Callinan (WR) Out indefinitely Foot - 24 / 09 / 17 - - + - Callinan will miss a substantial amount of time due to an injured foot.
Max Richardson (LB) Out indefinitely Knee - 24 / 09 / 17 - - + - Richardson is dealing with a knee injury and it is unknown as to how long he will be sidelined.
Shane Leonard (OL) Out indefinitely Knee - 12 / 09 / 17 - - + - Leonard has been sidelined by a knee injury and there is currently no timetable for his return.
Jon Baker (OL) out for season Knee - 07 / 09 / 17 - - + - Baker will sit out the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.