Orange Bowl Betting

Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-2)
Point Spread: Yellow Jackets -4 / Hawkeyes +4 O/U 51
Time: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 on FOX

by Marasoft.com Staff

Even though the Orange Bowl between Georgia Tech and Iowa is not a marquee BCS match up this game may be one of the more interesting games. Iowa has a solid defense and they will be tested, big time, in this game, as Georgia Tech has the nation's 2nd ranked rushing offense. Georgia Tech won their first outright ACC title since 1990 and they were 2-1 against ranked teams this season. They won their last game of the season, but lost to in-state rival Georgia in their 2nd to last game. Iowa also won their season finale, after losing their last 2, which killed their national title hopes. This season the Hawkeyes were 1-1 against teams ranked in the top 25.

In their last games of the season Georgia Tech beat Clemson 39-34 and Iowa beat Minnesota 12-0.

This season Georgia Tech was 8-4 ATS and Iowa was 7-3-1 ATS.

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Georgia Tech has the nation's 11th ranked offense and they are led by QB Josh Nesbitt (1,689 yds 10 TD 4 INT), who also is the 2nd leading rusher on the Yellow Jackets (991 yds 18 TD). The Yellow Jackets rank 2nd in rushing yards per game and RB Jonathan Dwyer (1,346 yds 14 TD) is their main weapon and this season he averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per carry. The Hawkeyes can't just key on the run, as the combo of WR Demaryius Thomas (46 rec 1154 yds 8 TD) and RB Embry Peeples (8 rec 244 yds 1 TD) each averaged at least 25 yards per receptions this season. Iowa has the nation's 11th ranked defense and their rushing defense ranks 32nd. Their main goal is stopping the run and if they cannot do that they may be in trouble since their offense only ranks 88th in the nation in scoring.

Iowa has the nation's 93rd ranked offense led by QB Ricky Stanzi (2,186 yds 15 TD 14 INT), who missed the last 2 games for the Hawkeyes, but is expected to play in this game. Iowa does not have a strong rushing offense, as they only rank 103rd in the nation in rushing offense. Stanzi is a legit QB and he has a couple solid targets in WR's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, who each averaged at least 16 yards per reception this season. Tech's defense ranks 54th in the nation and they are decent defending both the pass and the run. If the Hawkeyes cannot keep Tech from running the ball Stanzi will have to air it out to keep Iowa in the game.

The Marasoft Pick: Iowa +4