Outback Bowl Preview: Greene Key to Iowa's Success

On this New Year's Eve I find myself filled with anticipation for the Bowl games to come tomorrow.  Being an Iowa Hawkeye fan I am most certainly looking forward to the Outback Bowl, which pits Iowa against Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks. 

In this game, as with all of Iowa's successful outings this year, one thing will be key: Shonn Greene.

I read an article earlier today stating that Iowa was perhaps the best four-loss team in the country...Something I can't disagree with. Oh if only there were a Big Ten Conference Championship! Yet, I digress.

The Hawkeyes have won five of their last six games, including an upset of Penn State, then-ranked No. 3 in the country. This success was largely due to the dominance of Shonn Greene, the Hawkeye's stellar tailback. 

Greene rushed for over 1,700 yards, 17 touchdowns, averaged 6.2 yards per carry, and rushed for over 100 yards in each game this season. Since the Hawks righted the ship and went on their six game stomp through the second half of the season, Greene has accounted for 12 of those 17 touchdowns, averaging over 150 yards per game. 

Iowa has always been a running team aided by hefty farm-raised lineman and a gritty approach to the game. It's something they've stuck to and something that will ultimately help them dismantle the Gamecocks on New Years Day. Especially considering the stats:

Consider Greene's success in the Big Ten, a conference known for running the ball as well as rush defense. Penn State, Iowa, and Ohio State are all three among the top 20 in rush defense. Yet Greene rushed for over 152 yards per game against Big Ten opponents. 

I see nothing in South Carolina that will slow down the "Greene Machine" either.

Iowa averaged over 189 yards per game this year good for 28th in the nation.  Meanwhile South Carolina gave up 128.7 ypg. With this kind of rushing game the Hawkeyes will be able to dominate the clock as well as mix in the play action pass to keep SC guessing.

No one has been able to stop Shonn Greene this year. And short of a truly stellar defense, which the Gamecocks are not, no one will.