Iowa vs. Oklahoma: Last-Minute Spread Info, Line and More for Insight Bowl

The Insight Bowl has two programs that have deep roots in the history of college football with the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-4) taking on the Oklahoma Sooners (9-3, 6-3). 

This game features two teams that had stingy defenses that held their opponents to under 24 points per game. However, the Sooners have the better offense, scoring 40 points per game compared to Iowa’s 29. 

Can Iowa hold back a Sooners passing attack that ranked fourth in the NCAA this year? Or will the Sooners blow out the Hawkeyes, cruising to their 10th win this year. 

Where: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ

When: Friday, December 30 @ 10:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN and ESPN-3.com

Listen: Oklahoma - KCOH 1430 AM; Iowa - KGLO 1300 AM

Betting Line: According to SB Global, the Sooners are a -13.5-point favorite. You should take the Sooners in this game because of their dominance on offense. They will overwhelm the Iowa defense in this game, blowing out the Hawkeyes by more than two touchdowns. 

Key Storyline: Can Oklahoma end their season with 10 wins, or will Iowa pull off one of the bigger upsets in the bowl season with a victory? 

Who Might Not Play for Iowa (According to USAToday.com)

OL Brandon Scherff is questionable with an undisclosed injury. This injury kept Scherff out of their last game in Week 13.

OL Nolan MacMillan is questionable with a hernia. He hasn’t played since Week 2 but could return against Oklahoma. 

RB Marcus Coker is out of the game because of a suspension.  

Who Might Not Play for Oklahoma (According to USAToday.com)

RB Roy Finch is probable after a suspension because of being cited for property damage. 

K Jimmy Stevens is questionable with a quadriceps injury. Stevens has not played since Week 4 but could make his return against Iowa.

FB Aaron Ripkowski is doubtful with a back injury. He is a long shot to play against Iowa in their bowl game.

What It Means for Iowa

A win for Iowa will be a benchmark win for a program that hasn’t had a lot of success in recent years. If they can pull off this victory, it will be something their players, coaches and fans talk about for a very long time.

What It Means for Oklahoma

A win for Oklahoma will end a season that could have resulted with a BCS national championship. They started this year at No. 1 but soon fell out of that spot because of losses and the rise of the LSU Tigers.  A win would just end a season that will be looked upon with a lot of “what ifs.”

What They're Saying

Iowa: Randy Peterson from the Hawk Center takes a look at who is going to take over for suspended running back Marcus Coker.

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The offense is in flux after coach Kirk Ferentz suspended running back Marcus Coker for breaking an unspecified rule. That’s 281 carries and 1,714 yards back home watching the game on television back home in Beltsville, Md.

That’s 80.1 percent of the Hawkeyes’ rushing yards unavailable.

'To be perfectly honest, I haven’t even thought about (Coker),' O’Keefe said after practice. 'It doesn’t even enter your mind—280 carries? I’m not sure I would have known that exactly, but it’s not available, so it doesn’t matter.'

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Oklahoma: John Hoover with the Tulsa World takes a look at the struggles that this Oklahoma team faced this year.

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After losses, crucial injuries, multiple transfers—maybe worst of all, playing every play in memory of a fallen teammate, only to come up way short—there is concern that the players couldn't care less, that 14-point underdog Iowa will give the Sooners their third loss in four games. 

The players, however, say they don't see it that way. 

'It's rough,' said sophomore defensive back Aaron Colvin. 'We had great expectations for this season. But at the end of the day, we're trying to get this 10th win. We're trying to finish out the year strong. You want to end the year with a win.'

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Iowa Player to Watch: Quarterback James Vandenberg

With the suspension of Coker, Vandenberg will have to step up if the Hawkeyes will have a chance to win. 

When Oklahoma lost this year, it was to teams that had a great passing day. The Sooners have proven that they can get beat when a quarterback can rip their secondary apart. 

Vandenberg did have four games this year where he threw three or more touchdowns. He has a chance to have a huge game against the Sooners this week. 

Oklahoma Player to Watch: Quarterback Landry Jones

When Jones is on, he is one of the best quarterbacks in college football. He had eight games where he threw for more than 350 passing yards and six games where he threw for three touchdowns or more. 

If Jones can get into a nice rhythm against the Hawkeyes, he will have a game where he throws for 350 yards and three touchdowns. 

Key Matchup: Oklahoma’s Wide Receivers vs. Iowa’s Secondary

Since Oklahoma’s leading receiver, Ryan Broyles, went down with a knee injury, this Sooners' passing offense has been lost. However, with almost two months since his knee injury, it has given time for Jones and the receiving crew time to come together. 

Iowa has to do a better job in defending receivers. This year they ranked dead last in the Big Ten, giving up 2,741 total receiving yards, 228 yards per game and 20 touchdowns. 

Prediction

With the Iowa suspension to their offensive leader and their horrible passing, defense will be the reason why they do not compete in this game. The Sooners will go off with a big day to end what could have been a great season. 

Oklahoma 45, Iowa 17 

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