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

Georgia Tech and their high-powered rushing attack takes on Iowa and their solid defense in this year's Orange Bowl. Georgia Tech has the nation's 2nd ranked rushing offense that averaged over 307 rushing yards per game. Iowa's strength is their defense and they will be tested in this game. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes their defense is better and defending the run than the pass. This season Tech won their first outright ACC title since 1990 and they had a solid 2-1 record against ranked teams. Iowa looked as if they were Rose Bowl bound as the Big 10 champion, but they lost 2 of their last 3 games. 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.

The Yellow Jackets have the nation's 11th ranked offense 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). He and RB Jonathan Dwyer (1,346 yds 14 TD), who averaged 6.1 yards per carry this season, rank up a ton of yards on the ground in various formations and they will be tough to stop. Even though Tech only ranks 116th in passing yards per game they do have a legit big play target in WR Demaryius Thomas (46 rec 1154 yds 8 TD), who averaged just over 25 yards per reception this season. Iowa's D has to contain the run in this game and not let the Jackets dominate them on the ground. If they cannot do that it will be hard for them to win, as the Hawkeyes only ranked 88th in the nation in scoring. Iowa does have the nation's 11th ranked defense, but their rushing defense is ranked 32nd.

The Hawkeyes have 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. He is the main guy on offense, as the Iowa rushing offense only ranks 103rd in the nation. If freshman RB Adam Robinson (775 yds 5 TD) can pick up some yards in this game it will open up the field for Stanzi and the legit WR tandem of Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt, who each averaged at least 16 yards per reception this season. Georgia Tech's defense ranks 54th in the nation and they are decent defending both the pass and the run.