College Football News shares Iowa vs. Vanderbilt bowl predictions

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After more than a month since the Iowa Hawkeyes took down Nebraska to wrap up the regular season, they are about to be back in action in the beautiful Sunshine State of Florida for their bowl matchup in a familiar location.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) are headed to the ReliaQuest Bowl to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2) of the SEC and Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Diego Pavia. The matchup, unlike what a lot of bowls have become lately, should see both rosters in midseason form with minimal opt-outs, setting the stage for a fantastic game.

Kickoff is 11 a.m. CT from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and will be airing on ESPN. Pete Fiutak of College Football News dug into the matchup and offered a prediction on how each could win:

Why Vanderbilt beats Iowa football

Vanderbilt does not bend much against the run, which is Iowa's sweet spot on offense. If the Commodores can slow down the run game and force Iowa to become more one-dimensional, things tilt their way in a hurry, with the offense they have and getting Iowa out of its shell.

Iowa was terrific against Indiana, wonderful against Oregon, and tough against USC – and lost all three games.

No one works harder at making sure the other team stays in the game than Iowa.

And no, Vanderbilt hasn't beaten anyone great. It didn't have to face Georgia, Ole Miss, or Oklahoma, and it lost to Alabama and Texas, but the offense still worked against the Longhorns and ran well against the Tide.

There's a flip side to the Iowa style when it comes to the running game. Iowa wins when it gets to 200 yards on the ground, and the Commodore defense won't give that up.

The Hawkeyes are 0-3 when coming up with fewer than 133 yards, and Vanderbilt has allowed more than that just three times all year. It's not like the Ferentz offense is about to turn it loose and start ripping it up with the passing game. – Fiutak, CFN

Why Iowa beats Vanderbilt

Iowa has hung around good teams. They have nearly taken down Indiana, USC, and Oregon before seeing things break against them. They are right there. Eventually, things have to break the Hawkeyes' way, right? Iowa has to settle into its famous style of defense and ball control, like it did against other high-powered offenses this year, to keep Vanderbilt's offensive attack sidelined.

It's not like Vanderbilt beat anyone this year.

Missouri? It really didn't beat anyone, and it just got exposed by Virginia in the Gator.

LSU? Please. Tennessee? Meh. That's not to say the Commodores aren't good, but Iowa pushed Indiana to the end, had Oregon in deep trouble until the final moments, and fought with USC.

Beating the Commodores starts with stuffing the run. That includes keeping Pavia from taking off and making things happen, and with time to prepare, few are better at focusing on keeping one guy from taking off than Iowa.Oregon and Nebraska went off on the ground against the Hawkeyes, but their run defense was a rock against everyone else.

Vanderbilt lives on third down conversions. passing efficiency, and owning the time of possession battle.It's Iowa. It's amazing at holding firm on third downs, and few can control the tempo like it does. That, and it's eighth in the nation in pass efficiency defense. – Fiutak, CFN

Who wins Iowa vs. Vanderbilt?

At the end of the day, Diego Pavia is not opting out, and the Iowa Hawkeyes' defense has to figure him out first and foremost. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker has had a month to prepare for this offense, and that matchup is what decides this game.

Mr. Pavia is playing.

For all his Pavianess, and all the stuff after he didn't win the Heisman, he's still the ultimate competitor, and he really is that good.

And Iowa hasn't faced a running quarterback all year.

This has the feel of one of those maddening Iowa performances when things work, but it'll refuse to break character as it hopes to grind things out, rely on the defense, and expect something to come from punt returner extraordinaire Kaden Wetjen.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski will start to get the passing game going a bit late in the game, but it'll stall, Pavia will get one late shot, and he'll pull through with a drive leading to a walk-off field goal. – Fiutak, CFN

Iowa vs. Vanderbilt prediction

Prediction: Vanderbilt 23, Iowa 20

These teams are evenly matched. Iowa has been right there against the best of the best, and so has Vanderbilt, but both have failed to notch that key victory yet this season. This game provides both teams a chance to put a bow on their season and grab a win that could catapult them into the offseason.

This game has all the ingredients to stay close with the styles these teams play, the intensity they will bring, and also due to how well-coached they are.

Iowa vs. Vanderbilt takeaways

At the end of the day, this bowl game is what bowl games should be about. Both of these teams want to be here and want to be playing in this game. It matters to these squads. There are minimal opt-outs, the fans are fired up, it will be a great bowl game environment.

In the era of opt-outs, bowl games in flux, and the college football landscape, enjoy this game for everything it's worth, as it is the pinnacle of what college football can be all about that is good.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: College Football News shares Iowa vs. Vanderbilt bowl predictions

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