Boston College Eagles vs Iowa Hawkeyes Point Spread Picks

PINSTRIPE BOWL - The weather is cold at Yankee Stadium in New York, but that's fine with Iowa, whi is used to playing late season games in the cold. The Hawkeyes like to run the football and play a physical defense in the trenches. Iowa played the tougher schedule and finished #35 in the nation in yards allowed and #20 in points allowed (19.9 per game). On offense, the Hawkeyes have balance with senior RB Akrum Wadley (1,021 yards) and sophomore QB Nathan Stanley (25 TDs, 6 INTs) was outstanding in his first season. Iowa topped Iowa State by scoring 44 points, crushed Ohio State (55-24) as a +21 dog, and should have beaten Penn State (21-19 loss) as a two-TD dog, allowing a score on the final play. The Hawkeyes' defense is fierce behind senior linebacker Josey Jewell and junior cornerback Josh Jackson (seven interceptions). Iowa is 43-21 ATS against teams rushing for 200 or more yards per game, including 36-15 ATS with Kirk Ferentz as coach. Boston College does not have an elite defense, allowing 198 yards rushing per contest, #102 in the nation. They lost QB Anthony Brown with a season-ending injury November 11 against North Carolina State, so backup QB Darius Wade (2 TDs, 1 INT) will start. He's a senior, but in his BC career he has 4 TDs and 3 picks. The Eagles pulled upsets over Florida State and Louisville, but also lost by double-digits to Notre Dame (49-20), Clemson (34-7), and Virginia Tech (23-10). And in a pick 'em game against Wake Forest, they lost 34-10. Play Iowa.