Iowa Hawkeyes vs Stanford Cardinal Point Spread Picks

ROSE BOWL: Iowa has been disrespected all season as they came within three points of coming into this game at 13-0. Iowa has been noted as a team that was lucky, bypassing Michigan State and Ohio State in the regular season. They played Michigan State to a three-point game, and also beat Wisconsin, and beat a Northwestern team 40-10 - the same team that beat Stanford. Stanford comes in at 11-2, but the numbers tell a different story as they were out gained in six games. Their stats tell the tale as they out gained five opponents by a combined 1,156 yards that had a combined record of 20-43. (none better than 7-6). When you look at the rest of their schedule comprised of teams that combined to go 70-31, they were out gained by -478 yards at the line of scrimmage. They did not out gain any of them by more than 70 total yards. Meanwhile, Iowa faced Michigan State (12-1), Pittsburgh (8-5), Northwestern (10-2), and Wisconsin (9-3), four teams that were a combined 39-11, and out gained them by a total of 179 yards. Clearly the Hawkeyes getting a TD here is well beyond what the "real" numbers say in this contest. Iowa will also regain the services of RB Jordan Canzeri, a huge change. One of the biggest factors of all are New Year's Day Bowl teams situation that qualifies for this contest. It has gone 82-42 ATS. Play Iowa on the moneyline.