Root
MILL--Notre Dame +
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Perfect Play--Oklahoma State +
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Inner Circle--Iowa +
The PAC-12 plays home to some strong offensive lines but Iowa will present the Cardinal front seven with its stiffest test in the Rose Bowl. The offensive line and the patience and discipline of the Hawkeyes backfield is a difference maker in this game between Iowa and Stanford. Iowa needs to keep the Cardinal’s high-octane offense on the sideline and eat up the clock.The Hawkeyes should feel good about their chances to rush the ball. The running backs should be able to solve the Cardinal 3-4 defense. As a quick comparison between Iowa and two other similar teams pertaining to rushing the football, Notre Dame and USC maintained a 7.4 yards per carry average with every running back getting a handoff while playing against Stanford. The best part of about effective running really happens on the other side of the ball as the Hawkeyes get to rest their defense. The Hawkeyes may be the more motivated as the Hawkeyes haven’t won a bowl game since the 2010 season. 1958 was the last time they won the Rose Bowl. If that is too basic, then stop Christian McCaffrey and you stopped the whole Stanford team.
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Pinnacle--Florida + ***Bowl Game of Year
Michigan can not score enough points to cover this spread. They don't have a difference maker on offense. They can't run the ball. And even if possible, UF defense allowed just 120.6 yards per game to rank 17th in the nation. The Wolverines have made zero noise other than the defensive side of the ball the entire season. They may not have truly recovered from their "bad beat" against Michigan St. Their final game may be proof that their season is over. Nobody should lose 42-13 at home unless they either had quit which is unlikely or unless they don't possess the talent. For Florida, this will be the last game for their two best offensive players. Kelvin Taylor and top wide receiver Demarcus Robinson are headed for the NFL draft. This game is another stepping stone to showcase their talents. They really need a big game against Michigan to impress the scouts. Points will be hard to come by which will bring the points into the game. Remember that the total is projected at 40 points scored so the spread Michigan is laying represents 10%. It's rather easy to make a case for the underdog with Michigan's lack of scoring.
