The Mississippi State Bulldogs unfortunately have to play in a stacked SEC, because if they were in a different conference this year they could have really turned some heads. Mississippi State has one of the best defenses in the country but the team only went 8-4 in the regular season because the schedule was so tough.
The Bulldogs will aim to prove their mettle against a non-conference foe this postseason when they face off against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Outback Bowl. Iowa had a pretty good year but the oddsmakers believe Mississippi State is the superior team.
Bowl games that pit teams from different conferences are always intriguing and this one should be no different in NCAA football wagering.
This NCAA football game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Iowa Hawkeyes will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida at 12 p.m ET on Tuesday, January 1st, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
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Odds Analysis
Mississippi State is listed as the 7-point favorite in this matchup. The Bulldogs are the -275 favorites on the moneyline while the Hawkeyes are listed as the +226 underdog. The scoring total is listed at 42 points. That is a really low number for a college football game but it’s not surprising considering the defensive prowess of both sides in NCAA football betting lines.
Key Stat
12.0. That’s the number of points per game Mississippi State allowed in the regular season, a dominant mark. The Bulldogs allowed only nine points total in their final two games, which were blowout wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss.
Mississippi State held nine teams to 13 points or fewer this season. LSU and Alabama scored a little bit more than that but they combined for only 42 points against the Bulldogs when they each piled up the points against other teams.
The Bulldogs’ pass defense was particularly impressive, giving up only 164.2 yards per game through the air during the regular season.
Player To Watch
Nate Stanley -- The Iowa quarterback needs to play well if his team has a chance to pull off the upset in this one. Stanley has been up and down on the year. He has thrown for 2,638 yards with 23 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
He was good down the stretch, throwing for five touchdowns with only one pick in the final two games, which was a pair of victories over Illinois and Nebraska.
Free NCAA Football ATS Picks
Iowa has lost three of its four games by one possession and generally played everyone on the schedule tough. However, Mississippi State’s defense will be one of the most talented it has seen. Stanley is a decent quarterback but not a great one and it could be a long day.
The Bulldogs are the superior team and should be able to win this game pretty handily. Mississippi State is the pick to cover the spread in addition to claiming the victory. The “under” is the call as this game will be a slugfest.
NCAA Football Odds: Mississippi State Bulldogs 23, Iowa Hawkeyes 13
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