Insight Bowl Game Day analysis

When the Hawkeyes have the ball

This is where the Tigers lived in 2010.

Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel is in his 10th season at Mizzou and his second as coordinator under Coach Gary Pinkel.

The Tigers are a devout 4-3 defense with Cover 2 zone schemes in the secondary. This is born out of visits with Tony Dungy's Indianapolis Colts staff. This is the Tampa 2, with the middle linebacker dropping into coverage, an active four-man pass rush and keeping everything in front of it.

The Tigers will allow their secondary, led by experienced corners Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, to play more man-to-man than what Iowa is willing to allow in its 4-3, Cover 6.

The underlying theme remains. The Tigers and Hawkeyes have “bend, don't break” written somewhere on their helmets.

The 37 sacks in 12 games is six more than UM totaled in 13 games in 2009. Five different Tigers have recorded 3 sacks or more, led by sophomore DE Brad Madison's 7.5. Madison also leads MU with 11 tackles for loss.

The Tigers' rush D has sprouted leaks at times this season, but the redzone defense is No. 1 nationally.

You could argue that wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was the only offensive player who played the Minnesota game as though it meant something. He has an explosive gear that only maybe junior wide receiver Marvin McNutt has. But, of course, he's gone after a drug-related arrest.

RB Adam Robinson has led the team in rushing the last two seasons. The Hawkeyes finished 1-2 when he didn't start. True freshman Marcus Coker has rushed for 403 yards in six games.

Coker can run. There's no no-brainer replacement for Johnson-Koulianos.

Advantage: Missouri

When the Tigers

have the ball

When the Iowa defensive coaches - including coordinator Norm Parker, who's back to mostly full duty this week - start video study of the Tigers, they shouldn't be too surprised by anything they see.

The Tigers run a spread offense that relies on a supremely timed short-passing game, but that's not their only trick. They also are well balanced (433 passes to 410 rushes).

Is quarterback Blaine Gabbert a Dan Persa type? The biggest difference between the two - besides Gabbert's 6-5 to Persa's 6-1 - is completion percentage. Persa was in Big Ten record range with 73.5 percent (222 completions). Gabbert is at 62.2 percent with 260 completions.

Gabbert is Persa-like.

If the Hawkeyes want to win this, the defense has to get off the field. The Hawkeyes couldn't get off the field in the fourth quarter this season, allowing offenses to convert 17 of 33 third- and fourth-down conversions.

Going against such a decorated defense like Missouri's, Iowa's offense is going to need time to feel its way and find rhythm. That's on Iowa's defense.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

Going hand-in-hand with the Tigers' redzone prowess is some nastiness against field goals.

Opponents have hit just 44 percent and the Tigers have blocked an incredible five FGs in 2010.

Through 12 games this season, UM kicker Grant Ressel is 16 of 18 with 2 of 3 from 40 to 50 yards. Senior punter Matt Grabner's journey has been circuitous - attended Mississippi and then transferred to UM to focus on school and playing club soccer before trying out for football - but he's making the most out of it. He averaged 42.66 yards per kick, 5th in the Big 12.

The specialists have been the standouts.

The bottom line here is that Iowa's special teams, specifically kick coverage, have been an ongoing headache the entire season. The special teams, which have included several true freshmen at various times this season, probably won't improve all that much over the course of a month. The best Iowa can hope for is a quiet performance or a stalemate.

Advantage: Missouri

The scoreboard

Iowa's best shot in this game is to make the Tigers one dimensional and pressure Gabbert. And Iowa's D will do that, for about 3 1/2 quarters. And then Gabbert will find a way to win.

Iowa can't win its season back, but it can win something back with a victory. But there has been no evidence since Oct. 30 that this team is ready snap out of it.

Missouri 34, Iowa 28

- Marc Morehouse

Game guide

• Teams: Iowa (7-5) vs. Missouri (10-2)

• Where: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

• When: 9 p.m.

• Kickoff forecast: Partly cloudy, 57

• TV: ESPN

• Radio: WMT-AM (600), KXIC-AM (800)

• Spread: Missouri by 2 1/2

• Series: Missouri leads, 7-5

• Coaches: Kirk Ferentz is 88-60 in his 12th year at Iowa, 100-81 in his 15th overall. Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel is 77-48 in his 10th year at Missouri, 150-85-3 in 20th season overall. This is the first time these coaches have met on the field.

• The buzz: Iowa's offense was inconsistent this season, and the Hawkeyes will be without their leading rusher (Adam Robinson) and their best receiver (Darrell Johnson-Koulianos). Robinson is suspended and Johnson-Koulianos was arrested earlier this month on drug charges ... Missouri had hoped for a more higher-profile bowl, so the Tigers' hearts may not be in this one.

• The pick (by Rivals.com): Missouri, 24-17

When the Hawkeyes

have the ball

This is where the Tigers lived in 2010.

Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel is in his 10th season at Mizzou and his second as coordinator under Coach Gary Pinkel.

The Tigers are a devout 4-3 defense with Cover 2 zone schemes in the secondary. This is born out of visits with Tony Dungy's Indianapolis Colts staff. This is the Tampa 2, with the middle linebacker dropping into coverage, an active four-man pass rush and keeping everything in front of it.

The Tigers will allow their secondary, led by experienced corners Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, to play more man-to-man than what Iowa is willing to allow in its 4-3, Cover 6.

The underlying theme remains. The Tigers and Hawkeyes have “bend, don't break” written somewhere on their helmets.

The 37 sacks in 12 games is six more than UM totaled in 13 games in 2009. Five different Tigers have recorded 3 sacks or more, led by sophomore DE Brad Madison's 7.5. Madison also leads MU with 11 tackles for loss.

The Tigers' rush D has sprouted leaks at times this season, but the redzone defense is No. 1 nationally.

You could argue that wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was the only offensive player who played the Minnesota game as though it meant something. He has an explosive gear that only maybe junior wide receiver Marvin McNutt has. But, of course, he's gone after a drug-related arrest.

RB Adam Robinson has led the team in rushing the last two seasons. The Hawkeyes finished 1-2 when he didn't start. True freshman Marcus Coker has rushed for 403 yards in six games.

Coker can run. There's no no-brainer replacement for Johnson-Koulianos.

Advantage: Missouri

When the Tigers

have the ball

When the Iowa defensive coaches - including coordinator Norm Parker, who's back to mostly full duty this week - start video study of the Tigers, they shouldn't be too surprised by anything they see.

The Tigers run a spread offense that relies on a supremely timed short-passing game, but that's not their only trick. They also are well balanced (433 passes to 410 rushes).

Is quarterback Blaine Gabbert a Dan Persa type? The biggest difference between the two - besides Gabbert's 6-5 to Persa's 6-1 - is completion percentage. Persa was in Big Ten record range with 73.5 percent (222 completions). Gabbert is at 62.2 percent with 260 completions.

Gabbert is Persa-like.

If the Hawkeyes want to win this, the defense has to get off the field. The Hawkeyes couldn't get off the field in the fourth quarter this season, allowing offenses to convert 17 of 33 third- and fourth-down conversions.

Going against such a decorated defense like Missouri's, Iowa's offense is going to need time to feel its way and find rhythm. That's on Iowa's defense.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

Going hand-in-hand with the Tigers' redzone prowess is some nastiness against field goals.

Opponents have hit just 44 percent and the Tigers have blocked an incredible five FGs in 2010.

Through 12 games this season, UM kicker Grant Ressel is 16 of 18 with 2 of 3 from 40 to 50 yards. Senior punter Matt Grabner's journey has been circuitous - attended Mississippi and then transferred to UM to focus on school and playing club soccer before trying out for football - but he's making the most out of it. He averaged 42.66 yards per kick, 5th in the Big 12.

The specialists have been the standouts.

The bottom line here is that Iowa's special teams, specifically kick coverage, have been an ongoing headache the entire season. The special teams, which have included several true freshmen at various times this season, probably won't improve all that much over the course of a month. The best Iowa can hope for is a quiet performance or a stalemate.

Advantage: Missouri

The scoreboard

Iowa's best shot in this game is to make the Tigers one dimensional and pressure Gabbert. And Iowa's D will do that, for about 3 1/2 quarters. And then Gabbert will find a way to win.

Iowa can't win its season back, but it can win something back with a victory. But there has been no evidence since Oct. 30 that this team is ready snap out of it.

Missouri 34, Iowa 28

- Marc Morehouse