Insight Bowl: The info. you need to prepare for the game

Midwest neighbors Iowa and Missouri head to Arizona for an Insight Bowl matchup - their first meeting since 1910 - but they appear to be going in different directions.

Missouri closed the season with a three-game winning streak to reach the 10-victory plateau for the third time in four seasons. The Tigers hope to close another strong season with their third bowl victory in four seasons. Mizzou hasn't finished a season with four consecutive wins since 1965.

Missouri's offense worries Iowa coaches.

"It's stuff you draw up in the sand at the beach," Hawkeyes defensive coordinator Norm Parker told the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette. "But they know what they're doing with it. There's a method to their madness."

Iowa lost its last three regular-season games, then lost two offensive stars. Leading rusher Adam Robinson is suspended, and the Hawkeyes' best receiver, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, was arrested earlier this month on drug charges. A bowl victory could at least put a positive finish on what has been a disappointing season.

Mizzou players aren't taking Iowa lightly.

"If you go into a game going, 'Oh, my God, they're having problems,' or 'It's going to be easy,' it's not going to turn out the way you want it to turn out," Tigers running back De'Vion Moore told the Kansas City Star. "They're still a great program."

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Iowa (7-5) vs. Missouri (10-2)

• WHEN: Dec. 28, 10 p.m. EST.
• WHERE: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.
• TV: ESPN (Sean McDonough will do play-by-play, with Matt Millen as the analyst).
• THE LINE: Missouri by 3.
• RECORDS VS. BOWL TEAMS: Iowa 3-4, Missouri 6-2.
• NCAA SCHEDULE STRENGTH: Iowa 18th, Missouri 9th.
• BCS RANKINGS: Iowa unranked, Missouri 12th.
• OFFICIATING CREW: From the MAC
• COACHES: Missouri Gary Pinkel (4-3 in bowls); Iowa Kirk Ferentz (5-3 in bowls).

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Don't be fooled by the records, as these teams are evenly matched. True, Missouri won its last three and Iowa lost its last three, but the Hawkeyes' three losses in November were by a combined 10 points. In fact, all five of their losses were by seven or fewer points.

KEY STATS: Missouri leads the nation in red zone defense. The Tigers have allowed opponents just 17 scores (13 touchdowns, four field goals) on 31 penetrations into the red zone. But Iowa has been efficient as closing out drives. The Hawkeyes have converted 45 trips into the end zone into 40 scores (30 touchdowns, 10 field goals).

EXPERT PICKS

• Olin Buchanan: Missouri 24, Iowa 17
• Tom Dienhart: Missouri 36, Iowa 14
• David Fox: Missouri 35, Iowa 17
• Mike Huguenin: Missouri 24, Iowa 17
• Steve Megargee: Missouri 23, Iowa 20

Photos by Cliff Jette

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