Pinstripe Bowl: Iowa looks to break a five-bowl losing streak
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa (7-5) vs. Boston College (7-5)
5:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 27 (ESPN)
Iowa -3, O/U: 45
HOW THESE TEAMS GOT HERE
Iowa: Did you know the Hawkeyes beat Ohio State? We figured we should tell you that. Iowa’s schedule was miserable this season. Iowa played Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State from the Big Ten East. At least Iowa got that Ohio State win. Inside the division, Iowa lost to Wisconsin, Northwestern and, somewhat head-scratchingly, Purdue.
Boston College: The Eagles came back to finish the season 7-5 after starting 1-3. That’s an impressive turnaround in a strong ACC. Boston College lost to Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Clemson and then lost to Virginia Tech to drop to 2-4. The Eagles went 5-1 the rest of the way, beating Louisville, Virginia, Florida State and others and only losing to NC State by three.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Akrum Wadley, Iowa, RB: While Nathan Stanley has thrown for 25 touchdowns, Wadley is the team’s best offensive player. He’s rushed for 1,021 and nine scores as defenders have been keying in on the run. It would have been fun to see Wadley and James Butler together for a whole season. The Nevada transfer missed four games in the middle of the year because of an injury. The Hawkeyes were 1-3 in Butler’s absence.
AJ Dillon, Boston College, RB: Dillon has rushed for 1,432 yards and 13 touchdowns and provided us with this highlight moment against Louisville.
Dillon has exploded in the second half of the season too. He’s rushed for 149 or more yards in five of the past six games, including that 272-yard, four-TD effort against Louisville.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Do you like disciplined defenses, good running games and old-school football? Congratulations, this game is for you. We’re not expecting an offensive explosion from Iowa like the Hawkeyes provided against the Buckeyes. But you never know.
WHAT’S ON THE LINE
Iowa wants to break a bowl losing streak. The Hawkeyes won three-straight bowl games from 2008-2010. They haven’t won a bowl game since, only missing out on the postseason after the 2012 campaign. That’s a stretch of five-straight bowl losses.
Boston College is looking for its second-straight bowl win in its second Pinstripe Bowl appearance. The Eagles lost the game following the 2014 season. A loss, coincidentally, would mean a fourth 7-6 record in the past five seasons.
PREDICTIONS:
Nick: Iowa 9, Boston College 6
Sam: Iowa 21, Boston College 17
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
