The 2024 Bowl Season is coming to a close soon but there’s still money to be made To celebrate bowl season I’ll be releasing a best bets article each day there’s a bowl game! We’ve been winning left and right! Saturday was particularly good as we went 9-2, bringing our bowl record to 28-10. Let’s hope we continue to win in today’s bowl games best bets for Monday, December 30th. Check out all the staff picks here.
2024 Bowl Season Today’s Bowl Games Best Bets – Monday, December 30th
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri Best Bets (-2.5)
We only get one game today before a slate of five tomorrow. Today’s bowl game is the Music City Bowl featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes versus the Missouri Tigers. Both teams have players sitting out, however, Iowa takes the biggest hit with their star running back Kaleb Johnson opting out of gameplay. They’ll be missing some defenders but the defensive system is more of a great scheme than the players that make it.
However, losing their top running back, and a beast of a running back at that, could hurt them. Iowa’s offense averaged 28 points per game with just 131 passing yards but 199 rushing yards per game. Their defense took a slight step back this year, holding opponents to 17 points per game, 196 passing yards, and 117 rushing yards. They finished 8-4 straight up and 6-5-1 against the spread (ATS).
Missouri had a decent year finishing 9-3 straight up and 8-4 ATS. They averaged 29 points per game, 219 passing yards and 170 rushing yards. Their defense held opponents to an average of 20 points per game. They allowed 185 passing yards and 133 rushing yards per game. Missouri was crushed by Alabama and Texas A&M but otherwise remained competitive in every game this year.
It’s hard to say how this Iowa team will perform after another duplicate season. They tend to finish in the eight to nine-win range but not win enough games to matter. Their defense stays strong, their offense runs the ball well but doesn’t score points, and Kirk Ferentz continues to be questioned. Will he remain their coach and for how many more years? Missouri on the other hand tends to be trending up.
Monday, December 30th Bowl Games Best Bets: Missouri (-2.5): Iowa’s defense remains fine but they can’t overcome not having Kaleb Johnson on the field.
