Overview
- Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with national coverage on ESPN.
- Vanderbilt enters 10-2 led by Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia, who has 4,018 total yards and 36 touchdowns, while Mackey Award winner Eli Stowers has opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
- Iowa comes in 8-4 behind a defense allowing roughly 15 points per game and a mobile quarterback in Mark Gronowski, the program’s top rushing touchdown producer this season.
- Sportsbooks list Vanderbilt as a narrow favorite (about -4.5 to -5.5) with totals in the mid-40s, and SportsLine’s 10,000-simulation model projects the over to hit.
- Vanderbilt expects a near-full roster with several transfer-bound players still suiting up, and this marks the programs’ first-ever meeting, with Iowa a frequent participant in this bowl.