TaxSlayer Bowl
Everbank Field - Jacksonville, FL
Kickoff: Friday, 3:20 p.m. ET
Line: Tennessee -3.5, Total: 51.5

Tennessee tries to win its first bowl game since the 2007 season when it takes on Iowa on Friday afternoon in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

The Hawkeyes kicked off the year with plenty of success, as they were 5-1 SU (3-3 ATS) through the first half of the year, but then proceeded to lose four of their final six contests against Big Ten opponents. They had two defeats in that time when they were considered the favorite, and had three or more turnovers in three different games over that time. Iowa did look good in its final two games, though, as it hosted two very tough opponents (Wisconsin and Nebraska) and lost each game by an average of just 2.5 PPG. The Hawkeyes have not earned a bowl game victory since the 2010 season and have had tough draws in their past two postseason games, as they were defeated by both LSU and Oklahoma by an average of 12.0 PPG. It is always difficult playing in the SEC, but the Volunteers managed to go .500 overall with a 3-5 record in their conference. They didn’t get many unexpected wins though, with their signature victory coming as 6-point underdogs against South Carolina when they won 45-42 in an overtime game. The other two SEC wins that they earned came against the bottom-feeders of the conference, as they beat both Kentucky and Vanderbilt while being double-digit favorites each time. Tennessee had tons of trouble with turnovers throughout the year, as it coughed up the pigskin multiple times in seven games. This team’s last bowl game win came in the 2007 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin, and since then it has played in two other postseason games while losing by an average of 13.0 PPG to the likes of Virginia Tech and North Carolina. Bettors should know that Iowa is a perfect 6-0 ATS in road games after an ATS loss over the past two seasons while the Volunteers have gone a solid 41-24 ATS (63%) in road games after an ATS defeat since 1992. The only injuries to keep an eye on for Friday are all Hawkeyes, as RB Damon Bullock (quad) is doubtful, FB Macon Plewa (shoulder) is questionable, while the trio of RB LeShun Daniels Jr. (foot), LB Travis Perry (leg) and DL Louis Trica-Pasat (arm) have all been upgraded to probable.

Which team will leave Jacksonville with a season-ending victory? For the answer, connect to College Football Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014-15 bowl season. StatFox Dave is heating up with a 69% ATS mark (11-5) in College Football Best Bets since Nov. 20, including 63% ATS (5-3) in bowl game Best Bets. StatFox Brian is 62% ATS (13-8) in Best Bets since Nov. 12, including 71% ATS (5-2) in bowl game Best Bets. Brian is a strong 56% ATS (18-14) in all bowl picks, while StatFox Forecaster is a stellar 61% ATS (19-12) in all bowl picks, while StatFox Scott is 67% ATS (4-2) in bowl game Best Bets.

Iowa has a balanced offense that gained 242.0 YPG through the air (54th in nation) and 156.3 YPG on the ground (74th in FBS) while putting up a pedestrian 28.3 PPG (70th in nation). QB Jake Rudock (2,404 pass yards, 16 TD, 5 INT) had three 300-yard performances on the year and averaged 250.3 YPG with 6 TD and 1 INT over the past three games. HB Mark Weisman (802 rush yards, 14 TD) had just one 100-yard performance while averaging a meager 3.9 yards per carry. This low YPC rate was the result of averaging a hefty 17.2 carries per game. This team really liked to spread the ball around through the air, as four different receivers had 300+ yards and multiple touchdown catches. The leader of this group was WR Tevaun Smith (559 rec yards, 3 TD) who averaged 13.6 yards per catch, and whose best game was a mere 78 yards. The defense was solid, as it limited opponents to 24.0 PPG (34th in FBS). The Hawkeyes also had one of the best passing defenses in the nation, allowing only 175.8 YPG (7th in FBS). The reason that they held passers in check so well was the impressive play of DBs John Lowdermilk (95 tackles, 3 INT, 1 TD) and Jordan Lomax (84 tackles, 1 INT).

The Volunteers offense was lacking this season as they passed for only 228.0 YPG (67th in nation) and rushed for a putrid 135.0 YPG (104th in FBS) while scoring just 27.6 PPG (76th in nation). QB Joshua Dobbs (1,077 pass yards, 8 TD, 5 INT) was the starter in the final five games of the year where he averaged 215.4 YPG, but finished off the season with a very poor performance in the win over Vanderbilt (11-for-20, 92 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT). Dobbs can get it done in a big way with his legs as well, running for 393 yards (4.3 YPC) and six touchdowns in his five games. HB Jalen Hurd (777 rush yards, 3 TD) averaged 4.5 YPC as a freshman and had three 100-yard performances on the season while adding 217 yards (6.6 avg) and two scores as a receiver. WR Pig Howard (589 rec yards, 1 TD) led the team with 52 receptions while averaging 11.3 yards per catch, but it was the trio of WRs Marquez North (320 rec yards, 4 TD), Von Pearson (318 rec yards, 4 TD) and Jason Croom (305 rec yards, 4 TD) who provided reliable red-zone targets. The defense did well while holding teams to 23.9 PPG (33rd in FBS) while allowing just 197.8 YPG through the air (26th in nation). LB Curt Maggitt (11 sacks, 43 tackles) and DE Derek Barnett (10 sacks, 69 tackles) provide one of the best pass-rushing duos in the country and should give the Hawkeyes’ offensive line some troubles on Friday afternoon.