<p>
Stanford started its season in an early hole with a stunning loss to Northwestern, but an 11-1 straight-up record from there including a 41-22 victory against USC in the Pac-12 title game as a 4.5-point underdogs landed the Cardinal in this year's Rose Bowl. The only other SU loss on the year came against Oregon in a tight 38-36 setback as nine-point home favorites. Stanford covered against the spread in six of its first seven games before posting an erratic 3-3 mark ATS in its last six outings. The total has gone OVER in three of its last four contests.
</p>
<p>
The big news for the Cardinal this season was the emergence of running back Christian McCaffrey as a Heisman contender. While he did not win this year's award, he still managed to rush for 1,847 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards a carry. Stanford was ranked 19th in the nation in both rushing yards per game (225.1) and points per game (37.2). Defensively, it held opposing teams to an average of 23.1 points a game.
</p>
<div class="promo-yel">
Do you like giving money away? Why bet football games at -110 this season when you can bet the very same game at -105? <a class="promoblue" href="http:/../sportsbooks/reduced-juice-sportsbooks">Click Here to Find Out More</a>.
</div>
<p></p>
<p>
Iowa made its run to the Big Ten title game behind an impressive 12-game SU winning streak, but the run came to an end with a tough 16-13 loss to Michigan State in the conference championship as a three-point underdog. The Hawkeyes went 7-5-1 ATS after failing to cover in three of their last four games. The total stayed well UNDER the 50-point line against the Spartans after going OVER in three of their previous four games.
</p>
<p>
The Hawkeyes remain a bit nicked-up heading into this game with quarterback CJ Beathard and running back Jordan Canzeri still listed on the injury report. The good news is that Iowa's leading rusher this season with 976 yards on 178 carries is listed as probable, but Beathard remains questionable with a bad hip. Overall, this offense averaged 32.1 points a game this season, while the Hawkeyes' defense remained one of the stingiest in the nation with a points-allowed average of 18.5.
</p>
<div class="heading">
Stanford Cardinal vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Game Betting Trends
</div>
<p>
The Cardinal are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against a team with a SU winning record and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six bowl games. The total has gone OVER in four of their last five neutral-site games.
</p>
<p>
The Hawkeyes are 5-2 ATS in their last seven bowl games with the total staying UNDER in five of those games. They are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games played at a neutral site.
</p>
<p>
This will be the first meeting between the two in recent memory.
</p>