SEC And Big Ten Meet In Nashville
Back in 2020 Iowa and Missouri were supposed to meet in the Music City Bowl. However, like many games that year it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward four years later and we’re finally getting that matchup. Let’s introduce you to both teams and give some game history and a prediction with our 2024 Transperfect Music City Bowl Preview.
A Word From Our Sponsor
The game’s current sponsor is TransPerfect, a family of companies providing language services and technology solutions for global business. This is the 26th version of the game. The first Music City Bowl took place back in 1998 at Vanderbilt Stadium with Virginia Tech knocking off Alabama 38-7.
Originally the game pitted the Big East and SEC. The next year when the new home of the Tennessee Titans opened, the game moved there and has stayed ever since. While the SEC has remained a constant the opponents varied from the Big East to ACC and now the Big Ten.
Overall, Kentucky has the most Music City Bowl appearances with six. However, they’re only 2-4 in those games. After the Wildcats, three teams, Auburn, Minnesota, and Tennessee have played three times. Going by conference the SEC’s won nine times and the Big Ten six.
Now that we’ve given you some history let’s look at the teams with our 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl Preview.
Scouting The Tigers
Under coach Eli Drinkwitz Missouri heads into Monday’s contest sporting a 9-3 record. The Tigers had preseason aspirations of the College Football Playoff but fell short. Quarterback Brady Cook leads the offense. For the year he’s thrown for 2,248 yards and nine touchdowns. This despite missing a couple of games due to injury. However, he returned leading Missouri to a couple of big wins down the stretch.
When they take the field on Monday Cook will be without his favorite target. Wide receiver Luther Burden opted out of the game in order to prepare for the NFL Draft. His 61 receptions and six touchdowns will certainly be missed. In addition, right tackle Armand Membou is also preparing for the draft.
Now let’s look at Iowa as we continue our 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl Preview
Let’s Meet The Hawkeyes
Long-time coach Kirk Ferentz leads the Iowa program. They finished the regular season with an 8-4 record. They are also missing a huge piece of their offense, running back Kaleb Johnson, who opted out to focus on the NFL Draft.
Johnson led the Big Ten with 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns which is a massive loss. In his absence, Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson must step up. Moulton ran for 377 yards and two touchdowns while Patterson rushed for 235.
Iowa also welcomes back quarterback Brendan Sullivan. He hasn’t played since suffering an ankle injury against UCLA on November 8th. He took over when Cade McNamara suffered a concussion against Northwestern. Sullivan has completed 24 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns. McNamara has since entered the transfer portal.
As we like to do before every bowl game let’s look at what each team has done in the past.
Bowl And Series History
Monday marks the 37th bowl game in Iowa football history. Twenty of those have come under Ferentz. Currently, they are 18-17-1 and have won four of their last six. Furthermore, the Hawkeyes are 8-9 all-time against the SEC and it’s the fifth time in the last six years they’ve faced the SEC in the postseason.
Technically this is their third appearance in the Music City Bowl. As we mentioned at the beginning the 2020 game against Missouri was cancelled due to COVID in the Tigers program. Two years ago they totally dominated Kentucky.
On the other side of the field, Missouri is also appearing in their 37th bowl game and first in Nashville. They are 16-20 in the postseason. Last year they broke a four-game losing streak by beating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers are 3-5 all-time against the Big Ten.
Overall Iowa leads the series with Missouri 7-6. However all but one of those matchups occurred between 1892 and 1910. Their last meeting came in the 2010 Insight Bowl won by Iowa 27-24.
It’s prediction time as we wrap up our 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl Preview.
Who Wins On Monday?
On paper, this looks like a classic matchup between Missouri’s great offense and Iowa’s tough defense. However, not enough’s made about the Tigers’ defense. For the season they rank 22nd in the nation in total defense and 20th in scoring defense.
The offensively challenged Hawkeyes have enough trouble moving the ball and finding the end zone. Take away Johnson and it makes the challenge even more daunting. Look for Iowa’s defense to keep the game close. However in the end Cook and the Tigers get a second straight bowl win over the Big Ten.
Missouri 20-14
Thanks for checking out our 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl Preview here at Last Word On College Football. We’ll be back with a recap after the game.
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