NCAA Football
2025-12-31 - Iowa Hawkyes at Vanderbilt Commodores
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football ReliaQuest Bowl
Wednesday 31st December 2025 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)
Preview
Bowl Games around the turn into the New Year will have some teams thinking about what may have been and this is also going to be involving more teams that have players opting out.
The Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2) certainly were pushing for inclusion in the twelve team College Football Playoff, but they were always looking in from the outside in the loaded SEC. That takes nothing away from the season they have put together, while Diego Pavia will conclude his time time with the team looking to show the Heisman voters that they made the wrong decision.
The Quarter Back was very upset with missing out for the award, and Pavia will have an opportunity to showcase his talent against an Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) Defensive unit that has played at a high level all season.
Even in regular season defeats to Big Ten teams who have moved into the Playoff, the Hawkeyes were very effective on the Defensive side of the ball.
As the regular season came to a conclusion, the Hawkeyes Defensive Line was showing signs of wearing down and that could be an issue in this game.
It will feel really important for the Hawkeyes to try and keep Diego Pavia in third and long spots on the field, but the Commodores will be really confident in the Offensive unit if they are playing out of third and manageable spots. Giving the Vanderbilt Commodores the edge is the way they were running the ball to close out the season as they looked to impress the Playoff Committee, and keeping Diego Pavia in front of the chains should allow the Quarter Back to flourish in his final game for the team.
The real question is whether the Hawkeyes can keep up with the Vanderbilt Commodores on the scoreboard.
Much like the opponent, Iowa will be seeing the Quarter Back playing in his final game for the team, although the match up looks a little tougher for Mark Gronowski, even if he is playing behind a top Offensive Line.
The Quarter Back has been much more comfortable running the ball than throwing and that is a potential problem against a Vanderbilt Defensive unit that is more vulnerable in the Secondary than up front at the Line of Scrimmage. Stopping the run will still be a huge test for Vanderbilt considering the level this Iowa Offensive Line have been able to reach, but pushing Mark Gronowski into obvious passing situations would be seen as a big win.
It could be the reason that the Commodores are able to pull away in this Bowl Game as Diego Pavia produces one more game filled with highlight reel plays.
These later Bowl Games can be tougher to read, but the Commodores may have enough Offensive power to just pull clear of the Big Ten opponent.
Prediction
Lay the points with the favourite.
The Pick :
Vanderbilt Commodores 23-10 Iowa Hawkeyes
