Kentucky vs. Iowa Odds
| Kentucky Odds | +1 |
| Iowa Odds | -1 |
| Over/Under | 45 |
| Date | Jan. 1 |
| Location | Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida |
Kentucky is set to take on Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Find our expert's projected odds, a recap of each team's seasons, plus more information on the Citrus Bowl below.
Kentucky vs. Iowa Projected Odds
| Kentucky Spread | -2 |
| Iowa Spread | +2 |
| Over/Under | 46.4 |
These Kentucky vs. Iowa projections are based on Collin Wilson's college football power ratings, which help power our PRO Projections — they compare all of his projections to real-time college football odds in order to easily identify betting edges.
How Kentucky Reached the Citrus Bowl
Head coach Mark Stoops continues to deliver in the toughest conference in football.
Kentucky started hot, winning its first six. Playing with house money from then on, the Wildcats finished with a 9-3 record and their sixth-straight bowl berth.
They’ve won three straight in the postseason.
The offense enjoyed one of the biggest turnarounds in the country from last year, putting up a full 12 more points per game. The 33.8 points per game ranked inside the top 25.
Transfer quarterback Will Levis boosted a once-decrepit passing attack, registering north of 2,500 yards and 23 scores through the air.
Not to be outdone, running back Chris Rodriguez collected 1,271 yards on the ground. He scored 11 touchdowns from scrimmage.
With a blowout win over Louisville in the finale, Kentucky was 8-4 both against the spread and to the over in 2021.
How Iowa Reached the Citrus Bowl
Iowa kept winning with an unsustainable formula, and it finally came to a head in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan. The Hawkeyes had scored more than 30% of their points directly off turnovers, and relied on defense and excellent field position to keep their opponents in check. But Michigan popped a few big plays early and Iowa could never mount a comeback, ultimately losing 42-3.
So it ends up as another typical year for Iowa — 10-3 with a Big Ten West title, some upset wins, and some puzzling losses thanks to offensive ineptitude.
Kentucky vs. Iowa Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Kentucky and Iowa match up statistically:
Kentucky Offense vs. Iowa Defense
 |  Offense |  Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 21 | 16 | |
| Line Yards | 3 | 19 | |
| Pass Success | 72 | 13 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 13 | 90 | |
| Big Play | 11 | 5 | |
| Havoc | 32 | 90 | |
| Finishing Drives | 4 | 51 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Iowa Offense vs. Kentucky Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 119 | 40 | |
| Line Yards | 129 | 26 | |
| Pass Success | 121 | 110 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 105 | 72 | |
| Big Play | 101 | 102 |  |
| Havoc | 109 | 44 | |
| Finishing Drives | 120 | 48 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 42 | 17 |
| Coverage | 71 | 4 |
| Middle 8 | 65 | 63 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 53 | 4 |
| Plays per Minute | 118 | 100 |
| Rush Rate | 57.1% (50) | 56.1% (59) |
Citrus Bowl Date, Time, TV, More Info
- Date: Jan. 1
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
- TV Info: ABC
