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Formerly known as the Gator Bowl, the re-branded TaxSlayer Bowl will once again be played in Jacksonville. This season will mark a new tradition for the game, which makes a permanent move to Jan. 2 starting with this year’s edition. As it has since the 2010 season, this game will match the Big Ten with the SEC as Iowa faces off with Tennessee; neither school has played in this game since 1994. Despite winning just six games, the Volunteers enter the TaxSlayer Bowl favored to beat the Hawkeyes.
The big reason for optimism out of Knoxville is their new man under center, Joshua Dobbs. In four starts, Tennessee went 3-1 with Dobbs at quarterback. In his first start, Dobbs led the Vols to a 45-42 overtime win at South Carolina, a game in which he rolled up 467 total yards and accounted for five touchdowns. Head coach Butch Jones is at the helm of a very young, but very talented team that will benefit from the extra three weeks of bowl practices as much as any in the country.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, on the other hand, will lead the Hawkeyes into Jacksonville as losers of three out of their final four games. The Hawkeyes lost all four of their rivalry games, including three home losses by a field goal or less. Still, the Iowa offense has a fairly capable passing game with QB Jake Rudock. If the Hawkeyes can protect their quarterback, they may be able to score some points against an athletic but undisciplined Vol defense.
Unbelievably, Tennessee hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2010. Although the season could be considered a minor disappointment, the Vols also resemble the SEC East’s version of Arkansas: a talented young team with a relatively new coach that appears on the upswing. The Volunteer fanbase should flood Jacksonville, while Iowa may have a more tepid showing from fans disgruntled by continued mediocrity under Ferentz.
Both teams should move the ball well at times, yet much of this matchup could be fought in field position. Expect some big plays through the air and on special teams to swing momentum in this game. The team that wins the turnover battle will be in strong position to clinch the first bowl win for either side since Iowa clipped Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl.
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Iowa 23
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