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Odds Not A Concern

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune
and TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

TAMPA - If there is one group that doesn't favor the Big Ten this bowl season, it is the oddsmakers.

Iowa owns the distinction as the conference's only program favored in its bowl matchup, with the Hawkeyes listed as 4-point favorites for their Outback Bowl matchup against South Carolina. Seven Big Ten programs earned bowl bids.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he doesn't pay much attention to the point spreads, but the coach said Tuesday he recently looked into how the Hawkeyes had performed when they were favored, and what he found wasn't exactly good.

"Our four losses, we were favored in three of those," Ferentz said. "You can take that being favored about as far as it will let you. It really means nothing. ... Hopefully that's a good lesson for our players."

So far this bowl season, the Big Ten underdogs haven't been able to pull off an upset. The conference is at 0-2 following losses by Wisconsin (42-13 to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl) and Northwestern (30-23 to Missouri in the Alamo Bowl).

A Vote For Missing Cook

So who's the meanest, nastiest player on South Carolina's team? Leading receiver Kenny McKinley gives an interesting, if meandering, answer.

"In college football, there are only a couple of guys that you become a fan of. Florida's Tim Tebow is one guy I became a fan of, and then Emanuel Cook. Man, he's a headhunter on the field. He isn't able to be with us, and I know it's killing him, but it's also killing us."

Cook, a junior safety who led the Gamecocks in tackles, is academically ineligible.

McKinley also mentioned LBs Jasper Brinkley and Eric Norwood. He said Norwood "will talk you out of your game and also bring the hat."

Pressure Is Key

While Iowa's main goal defensively always is to shut down the run, the Hawkeyes understand South Carolina likes to throw the ball around on offense. With redshirt freshman QB Stephen Garcia, who has just two collegiate starts on his resume, slated to start under center for the Gamecocks, applying pressure early and often almost takes precedence in this game.

"Being a young quarterback, if we can get him moving in the pocket and making some bad throws, that will be a chance for some turnovers," Hawkeyes DL Matt Kroul said. "It's a key for us, because they're very explosive on the outside and their tight ends are good, so the more pressure we can get the better."

Game Day Should Be Dry

The weather forecast for Thursday looks good, although the temperature before kickoff might be a bit chilly for locals.

WFLA, Channel 8, forecasts a 10 percent chance of rain, with a low of 51 degrees and high of 71. According to weather.com, the temperature at kickoff will be 65 degrees.

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