2011 Insight Bowl Preview
2011 Insight Bowl Preview
Bob Stoops is coming home. Sort of.
The former Iowa Hawkeye football player will face off against his
alma mater when he takes his Oklahoma Sooners to the Insight Bowl to
face the Hawkeyes. Although Stoops has coached Oklahoma for 13 seasons,
he has never faced his former school.
In fact, the only time these two schools squared off on the football
field came in the 1979 season opener, when Barry Switzer’s Sooners beat
Hayden Fry’s Hawkeyes 21-6 in Norman.
Our latest Insight Bowl odds list Oklahoma as 14-point favorites, while the total has been posted at 58 points.
Iowa
Iowa began the year 3-1, then 5-2, but has traded off wins and losses
in each of the last six games, finishing the regular season with a 20-7
defeat at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes have been 1-4 away from home, with two
of the losses by a combined four points.
The Hawkeyes rank 42nd nationally in defense (23 points per game),
giving up 388 yards per game (228 via the pass, 160 rushing) while
recording 20 sacks and generating 18 turnovers with two being taken back
for scores (Tanner Miller and Shaun Prater, picks).
James Morris leads the defense with 105 stops (adding an
interception), while Christian Kirksey has 103 tackles (two forced
fumbles, sack, interception, fumble recovery). Mike Daniels has seven
sacks with 62 tackles, while Miller has three picks, 71 stops and a
forced fumble and Prater has four forced fumbles to go with 46 tackles.
Iowa rates 53rd nationally in scoring (29 ppg) while compiling 379
yards per contest (236 passing, 143 via the run). James Vandenberg has
completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards with 23 TDs and six
picks. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks.
Marvin McNutt is the best pass catcher with 78 grabs (33 more than
anyone else) for 1,269 yards and 12 scores, while Marcus Coker leads the
ground game with 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per
attempt.
Oklahoma
After a 6-0 start, Oklahoma is just 3-3 in the second half of the
season and are coming off a 44-10 loss to their in-state rivals Oklahoma
State. OU is 4-2 as a visitor, but has dropped the last two games to
ranked teams (Baylor, OSU).
Oklahoma rates 10th in the nation in points (40 ppg) while compiling
532 yards per game (365 via the pass, 167 on the ground). Landry Jones
has connected on 63 percent of his throws for 4,302 yards and 28 TDs
with 14 interceptions. The offensive line has given up nine sacks.
Ryan Broyles (out for the season: knee injury) was the top receiver
with 83 catches (25 more than anyone else) for 1,157 yards and 10
scores, while Roy Finch and Dominique Whaley (out for the season: ankle
injury) led the running game with a combined 1,228 yards and 12 TDs on
5.6 yards per attempt.
On defense, Oklahoma ranks 37th in the nation in points allowed (23
ppg), surrendering 384 yards per contest (244 via the pass, 140 rushing)
while recording 37 sacks and forcing 25 turnovers four of which have
been returned for touchdowns (Jamell Fleming, Tom Wort and David King,
fumbles; Demontre Hurst, interception).
Aaron Colvin and Travis Lewis lead the defense with 80 and 79
tackles, respectively, adding two forced fumbles, two recoveries and a
pick combined. Frank Alexander has 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles,
adding 51 stops, a pick and a fumble recovery, while Tony Jefferson has
four interceptions, 67 stops, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
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