The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl is coming up soon for college football bettors as the 20th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) take on the 17th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3) on Monday, January 1 at 1:00 PM ET to kick off 2024. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook offers the Volunteers as moderate favorites to win with a moneyline at -250.

When: January 1, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET

Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

Watch: ABC

Tennessee Volunteers Preview

The Volunteers’ last matchup was a 48-24 win a month ago against the Vanderbilt Commodores. This snapped their previous two-game losing streak caused by the Georgia Bulldogs and Missouri Tigers.

They have only had one bad loss this season in terms of the strength of the other team. This was against the unranked Florida Gators early in the season, while additional losses were against teams ranked in the top 10 (Alabama, Georgia, Missouri).

The Volunteers rank 40th in the nation for their offense at 31.5 points per game. As for their defense, they rank 37th in allowing 22.0 points a game from opposing teams. This margin of victory should bode well for their chances at winning.

Joe Milton III (20 TD, 5 INT) will not be playing in this game, as he has opted to enter the NFL Draft. It would have been nice to see him compete in his final game here, but understandable to play it safe and avoid injury. Instead, the freshman Nico Iamaleava will take over and a new era of offense for the Volunteers will begin to take shape.

Iowa Hawkeyes Preview

The Hawkeyes last played December 2, which was a 26-0 shutout against the current number-one team in the nation, the Michigan Wolverines. This snapped their four-game win streak and are now seeking a positive ending to the season.

In both instances where the Hawkeyes battled ranked opponents inside the top 10, they have been shut out in total by 57-0. This will be the third matchup as well against a ranked opponent. Their other loss was an ugly 12-10 outing against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Hawkeyes are averaging 16.6 points per game and rank 130th for their effort offensively. However, their defense has been stout in allowing just 13.2 points per game and ranking fourth in the nation. This margin of victory is not wide, but it is something to consider.

Deacon Hill (5 TD, 6 INT) is aiming to finish out this season strong and redeem himself after the 26-0 defeat against Michigan. He features a pass completion rate at 49.4 and a QBR of 22.9, which ranks 125th in the nation among other starting quarterbacks.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook provides competitive college football betting options. At the moment, the Tennessee Volunteers are moderately favored to win, with market insights suggesting they have a 69.8 percent chance of success.

Iowa Hawkeyes: +210

Spread: +6.5 (-110)

Tennessee Volunteers: -250

Spread: -6.5 (-110)

Total Points: Over 35.0 (-110), Under 35.0 (-110)

Photo Credit: © Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports