2022 Citrus Bowl Betting

Beginning as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947, the Citrus Bowl is one of the longest-running college football bowl games. It usually takes place in early January and sees a Big Ten school compete against an SEC school. Announced on Dec. 5th, the 2021 Citrus Bowl will pit the No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes against the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats.

The Wildcats bring a 9–3 record (5–3 SEC) into this contest. Iowa has a 10–3 record (7–2 Big Ten) and looks to rectify a 42–3 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game. Both teams are seeking their second-ever victory in the Citrus Bowl.

2021 Citrus Bowl

The Kirk Ferentz-led Hawkeyes started the 2021 campaign off hot. They racked up six victories, including wins over then-No. 17 Indiana, then-No. 9 Iowa State, and then-No. 4 Penn State. However, they ran into trouble with back-to-back losses to Purdue and Michigan.

Iowa was able to win four of their last five games, though, and make the Big Ten Championship game. Despite their hot form, the Hawkeyes got embarrassed by Michigan with a 42-3 devastating loss in the championship game. However, a 7–2 mark in the Big Ten Conference and West Division title leave plenty to cheer about.

This team is all about defense, holding opponents to just 19.2 points (13th nationally) and 326.9 yards per game (18th). DB Dane Bolton (5 interceptions) and linebacker Jack Campbell (126 tackles) have led this effort.

Offensively, the Hawkeyes haven’t had nearly as much success. They average 23.9 points (89th nationally) and 297.7 yards per game (120th). The offense will struggle even more with RB Tyler Goodson (1,151 rushing yards) having opted out for the NFL Draft. QB Spencer Petras, who’s passed for 1,669 yards and nine touchdowns, will be relied upon more.

Once a bottom-tier SEC school, Kentucky has become a conference player thanks to ninth-year coach Mark Stoops. It finished 9–3 in the regular season and 5–3 in the conference, good for second in the SEC East Division.

The Wildcats kicked off the year with six victories, including wins over Florida and LSU. They then proceeded to lose three straight games to then-No. 1 Georgia, Mississippi State, and Tennessee. However, Kentucky was able to finish the regular season strong with three consecutive victories.

This team averages 33.8 points (23rd nationally) and 437.8 yards (26th) per game. It’s particularly adept on the ground, where it averages 215.5 yards (14th). Chris Rodriguez Jr. leads this attack with 1,272 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the season. WR Wan’Dale Robinson has also had a strong year with 1,164 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. QB Will Levis has passed for a solid 2,593 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Defensively, the Kentucky Wildcats only allow 22.0 points (28th) and 337.0 yards (17th). Linebacker J.J. Weaver has recorded a team-leading 6.5 sacks on the season.

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The best US sportsbooks were quick to release odds for Iowa vs Kentucky. Ever since the opening lines became available, the Wildcats have been slight favorites over Iowa. You can learn about the available bets and which sportsbooks are offering the most value below.

Citrus Bowl Moneyline Odds

The moneyline is a straight-up bet on which team will win a game. It handicaps both teams to ensure that the underdog and favorite receive betting action. The common Citrus Bowl moneyline is as follows:

• Iowa Hawkeyes +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
• Kentucky Wildcats -145 (bet $145 to win $100)

Both the Hawkeyes and Wildcats are 4–3 straight up (SU) in their last seven games. Kentucky has faced four ranked opponents over this span, while Iowa has played one ranked team in the same span.

BetMGM online sportsbook is offering the best value right now on Kentucky with -141 odds. Meanwhile, DraftKings and PointsBet have Iowa at favorable +125 odds.

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Citrus Bowl Point Spread Odds

A point spread gives points to the underdog and takes them away from the favorite. It calls on you to choose which team will cover its given spread. The common Iowa vs Kentucky point spread is as follows:

• Iowa +3 (-110)
• Kentucky -3 (-110)

The Wildcats are 8–4 against the spread (ATS), but just 2–3 ATS in their last five games. The Hawkeyes are 7–6 ATS and also 2–3 ATS within the same span.

DraftKings Sportsbook is providing the best value on Iowa with a +3 spread and -110 juice (some sportsbooks have higher juice). BetMGM has Kentucky at -2.5 and -115 juice, which is the best overall deal at this time.

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Citrus Bowl Over/Under Odds

Betting on the over under (totals) is based on whether two teams will go over or under the provided line. The common over/under on the Citrus Bowl is as follows:

• Over 44 (-110)
• Under 44 (-110)

The over is 8–4 in the Wildcats’ 12 games and 4–1 in the last five contests. Meanwhile, the under is 7–6 in the Hawkeyes’ 13 games but just 4–1 in the last five outings.

Most US betting sites are offering the same line as listed above. However, Unibet Sportsbook is providing a better deal on over 44.5 because it’s only taking -108 juice.

Citrus Bowl Prop Bets

Prop bets involve outcomes that aren’t tied to the final score. Usually, College Football Playoff (CFP) games draw the most prop betting action. However, the Citrus Bowl is also featuring plenty of prop wagers as well. You can see some available bets below:

• First half winning margin
• Race to 10 points
• Race to 20 points
• Both teams to score 20+ points
• Will the game go to overtime
• What will the first turnover be

South Carolina is the only school that has won two Citrus Bowl titles in the last 10 years. Kentucky will be hoping to join them this year:

Georgia has won the most Citrus Bowls with five titles. Michigan and Tennessee sit just behind the Bulldogs with four titles apiece:

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If you’re looking to bet on the Citrus Bowl, then you might be interested in the following tips. This advice covers some of our favorite bets going into this game.

Kentucky -145

The Hawkeyes have already struggled offensively this season, averaging just 23.9 points per game. They’re going to be hurting even more with RB Tyler Goodson opting out for the 2022 NFL Draft. That said, we like the Wildcats to prevail in this game and reward moneyline bettors.

Kentucky -3

As mentioned above, Kentucky has the advantage going into this game when considering that Iowa’s Goodson won’t be playing. Furthermore, it has outscored opponents by 11.8 points during the season. Iowa, on the other hand, has only outscored opponents by 4.7 points.

Under 44

Most college football games don’t feature such a low under total, but both teams have solid defenses. Additionally, Iowa will be more handicapped than ever after losing their starting running back.

Bet Against Both Teams Reaching 20 Points

You should bet against both teams reaching 20 points if this prop wager is available at your favorite sportsbook. Iowa has a strong defense that’ll slow Kentucky (33.8 points) down. However, it’ll also struggle to put points on the board itself.