From COVERS.COM
This year?s Orange Bowl will squeeze two of college football?s top Heisman candidates for all their worth.
Southern California quarterback and Heisman winner Carson Palmer and his No. 3 ranked Trojans will have to be at the top of their game when they battle Heisman runner up Brad Banks and his No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes.
Palmer paced USC to an incredible seven straight wins to close out the regular season, and he finished with a sensational 3,639 passing yards with 32 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions. The senior QB picked apart opposing defenses for more than 300 yards on five occasions this term, including a remarkable 425 yard output against Notre Dame in the season finale.
Palmer completed at least four touchdown passes in five of his last six outings, helping the Trojans compile at least 41 points in each of those five efforts. Bettors will be interested to know that USC?s stellar offensive play has helped the ?over? cash in eight of the team?s last 10 matchups.
Banks led Iowa to a co-Big Ten title this season, despite the fact he?d never started a college football game before this season. The senior pivot was the nation?s most efficient passer (166.1), as he was picked off only four times, while tossing 25 touchdown passes.
Banks could also run with the ball when called upon, as he dashed for 383 yards and ran for five touchdowns. The Hawkeyes? top player was recently recognized by the Associated Press as the Player of the Year for his efforts.
Banks is surrounded by a strong supporting cast of receivers and junior running back Fred Russell. Russell ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1,219 rushing yards on the season.
Iowa lays claim to the country?s sixth highest scoring team with a soaring 39.4 points per game.
The Hawkeye?s ?D? is holding opponents to just 18.2 points per contest, thanks largely to their ability to stop the rush. Iowa ranks second against the run in the country with just 68.2 yards against per matchup.
USC?s defense ranks fifth in college football at stopping the run and the club also owns the 10th ranked overall defensive unit.
Iowa holds a clear advantage over the Trojans in the kicking department, and for that matter, over just about any team in college pigskin. Place kicker Nate Kaeding was recently given the Lou Groza Award as the nation?s top kicker. Kaeding made good on 20 of 22 field goal attempts this season including a 55 yarder against Penn State. Kaeding has helped the Hawkeyes cover the spread in their last six tilts and the Trojans are also on an equal against the spread roll.
Oddsmakers have USC as a six-point 'chalk' and the 'total' is set at 57.
Covers.com Pick: Trojans -6
