Dec. 31--TV: 4 p.m. Friday; ESPN.
Line: Stanford by 6.
Records: Iowa 12-1; Stanford 11-2.
Last meeting: The schools have never met.
On the offensive: Both quarterbacks, Iowa's C.J. Beathard and Stanford's Kevin Hogan, are excellent decision-makers. But only Stanford has Christian McCaffrey, the yardage hog who beats teams in the backfield, split out wide and in the return game.
Getting defensive: Iowa excels in all phases of defense and has created 26 turnovers, tied for 18th nationally. Stanford forced just 12 turnovers and is average against the pass, ranking 52nd in opposing passing-efficiency rating.
The number: 25. Years since the Hawkeyes have been to Pasadena. They lost to Washington 46-34 on Jan. 1, 1991.
The talk: Wonder whom Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald would pick. The Wildcats beat Stanford convincingly in the season opener, and Iowa crushed them 40-10. Both games were at Ryan Field.
Teddy Greenstein's pick: Expect a high-scoring game and a dramatic finish.
Iowa 34, Stanford 33.
