SDS spoke with Tom Kakert of HawkeyeReport.com to get his thoughts on Iowa and its TaxSlayer Bowl matchup against Tennessee. 

A huge thank you to Tom Kakert for participating. You can follow him on Twitter: @HawkeyeReport

Drew Laing: UT quarterback Josh Dobbs has come on strong late this season. How has Iowa fared against dual-threat QBs earlier in 2014 and how do you see the Hawkeyes stopping Dobbs in the bowl game?

Tom Kakert: Not well. Honestly, they have been pretty poor against more mobile signal callers all season long. The scary thing from the Hawkeye perspective is a couple of the quarterbacks that had big days against Iowa aren’t really considered dangerous runners. They were more along the lines of average running quarterbacks who have some size. Maryland’s CJ Brown ran for 99 yards in the Terps’ 38-31 win over the Hawkeyes. Then a few weeks later, Minnesota’s Mitch Leidner rushed for 77 yards in their 51-14 rout of  Iowa in a rivalry game.

Iowa just hasn’t done a great job against the read option all season. Defensive ends have lost containment and probably the bigger issue was at linebacker, where the Hawkeyes just didn’t make the proper read on the play. Dobbs is much more mobile and athletic than anyone Iowa has faced this season under center and it will be a huge concern going into t he game. I do think Iowa’s play against the run did improve in the final weeks of the regular season, but I think if Dobbs can get some solid blocking he could be poised to make some big plays with his legs.

Laing: What’s the one area you feel that Iowa has the biggest advantage over the Vols?

Kakert: I think Iowa’s biggest advantage might be up front on the offensive and defensive line in terms of experience. Iowa has three very experienced defensive linemen in Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat at tackle and Drew Ott at defensive end. Davis is a certain NFL Draft pick in the early rounds and played lights out on the final two games of the season. Trinca-Pasat has been invited to the Senior Bowl and has put himself in position to be a potential late-round pick this spring. Ott is a high motor, high effort guy. I think how this group plays could end up deciding the game.

On the offensive line, Iowa has a very veteran group, led by Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff and fifth-year senior Andrew Donnal, who plays right tackle. Austin Blythe will likely start at left guard and he is a very experienced interior lineman for Iowa. They make their reputation on playing physical football, but this season they really never clicked as a group to the level that many of us expected this year. The guard play just hasn’t been up the level expected this year and that’s probably held them back. Having said that, Kirk Ferentz usually has his team ready to go and the seniors up front appear to be very motivated to finish with a win to end their Iowa careers.

Laing: What matchup will you be watching most during the game?

Kakert: I think there are a couple of really interesting matchups in the Tax Slayer Bowl. As mentioned earlier, I think the game probably gets decided in the trenches. If Iowa’s veterans come to play, which they seem to be ready to do, then I think they have a chance to win the football game. Iowa is just bigger and more experienced on both sides of the line and that should be an advantage.

Laing: Does determining whether this season is a success for Iowa hanging on the result of this game?

Kakert: In a lot of ways it does, but it doesn’t. Two years ago Iowa went 4-8 and there were certainly a lot of frustrated Hawkeye fans and concerns about the direction of the program, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Then last season with a first year starter at quarterback in Jake Rudock, Iowa finished the regular season at 8-4, including wins in the final two weeks of the season over Michigan and on the road at Nebraska. Most every Iowa fan felt like the team was moving in the right direction, even after the loss in the Outback Bowl in LSU.

Regardless of where you com in on the season, Iowa fans are pretty upset and frustrated right now and even winning a bowl game against the Vols isn’t going to change their point of view. I think a lot of fans just have some coach related fatigue with Ferentz, who is completing his 16th season as the head Hawkeye. Throw in a pretty risk averse offense and you have a lot of frustrated fans.

Laing: What’s your TaxSlayer Bowl prediction?

Kakert: I’m kind of taking a wait and see approach about my final prediction until I get down to Jacksonville for the bowl game. I think it’s fair to say that the Vols are the more excited team coming into this bowl game. That can take you a long way this time of year and with UT making their first bowl game appearance since 2010, they are probably more “motivated” and feeling better about themselves.

With Iowa, I want to see how motivated they really are for this game. The seniors that we have spoken to since the end of the season are saying the right things about wanting to finish up t heir careers with a win. I think on paper, Iowa has a bit of an advantage on both sides of the line thanks to their experience. I think this will be a little lower scoring than most expect and that will probably benefit the Hawkeyes.

Right now my unofficial prediction is Iowa 20-17, but I could also see UT’s passing carrying them to a win on Jan. 2.