The ReliaQuest Bowl is still a tad over three weeks away, but the predictions and picks have already begun for the matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten and the Vanderbilt Commodores of the SEC.

Iowa ended the regular season at 8-4 overall with a 6-3 mark in Big Ten play and crept into the latest College Football Playoff rankings at No. 23. Vanderbilt had a historic year, going 10-2 overall and 6-2 in SEC play, and was a fringe contender, coming in at No. 14 in the rankings.

With a roster that is expected to be at full strength for this bowl game, Iowa still opened up as a slight underdog to the Commodores, who are favored by less than a touchdown. The early prediction from ESPN leans Vanderbilt's way as well.

Vanderbilt lobbied aggressively for CFP inclusion, even though the team never entered serious consideration. Diego Pavia and the Commodores still can deliver a strong closing argument against an Iowa team led by the nation's No. 8 scoring defense. Few players have transformed an entire program -- the way it's viewed, the way it sees itself -- as much as Pavia at Vandy the past two seasons. Iowa will provide a nice test as the Hawkeyes pushed teams such as Indiana and Oregon, even in defeat. But Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense will be too much in this one, as the Commodores secure a once-unthinkable 11th win and a possible top-10 finish.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 34, Iowa 23- Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

Iowa is going to have to stand up defensively against Vanderbilt, which ranks No. 8 in the country in scoring offense, averaging 39.4 points per game. The offense is led by quarterback Diego Pavia, a Heisman Trophy finalist, who has thrown for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, paired with 826 rushing yards and nine more scores on the ground.

Iowa did limit Indiana and Oregon, two of the top offenses in the country. The Hawkeyes held Indiana to just 20 points and drug Oregon into a fistfight, which saw the Ducks score just 18 points. Iowa did not allow a single opponent to score 30 points, and held nine opponents to 20 points or less.

Iowa battles Vanderbilt on New Year's Eve at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN gives prediction in Iowa football vs. Vanderbilt ReliaQuest Bowl