|
|
 |
|
|
Kentucky Preview and Prediction
By Jersey Cat
Matchup: Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl - #21 Northwestern Wildcats (9-3, 7-2 B1G) vs Kentucky Wildcats (7-5, 4-4 SEC)
Date/Time/ Location: Friday, December 29, 2017, 3:30 pm CST, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV: ESPN
Line: NU (-7.5)
Outlook:
The 'Cats (the NU kind) come into the postseason riding a seven-game
winning streak, winning seven conference games for the first time in
the Fitz era. With a win, NU would have won ten games for the third
time in six years, a pretty incredible feat.
After starting 2-3, NU turned it around, storming past Maryland,
getting some good breaks in winning three consecutive overtime games,
and then dominating Purdue, Minnesota, and Illinois to close the
regular season.
Senior back Justin Jackson rushed for over 1,000 yards for a fourth
season in a row, and QB Clayton Thorson had a solid redshirt junior
campaign, set a school record with 26 wins, and has 44 TDs through
three seasons, making him the most accomplished passer in NU a history
in three seasons. That said, that Thorson formally declared he'd be
returning for his senior season was a surprise to no one paying
attention.
I like the way NU's defense has been playing of late, and while
Kentucky is a mid-level SEC team, compared to the bottom half of the
Big Ten West that NU had feasted on since early November, the Wildcats
of Lexington should provide as good a test as NU had seen in some time.
Be that as it may, I like the Evanston 'Cats to continue to play the
solid defense we've seen over the second half of the season, which will
be the difference, as well as show they're able to move the ball on the
ground.
Pick: Too easy to say go with the Wildcats. Look for
our boys from Evanston to get win number 10, but the 'Cats from
Kentucky to cover. Northwestern 24, Kentucky 17. Take UK
and the points.
Season to date: 8-4 straight up, 5-7 vs the spread.
Best wishes to all Lowes Line fans for a happy and healthy 2018.
The Lowes Line is an
e-mailed description of NU's
next
football game, with an invariably fearless prediction of the outcome
and
how NU will fare against what the other "experts" predict. Our
good
friend and Brother Marcus Lowes began the broadcast mailing in 1996.
The crack Lowes Line Staff (alumni Jersey Cat,
GallopingGrapes, Eric Cockerill, Joel Kanvik, Charlie Simon, and
MO'Cats) have continued the Line in memory of Marcus.
For
the 2017 season it has returned to HailToPurple.com,
for anyone to enjoy. Thanks to the gridiron brain trust at the Lowes
Line!
|
|
|
