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Auburn Preview and Prediction
By Jersey Cat
Matchup: VRBO Citrus Bowl - #14 Northwestern Wildcats (6-2) vs Auburn Tigers (6-4)
Date: Friday, January 1, 2021 12:00 pm CST, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
TV: ABC
Line: Northwestern (-4), o/u (43.5)
Outlook: Happy New Year, Wildcat fans!
This final edition of the Lowes Line of the 2020 season is coming in
hot and just under the wire prior to kickoff of the Citrus Bowl,
Northwestern’s first New Year’s Day bowl game in five years.
After a successful regular season of 6-1, the ‘Cats dropped the Big Ten
Championship Game to Ohio State two weeks ago, falling to the Buckeyes
22-10 in a game that seemed very winnable at times for NU, until the
OSU coaching staff figured out they could run the ball on every down,
ultimately rushing for damn near a quarter mile on the ‘Cats.
Northwestern comes in having won three bowl games in a row and four of
their last five. The last time NU played in the Citrus Bowl, I
was a twenty-something kid who spent the night prior tossing a few too
many back at a Greenwich Village bar, waking up for the game with a
headache of biblical proportions, ultimately exacerbated by the
performance of Peyton Manning against our beloved ‘Cats. Not so
much this time. A nice bourbon after a family dinner, and awake
on New Year’s Day to be writing this column before the coffee is even
brewed.
If you wanted some insight on this game, I’m afraid you may have come
to the wrong place. Northwestern played tough in the Big Ten
Championship Game, but didn’t show much on offense, especially in the
second half. The defense has been exceptional all season, though
perhaps not against the run vs OSU, and keeps the Wildcats in games
when the offense hasn’t been doing the job. Then you’ve got this
transfer portal nonsense. Seven players from NU by my count have
entered the transfer portal, among them running backs Isaiah Bowser and
Drake Anderson, WR Kyric McGowan, and DE Eku Leota. The
assumption is that these folks won’t be playing today, but what’s the
reason for them wanting to transfer? Suspected lack of playing
time in the future? Wanting to be closer to home after this COVID
mess? Maybe they know something about these Fitz to the NFL
rumors? Who knows? I think you have a defense that will be
playing like hell for defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, who’ll be
coaching his final game and seeking a 400th victory, after getting
shafted for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
And what about Auburn? Their 6-4 record doesn’t look too
impressive, but three of those losses have come to # 1 Alabama, #5
Texas A&M, and #9 Georgia. The Tigers can put up some points,
but I like the ability of NU’s defense to keep it manageable.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that Gus Malzahn was fired as head
coach a few weeks ago. Are the coaches focused on the game, or
maybe looking for jobs? Tough to tell.
If we learned anything from the outing against Ohio State, it’s that
the Wildcat rush defense may need some help. Auburn’s freshman
back Tank Bigsby could present some problems. Defending the pass
is an NU strong suit, and consensus All-American (you read that right)
freshman defensive back Brandon Joseph has been outstanding, even
before his highlight reel interception two weeks ago against the Bucks.
I like the ‘Cats to perform well and be prepared, but I think more
points will be scored than expected. NU’s defense still gets the
job done when needed, but the Tigers cover.
Pick: Northwestern 27, Auburn 24. Take Auburn and the points as NU gets 2021 off to a good start.
Season to date: 7-1 Straight up, 5-3 ATS
Go ‘Cats!
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, P.S. O'Briant, Eric Cockerill, Joel Kanvik, Charlie Simon, and
MO'Cats) have continued the Line in memory of Marcus.
For
the 2020 season it has returned to HailToPurple.com,
for anyone to enjoy. Thanks to the gridiron brain trust at the Lowes
Line!
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