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Duke Preview and Prediction
By MO'Cats
Matchup: your Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) at Duke Blue Devils (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18th at 3:00 pm CDT
TV: ACC Network (what seriously, come on!)
Line: Northwestern (-2.5)
Outlook: Alright folks, the negativity
surrounding this team continues despite a convincing win against the
Sycamores last week 24-6. Duke also got off the schnide
winning 45-17 over North Carolina A&T. The ‘Cats and Devils
are meeting for the 21st time with the series evenly split 10-10
(although our alma mater has won 7 of the past 10). The first
week of the season each team struggled as NU lost to Michigan St., a
team this writer believes is WAY better than people are giving them
credit (see bonus picks), while Duke lost a thriller to Charlotte
31-28. First game jitters, loss of experience, say what you
will, but each team lost their opener and did not look good doing
it.
Let’s talk about this Duke team. They are led by senior RB Mataeo
Durant. All he has done the first two games is put up 255 yards
to break Duke’s single season record and then 41 yards and 3 scores
against A&T. He’s a preseason All-ACC 2nd team
selection and at 6’1, 195 lbs, will need to be contained for this game
to turn NU’s way. Grad Student Gunnar Holmberg helms the
offense at the QB position and although not flashy, holds down the
position admirably. The defense is led by Shaka Heyward who
leads the team in tackles. This defense is a bend don’t break
style but one key stat, they do not force turnovers.
NU made quick work of Indiana St with a bland playbook and a solid
running game. Evan Hull was healthier than in week 1,
responding with 126 yards rushing with most in the first
half. Hunter Johnson leads the offense with a new WR corps
and only had 66 yards passing last week. The D needs to step up
and wash the taste of week 1 out of every NU fan’s mouth.
Bergin has publicly said, week 1 was an aberration.
Alright, prediction time. Hunter only had 66 yards last week, but
hold your hats, Hunter has the ability to make throws at the QB
position unseen since Kafka. This is his coming out party
in my opinion. Hull controls the ground. On the
defensive side, this unit is coachable. I have to believe
McCarigle and Fitz will get this unit up to speed (please don’t ask
about O’Neill, I just don’t know yet). B Joseph gets a key
turnover late and the ‘Cats take command after being down 14-10 at
half.
Pick: Northwestern 27, Duke 21. Fitz gets the win and the hate this season starts dissolving. Give the points.
Season to date: Straight Up (1-1), Against the Spread (1-1)
Bonus Picks -
Maryland (-8) at Illinois - take the Turps; Cincinnati (-3.5) at IU -
take the Bearcats. Spartans (+6) at Canes - take MSU with an
outright win. NIU (+27.5) at Michigan - UofM wins but a late
score allows the Huskies to cover. Nebraska (+22.5) at Oklahoma -
Nebraska covers but just barely. Minnesota (+3) at Colorado
- for the B1G sake, lets say Minny wins outright. Purdue
(+7) at ND - Purdue is very very angry that the Drum is not being
allowed. Revenge, with the points but ND wins. Kent State
at Iowa (-23) - Iowa cruises. Tulsa at tOSU (-25) - ummm, I don’t
think I would want to be in Tulsa’s shoes this week. Delaware at
Rutgers - Rutgers wins outright. Auburn at Penn St (-5) -
white out game rocks the Tigers, take the Lions
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 Lone Star 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 2021 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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