Lowes Line
Posted
9/23/21

 



 
Ohio Preview and Prediction
 

By Joel Kanvik



Matchup:  #8 (Bottom 10) Ohio Bobcats (0-3, 0-0 MAC) at Northwestern Wildcats (1-2, 0-1)
Date:  Saturday, September 25, 2021.  Kickoff:  11:00 a.m. CDT
TV:  BTN
Line:  Northwestern (-14.5); Over/Under 48.0

Outlook:  We're three games into the season, and it has the Staff here at the Lowes Line twitching involuntarily like Chief Inspector Dreyfuss:


The play on the field reminds us of the Francis Peay/Len Williams era of ineptitude (memories we had hoped were long buried).  Seriously, we've been favored 3 games in a row, and lost twice in ugly fashion and failed to cover against an FCS team.  The Line can neither confirm or deny that all future 2021 road opponents are hurriedly reconfiguring their fall calendars so that homecoming coincides with NU's impending visit.

According to Northwestern's coaching staff, Hunter Johnson "won the job."  After watching his performance in the first half against Duke, I have to wonder how the hell that happened?  Were the others forced to practice in body casts?  Johnson threw three interceptions in 28 minutes of action against Duke.  These weren't lucky tip drill sorts of picks, or highlight reel interceptions where a defensive back made an unbelievable play.  No, these were three interceptions that should never have been thrown.  Two of them made me wonder if Hunter realized he was playing against the blue team rather than for it.  My guess is that when Johnson announced to Clemson he intended to transfer, Dabo Swinney was only too happy to rent him a U-Haul and fill out Hunter's change-of-address forms.

I really have little to say about the second half comeback, because that first half made me fondly recall my undergraduate days of heading to the parking lot before half time to do keg stands instead of going back in to Dyche Stadium for a second half that would amount to a victory lap for the visitors.  However, since Evanston 1st doesn't deliver to my neck of the woods, that idea was out the window.  But I still paid as much attention to the game as I did in 1989 after about 3 stands...

Andrew Marty did come in and have a nice day throwing the football, but it was too little, too late for NU.  Spotting Duke a 3-touchdown lead after one quarter, and a 30-7 lead at half was far too much to overcome. Hard for a defense to overcome an offense that gives the ball to the other team 5 times, but early on they certainly didn't do well in keeping Duke away from the end zone, or at least making them kick field goals.  If NU is going to avoid joining its next opponent in the Bottom 10, its offense has to hold onto the ball.  Generosity has its place, but that place is not on the football field.

Into Evanston come the Ohio Bobcats, hopefully an elixir for all that ails the Purple.  The Bobcats are led by new head coach Tim Albin, who was appointed when Frank Solich stepped down in June to focus on some health issues.  It has been a rough start for Coach Albin, as his Bobcats are the only winless MAC team at 0-3.  Included in that total is a drubbing (49-14) at the hands of the Louisiana Cajuns (apparently bobcat makes a tasty gumbo) and a heartbreaker of a loss to the FCS Duquesne Dukes, secured when the Dukes foiled a 2-point conversion with 10 seconds remaining.  Truly, it has been a long season in Athens.  After 3 games.  Just like Evanston.

The Bobcats are led by sophomore quarterback Kurtis Roarke, and his season statistics are much the same as Hunter Johnson's, though Hunter is probably envious of Roarke's 3-TD-to-1-int ratio (much better than Johnson's 4/4).  In terms of yards gained and yards surrendered, NU's and Ohio's offense and defense are pretty statistically similar.  NU's defense is stingier when it comes to surrendering points and, ultimately, I guess that's what matters.

I tried...really tried...not to get too salty with this Line, but one quarter of the season is gone and there's precious little about NU's team that inspires a lot of optimism.  Our appearance in the Big Ten Championship game and Citrus Bowl victory against Auburn seem much more distant than just a season ago.  Maybe getting everything going against Ohio will be just the kickstart the 2021 season needs for NU to challenge again for the Big Ten West.  Maybe.  Given what I've seen thus far, though, that seems too much to hope for.

Pick: NU 30, Ohio 17.  NU controls the game and is a little stingier with the ball, but again fails to cover against a lesser opponent.  Pick Ohio to cover.

Season To Date:  Straight up, 1-2; Against the Spread, 1-2.



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!