It’s the NU bowl.
Also, the furry feline friend bowl as both programs have cat mascots. In regards to on-the-field material, Nebraska Cornhuskers versus Northwestern Wildcats marks a battle to take control of the Big Ten West division. Wisconsin just doesn’t have it this year, so the race for that slot in the B1G Championship game will come down to the two NUs, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Here’s the audio of my preview segment of this game on 1620 The Zone KOZN Omaha today. Bold prediction included.
6:30 p.m. CST – Northwestern Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers, Ryan Field (Big Ten Network)
spread: Nebraska Cornhuskers -7
Hey @FauxPelini, feel free to bring your feline friend with you on Saturday. Ryan Field is cat friendly. #Hospitality pic.twitter.com/iBgWse9OWO
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) October 13, 2014
@NUFBFamily ok but is Fitzgerald bringing a pet, I don’t want to be the only one and look stupid
— Fake Bo Pelini (@FauxPelini) October 13, 2014
Northwestern Wildcats Preview:
Middle Linebacker Colin Ellis will miss this game with a concussion. So that means Anthony Walker, one of the many heroes of the Penn State game will take over at the starting Mike position. It would be great if Pat Fitzgerald could find a way to get both of his talented linebackers on the field at this same time. Looking at the NU, whoops I mean looking at the Northwestern, depth chart this week…tells you nothing.
Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach and genius mad scientist Chip Kelly told reporters this summer that his depth chart is literally meaningless and that he actually lets an Eagles PR guy construct it. It wouldn’t surprise me if Fitzgerald does the same exact thing. Although you will never hear him admit that.
In true freshman Justin Jackson, Northwestern has found their featured back on offense. Regardless of what the depth chart says, Jackson (@JManPrime21 on Twitter) is the true starter. NU has found life of offense after Venric Mark. Certainly, they’ve found a a new focus in the rush-first attack. Coming closer to finding an offensive identity is a big reason why the Cats have gone 3-1 since starting 0-2.
So I know what you’re asking “JManPrime21,” that’s got to be a Deion Sanders reference, right?
A tailback looking up to a cornerback? (Yes, the greatest corner of all time, but still)…I’ll let Jackson explain.
Speaking of Seminoles, I know you’ll be watching #2 Florida State vs #5 Notre Dame at this time, but do try to take in as much of the Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Northwestern as you can. Because it’s been an extremely entertaining series lately. The shocking road upset in 2011. The “Northwesterning” (more on this later) collapse in 2012. The Hail Mary in 2013.
Grab your popcorn and keep your eyes on this one.
And avert your eyes when Northwestern is on special teams.
Nebraska Cornhuskers preview:
Randy Gregory could be the Big Ten’s first player selected in the top ten of the NFL Draft since 2008 (Yes, it’s been that long). Michigan’s Taylor Lewan came close last year, but just missed at #11. Here’s more on Gregory and what makes him so awesome at doing the football kind of things.
Bo Pelini said yesterday that Kenny Bell, Terrell Newby, Brandon Reilly, Daniel Davie and David Santos should all be available for this game. Or at least gave soundbites at the press conference that makes one believe they’ll be ready by Saturday night.
The crowd at Ryan Field will be as red as the attendees at a Che Guevara tribute gathering.
“It’s what you always kind of expect from our fans,” said Pelini.
“They’re going to travel well, they’re going to be loud and they’re going to be into it. I thought that was pretty special out there a couple years ago. And I think if the tickets were available for every away game, I think you’d see that every week. That’s what our fans are.”
I’m still not buying the Ameer Abdullah as a Heisman candidate propaganda. He’s very very very very good, but he’s as much of a Heisman trophy candidate as Everett Golson is. Which means he’s not. The Big Ten Network just feel they need to promote somebody as a Heisman contender this year and Abdullah (or Ameer Muhammad as Lou Holtz called him, twice) is the player they’ve chosen.
And Holtz is still on the air….why?
He’s just become a cartoonish parody now and his role on ESPN’s national college football show is to play the “hey, you kids get off my lawn” character, and somehow make a meathead like Mark May look like a wonkish intellectual by comparison. Sounds impossible but Holtz does exactly that every week.
Back to Abdullah, he should be the Big Ten Silver Football winner, and here’s why.
Also, since the Huskers will be so close to Chicago, PLEASE bring the Smokin Jay Cutler Don’t Care play-call cards with you!
Prediction: Northwestern 29, Nebraska Cornhuskers 28
For whatever reason I think the ‘Cats got this. Despite the “Northwesterning” that has gone on the past couple of meetings. Northwesterning is defined by Urban Dictionary as “Not closing the deal; having a victory in hand, but somehow finding a way to lose.”
So kind of like a local version of “Clemsoning.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2