For the Northwestern football fan griping about landing in the Music City Bowl, instead of in a so-called “better” bowl game, there’s a much you need edification on. While I do agree with you on a whole lot of points, and admit a strong case for your argument exists, there are still some things you need to be schooled on.
You have come to the right place, because school is now in session.
MUSIC CITY BOWL
Kentucky vs. No. 21 Northwestern
Dec. 29, 2017 | 3:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
Nashville, Tennessee
SPREAD: Northwestern football -7
First, we’ll take a look at the Northwestern football bowl game history (3-10)
Season Bowl Result Opponent
1948 Rose W 20-14 California
1995 Rose L 32-41 USC
1996 Citrus L 28-48 Tennessee
2000 Alamo L 17-66 Nebraska
2003 Motor City L 24-28 Bowling Green
2005 Sun L 38-50 UCLA
2008 Alamo L 23-30 (OT) Missouri
2009 Outback L 35-38 (OT) Auburn
2010 TicketCity L 38-45 Texas Tech
2011 Meineke Car Care L 22-33 Texas A&M
2012 Gator W 34-20 Mississippi State
2015 Outback L 6-45 Tennessee
2016 Pinstripe W 31-24 Pittsburgh
A Big Ten school will play in the Music City Bowl for the sixth time.
Northwestern football is making its 14th bowl appearance and its first ever trip to the Music City Bowl.
Northwestern Football Preview:
Now that we have reviewed the Wildcats bowl history, look closely at 2008-2012, as those were games in which NU were at least slight and often heavy underdogs in their bowl game. NU was actually the biggest underdog of the entire bowl season on more than one occasion in that span.
That means the Cats got a “better” bowl than they “deserved,” because they were matched up against a much better on paper opponent. Remember, this is a major reason the Northwestern football bowl in drought lasted as long as it did (64 years).
So if you’re mad about the Cats getting snubbed this year, then you have to accept that this comes with the territory for all those times NU got a better bowl destination than they truly deserved.
Not to mention Nashville is a way better city than most of the other bowl destination cities. The “Athens of the South” has a life size full scale replica of The Parthenon, and Andrew Jackson’s plantation home. Add in the famous hot fried chicken and you can see why the Music City Bowl considers itself bigger and better than a lot of the bowls these days.
And really, after the playoff and New Year’s Six bowls, it’s all very debatable somewhat within only couple tiers anyway.
Besides this was always about nothing more than your random purple mafia media member jackass filling column inches with the first thing to come because they’re totally bankrupt of ideas, and/or some low brow talk show killing dead air time.
Besides, take a step back and look at the bigger picture- bowl games have never been a meritocracy. They were invented to boost hotel room sales during a notoriously slow period of the year.
That’s not a conspiracy; it’s actually documented in an official Sugar Bowl press release.
Flashing forward to this game, a Northwestern football record is on the line here. Pat Fitzgerald’s guys can tie the 1995, 2012 and 2015 teams for the school single season wins record (10).
They have an amazingly stout defense, led Baby Fitz middle linebacker Paddy Fisher and defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster, a workout warrior of all workout warriors. Running back Justin Jackson is perhaps the best running back to play at a school that has truly had a lot of fine ball-carriers.
He had a blockbuster Pinstripe Bowl last season, and in his final game here, we’ll see if he can top that.
Kentucky Wildcats Preview:
It’s Kentucky, so it’s “one and done,” oh I’m sorry, “succeed and proceed,” oh wait, this football, never mind then. UK sophomore running back Benny Snell did his best Joe Namath impression and promised his team was going to win a bowl game.
“We going to Nashville. We’re going to get this W. I promise,” Snell told the Rupp Arena crowd during Kentucky’s basketball game against Virginia Tech.
Ok then.
The Cats have achieved back to back bowl games, and Snell is a big reason why as he’s rushed for 2,409 yards and 31 touchdowns during his first two seasons.
Kentucky’s best win of the season turned out to be a 40-34 victory over Mizzou, who finished 7-5 and landed in the Texas Bowl. These Cats started 5-1 and the streets were paved with gold in the commonwealth. Then they faltered, finishing 2-4 during their final six, and we all remembered that this Coach Cal’s athletic department again after all.
Prediction: Northwestern football 34, Kentucky Wildcats 23
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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