Northwestern football fans need to, in the words of Mark Ronson, “show up and show out” for this one. They have a New Year’s Six Bowl resume with a solid 10-2 record. Those two losses came to teams with a combined record of 21-3.
They’re facing another rock solid team in SEC foe Tennessee. NU deserves a lot more attention, both from the fans and the media than they have been receiving. You guys need to do a better job supporting your team.
More of you need to show up online and click on articles about your team too. Pat Fitzgerald’s team will be going for the school record for wins on New Year’s Day. There should be much more of a buzz for the Cats than we’re currently seeing and hearing.
Justin Jackson is one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated players in the Big Ten. He should be a leading candidate to win 2016 Big Ten player of the year.
SPREAD: Northwestern football are 8 point underdogs in this one.
TV: ESPN2 11 AM January 1.
Yes, NU is a spot ahead of Michigan in the rankings and they have a better record than the Wolverines, but UM got the better bowl slot in the Florida Citrus. You really can’t complain about that too much if you’re a Northwestern football fan though because of badly Michigan whipped NU when the two teams met this season.
Oh and way to be SEC/Tennessee fans, you remember to always be you. Within minutes of this announcement, Vols supporters found Jackson’s Twitter account in order to talk trash to him. Outside of SEC territory, only 2017 NFL Draftniks and scouting/recruiting junkies really know who Jalen Reeves-Maybin is, but he’s really good or something.
Let it begin pic.twitter.com/t6N1gh4z21
— Justin Jackson (@J_ManPrime21) December 6, 2015
Ok so maybe there are some weirdos in the UT fan base, but great fight song though! “Rocky Top” is one of the top ten, maybe top five in the nation.
Also, here’s an interesting Volunteers sidebar from the playoff selection show. Rece Davis offered this:
“Top 3 teams in game control metrics are in the Playoffs. Number 4? Tennessee.”
Northwestern vs Tennessee in a Florida New Year’s Day bowl game, obviously inspires us to reminisce about the 1997 Citrus Bowl, the last collegiate game for both Peyton Manning and Pat Fitzgerald. On the bowl game media teleconference, Fitzgerald said he “doesn’t remember very much” from that game because he broke his ribs in the first quarter.
Tennessee won that contest 48-28. This contest figures to be a helluva lot closer. Should be a good game, Northwestern football fans shouldn’t miss this one.
Northwestern football injury report:
Prediction: Northwestern football 21, UT 17
NU will be without Nick van Hoose for this one, and that will hurt. However, they still have an even bigger player in the secondary in Matthew Harris. The Cats will find a way to win as underdogs.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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