Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Northwestern

Outback Bowl

Robert Guliano on Why Northwestern will win: Because since the last time Northwestern won a bowl game Barbara Walters has married three men and dated at least three government officials. Since the last time they brought home a bowl trophy, Nelson Mandela has been thrown in and released from prison. Dick Clark was in college. John McCain was in middle school. Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was twenty-five years away from being born. It has been 61 years. Unless you are a forefather or illegitimate child of biblical Abraham, that’s a long time.

Northwestern Key Players:

3. Mike Kafka- Starting quarterbacks has had ups and downs all year. He would go over 3,000 yards on the season with a solid performance Friday morning.

2. Time- The game begins at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on January 1^st. This renders it a headache for hung over fans on the east coast and leaves it as not an option for passed out fans on the west coast.

1. Pat Fitzgerald- He is already a beloved Northwestern man. He would be the “Big Man on Campus” once again with a rare Wildcat bowl win.

Brandon Hickey on why Auburn will win: Many people wrote off Auburn as a joke when they hired Gene Chizik as their head coach after he went 5-19 at Iowa State. Alum Charles Barkley was the most outspoken critic (obviously) saying that Buffalo coach Turner Gill didn’t get the job because he was black. Nothing like a little racial controversy, huh? Chizik responded by starting out 5-0 before losing three straight SEC games and eventually finished up at 7-5. Gill? 5-7. After a close loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, Auburn is sure to be confident going into this game against Big Ten brainiacs Northwestern.

Auburn Key Players:

3. RB Ben Tate-Tate has been a pleasant surprise at tailback. He’s not quite Cadillac Williams or Ronnie Brown, but he has still racked up 1254 yards and 8 touchdowns.

2. K Wes Byrum-Byrum is one of the most consistent kickers in the country, making all 49 extra point attempts and going 14/15 on field goals.

1. Bloomin’ Onions-The Outback Bowl features two decent teams and one fantastic appetizer. The hot breaded onions dipped in that sauce may be one of the best things ever created. I’m drooling.

THE COMPROMISE: Northwestern loves early afternoon football, 27-24 Wildcats.