Outback Betting Odds

Point Spread: Yellow Jackets -5.5 / Hawkeyes +5.5 O/U 51

Opening Line: Tigers -8 / Wildcats +8 O/U 54.5

Time: Friday January 1, 2010 on ESPN

In the Outback Bowl the Auburn Tigers face the Northwestern Wildcats, who ended the season en fuego winning 4 of their last 6 games including beating the ranked teams of Iowa and Wisconsin. Overall the Wildcats won their last 3 games of the season and were 2-1 vs. ranked opponents this season. After starting the season at 5-0 the Tigers really fell apart losing 5 of their last 7 games including their last 2. However, their best game of the season may have been a 5-point loss to Alabama in their season finale. This season the Tigers were 1-2 against teams ranked in the top 25.

This season Auburn was 6-5 ATS and Northwestern was 5-6 ATS.

In their last games of the season Auburn lost a tough game to BCS bowl bound Alabama 26-21 while Northwestern beat Wisconsin 33-31.

Auburn has the nation's 21st ranked offense and they are solid at both running the ball and passing it. Their 54th ranked passing offense is led by QB Chris Todd (2,377 yds 21 TD 6 INT) and his two main targets of WR Darvin Adams and RB Onterio McCalebb averaged over 17 yards per reception. Ben Tate (1,254 yds 8 TD) leads the rushing offense, which ranks 13th in the nation. The Northwestern defense ranks 44th in the nation and they are better at defending the run than the pass. If Tate is contained then the Tigers will have to move the chains through the air. The Tigers' offensive line has to protect Todd and open up holes for Tate.

Northwestern ranks 57th in the nation and they are led by QB Mike Kafka (2,898 yds 12 TD 7 INT) and he may be counted on for most of the offense, as the Wildcats rushing offense only ranks 93rd in the nation and their feature back of Arby Fields only averaged 3.7 yards per carry this season. WR Andrew Brewer is Kafka's main targets and he averaged a legit 16.2 yards per reception this season. The Auburn defense had major troubles all season, as overall they rank 51st. Luckily for them they are much better at defending the pass, as their rush defense only ranks 80th in the nation. If they contain Kafka in this game the Tigers should be in good shape. The Wildcats' offensive line has to especially worry about Tigers' DE Antonio Coleman, who was A two-time All-SEC first team selection and led the conference with 15.5 tackles for a loss and 9.0 sacks.

The Wildcats were 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games and the Tigers were 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.


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