Papa John's.com Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Rutgers
- If you had said in mid-October that the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights would be playing in the Papa John's.com Bowl, it would have sounded crazy.
NC State was 2-6 and Rutgers was 2-5, but both reeled off winning streaks to earn this December 29 game at Legion Field.
Oddsmakers currently have the Scarlet Knights listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Wolfpack, while the game's total is sitting at 56.
Russell Wilson threw for two touchdown passes to lead North Carolina State to an 38-28 upset win over Miami in Week 14.
The Wolfpack covered the 2-point spread, while the final score played OVER the posted total of 50.
Mike Teel threw seven touchdown passes last time out, as Rutgers ran over Louisville 63-14. Rutgers easily covered the 11-point spread, and the combined score sailed OVER the posted total of 54.
Teel completed 21-of-26 for 447 yards for Rutgers. Tim Brown had 173 yards receiving with two touchdowns in the win.
Team records:
North Carolina State: 6-6 SU, 9-2 ATS
Rutgers: 7-5 SU, 7-4 ATS
North Carolina State most recently:
When playing in December are 3-2
When playing on turf are 2-5
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing outside the conference are 4-6
Rutgers most recently:
When playing in December are 2-2
When playing on turf are 5-5
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the conference are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
North Carolina State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
North Carolina State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of North Carolina State's last 9 games
Rutgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Rutgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Rutgers's last 5 games
Alamo Bowl: Northwestern vs. Missouri
- The Missouri Tigers tumbled all the way down to the bowl ladder to the Alamo Bowl with their Big 12 title game loss to Oklahoma. Now they will settle for a match against Northwestern December 29 at the Alamodome against the 9-3 Huskies.
Oddsmakers currently have the Tigers listed as 12½-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game's total is sitting at 66.
C.J. Bacher threw for two touchdown and Stephen Simmons ran in another as Northwestern beat Illinois 27-10 in Week 13.
The Wildcats won as 3-point underdogs, while the combined score played UNDER the day's posted total of 54.5.
Missouri was defeated 62-21 by Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game as 16.5-point underdogs last time out. The 83 points made it OVER the posted total of 79.
Chase Daniel threw for 252 yards with three touchdowns in a losing effort for Missouri.
Team records:
Northwestern: 9-3 SU, 6-5 ATS
Missouri: 9-4 SU, 5-7 ATS
Northwestern most recently:
When playing in December are 0-3
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 8-2
When playing outside the conference are 8-2
Missouri most recently:
When playing in December are 2-6
When playing on turf are 7-3
After being outgained are 7-3
When playing outside the conference are 9-1
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northwestern's last 5 games
Northwestern is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
Northwestern is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Missouri is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games
Missouri is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
NC STATE (6 - 6) vs. RUTGERS (7 - 5)
Top Trends for this game.
NC STATE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all games this season.
NC STATE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
NC STATE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
NC STATE is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) after playing a conference game this season.
NC STATE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in games played on a grass field this season.
NC STATE is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
NORTHWESTERN (9 - 3) vs. MISSOURI (9 - 4)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
Papajohns.com Bowl
NC State vs. Rutgers
NC State
9-2 ATS as an underdog
7-0 ATS off conference game
Rutgers
7-0 Over Away off home conference win
1-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points
Alamo Bowl
Northwestern vs. Missouri
Northwestern
3-12 ATS off SU win
5-1 Over off SU win as an underdog
Missouri
19-7 ATS after allowing 42+ points
15-3 ATS after allowing 525+ total yards
NORTH CAROLINA STATE vs. RUTGERS
North Carolina State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
North Carolina State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Rutgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Rutgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
NORTHWESTERN vs. MISSOURI
Northwestern is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Northwestern is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
Missouri is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Missouri is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games
Papajohns.com Bowl
By Brad Young
Two of college football’s hottest teams collide at Birmingham , Alabama’s Legion Field for the Papajohns.com Bowl. NC State and Rutgers enter this matchup riding a combined 10-game winning streak after struggling early in the season.
The Scarlet Knights are making their fourth straight bowl appearance, winning their games during the current winning streak by scoring an average of 46 points. Rutgers has been crushing opponents during that period, winning those games by an average margin of 29 points.
NC State has also been putting points on the board during its late-season revival. The Wolfpack have been averaging 31.8 points per contest en route to victories over a pair of ranked teams.
Caesars Palace opened Rutgers as a seven-point (-110) ‘chalk’ over NC State, with the total set at 56 ½. ESPN will provide coverage of this contest beginning Monday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
NC State (6-6 straight up, 9-2 against the spread) has won four games in a row SU and seven consecutive contests ATS heading into this bowl matchup. The Wolfpack wrapped up their regular season by beating Miami , Florida November 24 as a two-point home favorite, 38-28. The combined 66 points soared past the 48-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second straight matchup.
NC State finished the contest with advantages in first downs (25-19), rushing yards (219-122), turnovers forced (4-1) and time of possession (31:56-28:-04). Freshman quarterback Russell Wilson completed 11-of-23 passes for 220 yards with two touchdowns, while Andre Brown ran 12 times for 93 yards and a score.
Rutgers (7-5 SU, 7-4 ATS) enters this contest riding a six-game SU winning streak (five in a row ATS) after throttling Louisville December 4 as an 11½-point home ‘chalk,’ 63-14. The combined 77 points eclipsed the 53 ½-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash the third consecutive contest with a total posted.
Rutgers never looked back after jumping out to a 49-point halftime advantage. The Scarlet Knights concluded the contest with advantages in first downs (25-15), rushing yards (224-48), passing yards (447-270) and turnovers forced (2-0). Senior signal caller Mike Teel was 21-of-26 passing for 447 yards with an incredible seven touchdowns, while running back Jourdan Brooks had 11 carries for 124 yards and a score.
NC State safety Clem Johnson (ankle) is ‘questionable’ versus the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers defensive end Jamaal Westerman (bicep) is expected to miss this matchup.
Monday’s forecast for Birmingham , Alabama calls for sunny skies with a high of 60 degrees and a low of 34.
vegasinsider.com
Alamo Bowl
By Judd Hall
Respect is something that every team in college football truly wants. Unfortunately for the Big Ten Conference, respect is something that its charter members haven’t received over the past two seasons thanks to some sad outings by the Buckeyes in the national championship game.
That stigma has helped shape the line for this year’s Valero Alamo Bowl between Northwestern and Missouri. Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed the Tigers as 10½-point favorites with a total of 64 back on Dec. 8. The public has helped push that line to make Mizzou a 12½-point “chalk” now (the largest spread of any bowl game this year) with the total getting moved up to 66½. Bettors can take the Wildcats to pull off what would be the first big upset of the bowl season for a plus-350 return (risk $100 to win $350).
It’s hard to argue with that move when you look at how potent Mizzou’s offense has been this year. Senior gunslinger Chase Daniel is seventh nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 164.8 in 2008. Of course, you can put those kind of numbers up when your offense is sixth in the country with 497.5 yards per game.
Daniel is able to move the ball as well as he has this year thanks to a spread attack with such explosive targets like wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman. Maclin leads all Missouri receivers with 95 catches for 1,221 yards and 12 touchdowns as the top target. Yet Coffman has proved himself to be more than capable as the second option with 83 catches this year for 920 yards and another 10 scores.
Those two receivers will be facing up against a Northwestern secondary that has given up 215.3 YPG though the air to rank 74th in the nation. While that number is impressive statistically, they haven’t faced an attack this powerful this year. What we’ll most likely see is the Wildcats moving out their linebackers to help cover third and fourth receivers at the line, which will benefit Missouri’s Derrick Washington. The sophomore rusher is only averaging 76.3 YPG this season, but a healthy 6.1 yards per carry when called upon by Gary Pinkel.
Much of Northwestern’s success hinges on its ability to run the ball. The Wildcats aren’t numerically impressive by gaining 147.6 YPG on the ground, but you have to consider they didn’t have Tyrell Sutton for much of the year as he only played in eight games. But Sutton gained 776 yards on 155 carries for six touchdowns in his eight starts. The big question is if he’ll be ready to play in this game after injuring his left wrist against Indiana on Oct. 25. Doctors removed his cast and the three pins inserted to fix his wrist a few weeks ago, but he’s still listed as “questionable.”
If Sutton can’t get on the field, then C.J. Bacher will be tasked with keeping the Wildcats moving. But that might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Bacher doesn’t have the rating that Daniel has, ranking 87th with a 113.7 rating. Then again, the Northwestern signal caller will be throwing against a Tiger defense that is among the worst in the country, giving up 285.3 YPG through the air to rank 117th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
This is actually the first time these two schools have met since splitting a home-and-home series, both straight up and against the spread, during the 1985 and 1987 seasons. Northwestern has seemingly forgotten how to win a bowl game, losing its last five postseason appearances since winning the 1948 Rose Bowl over California.
The Wildcats have gone 1-4 ATS in their last five bowl games. That number includes a 66-17 defeat to Nebraska as 14-point underdogs in the 2000 Alamo Bowl.
This is the first appearance in San Antonio for a bowl game for the Tigers, but they’re going to their fifth postseason tilt under Gary Pinkel since 2001. Missouri is 2-2 SU in those contests, but have helped bettors by going 3-1 ATS in that time.
Favorites haven’t been automatic at all when it comes to the Alamo Bowl as they’ve gone 8-7 SU since the game started in 1993. As far as gamblers are concerned the ‘dog is the bet as they’re 8-7 ATS in those matches. The most astounding number is the fact that the ‘under’ is 10-5 in these postseason games at San Antonio.
You can catch this contest on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EST.
vegasinsider.com
PAPAJOHN’S.COM BOWL
N.C. State (6-6, 9-2 ATS) vs. Rutgers (7-5, 7-4 ATS) (at Birmingham, Ala.)
Two teams that finished the regular season on fire will square off at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., when the Wolfpack meet Rutgers for the first time.
N.C. State went on a 4-0 SU and ATS run to end the season and become bowl-eligible, this after losing four in a row (3-1 ATS) in late September/October. The Wolfpack wrapped up the regular season with a 38-28 upset win over Miami, cashing as a two-point home ‘dog. They have cashed in seven straight contests and they’re on a 13-3 ATS roll as an underdog.
The play of QB Russell Wilson was the key reason for N.C. State’s late-season turnaround, as he’s thrown 226 straight passes without an INT. He finished with 1,769 yards, 16 TDs and just one pick, and helped the Wolfpack average almost 32 points per game during the four-game winning streak.
Rutgers started out 1-5 before closing the season on a six-game winning streak (5-1 ATS), averaging 46.2 points per game in its final five wins (5-0 ATS). Senior QB Mike Teel was magnificent over his final five games, throwing for 1,737 yards and 20 TDs against just five INTs. Teel passed for a school-record 447 yards and seven TDs (no INTs) in the finale, a 63-14 blowout of Louisville as a 12-point home favorite.
N.C. State is in its first bowl game since beating South Florida 14-0 as a 3½-point favorite in the 2005 Meineke Bowl. However, second-year Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien went 6-1 SU and ATS in bowl games with Boston College. Meanwhile, Rutgers has qualified for its fourth straight bowl game under coach Greg Schiano, going 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in the last three, including last year’s 52-30 rout of Ball State in the International Bowl.
Rutgers, which put up just 19.5 ppg during its 1-5 start, finished the season averaging 29 points and 395.1 yards per contest. The Scarlet Knights scored 30-plus points six times. Meanwhile, N.C. State averages 23.5 points and 327.2 yards each start, scoring 30 or more five times.
Defensively, the Scarlet Knights allow just 18.5 ppg and 323.9 ypg, while the Wolfpack give up 26.1 points and 387.1 yards per outing. However, after giving up 24 or more in its first eight games, N.C. State allowed 17 or less in three of its last four.
In addition to their 7-1 ATS flourish to end the regular season, the Scarlet Knights are on pointspread runs of 11-4-1 in non-conference play, 4-0 in December and 7-0 on artificial turf. However, they’ve failed to cash in four straight games as a favorite of 3½ to 10 points.
N.C. State, in addition to its current ATS surges of 7-0 overall and 13-3 as an underdog, is 4-1 ATS in its last five bowl games and 6-0 against winning teams. However, the Wolfpack are 2-7 ATS in their last nine non-conference games and 1-5 ATS in their last six versus the Big East.
The under is 7-3-2 in N.C. State’s last 12 non-conference games, but the over is on runs of 4-1 for the Wolfpack in December games, 7-2 against teams with a winning record and 7-3 after a spread-cover. Rutgers is on “over” streaks of 4-1 overall, 4-0 in December and 4-1 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
ALAMO BOWL
(22) Northwestern (9-3, 6-5 ATS) vs. (25) Missouri (9-4, 5-7 ATS) (at San Antonio, Texas)
Northwestern’s defense figures to face its most difficult test of the season when it tries to stop Missouri’s high-powered offense inside the Alamodome.
Missouri opened the year 5-0 (3-1 ATS) and climbed to No. 3 in the rankings, but split its final eight games (2-6 ATS), including two losses at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to end the season. First, the Tigers fell to Kansas 40-37 as a 16-point favorite in a last-second defeat, then returned to Arrowhead and got rocked by Oklahoma 62-21 as a 16-point ‘dog in the Big 12 title game.
Northwestern’s defense dominated its final two games, as the Wildcats won at Michigan 21-14 as a three-point underdog and downed Illinois 27-10 at home, also as a three-point pup. The Wildcats went 4-3 SU and ATS to end the year after starting out 5-0 (2-2 ATS in lined action).
Missouri crushed Arkansas 38-7 as a three-point favorite in last year’s Cotton Bowl, and the Tigers are 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS in the postseason since coach Gary Pinkel arrived. Northwestern, in its first bowl game in coach Pat Fitzgerald’s tenure, has lost five straight bowl games since 1948 (1-4 ATS), most recently falling to UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl, 50-38 as a three-point underdog.
The Tigers’ high-octane offense is ignited by the combo of QB Chase Daniel (4,135 yards, 37 TDs, 15 INTs) and WR Jeremy Maclin (95 catches, 1,221 receiving yards, 252 rushing yards, 15 total TDs). As a team, Missouri averaged 43.2 points and 497.5 total yards per contest, including 340.4 yards per outing through the air. However, the Tigers’ defense struggled in the offensively potent Big 12, allowing 27.5 points and 415 total yards per game, the latter figure ranking 99th in the nation.
Northwestern mustered 24.5 points and 357.5 total yards per game (147.2 rushing ypg). However, the defense was the strong point, as it had a Big Ten-leading 33 sacks and gave up just 19.3 points and 343 yards per contest.
These two squads haven’t met since 1987, when Missouri scored a 28-3 home win as a 6½-point chalk.
Missouri is just 1-4 ATS on the road this season, 1-4 ATS in its last five overall, 2-6 in its last eight December games and 1-4 ATS in its last five against teams with a winning record. Northwestern is on pointspread slides of 1-7 following a spread-cover, 3-9 in non-conference games and 20-41-1 after a straight-up win.
For the Wildcats, the under is 4-1 in their last five overall and 4-1 in their last five non-conference games, but the over is 7-3 in their last 10 after a spread-cover. Missouri is on a plethora of “over” streaks, including 14-6 after a non-cover, 7-3 in neutral-site games, 6-2 in non-conference contests and 4-1 against Big Ten foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Gametimepicks.com
Alamo Bowl Preview
By Sportspic.com
The Missouri Tigers of the Big 12 Conference and the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten collide in the Alamo Bowl. Missouri off back-2-back losses to Kansas (40-37) and Oklahoma (62-21) ended the season a disappointing 9-4 with a 5-7 mark at the betting window. Loaded on the offensive end Tigers lead by QB Chase Daniel put up 497.5 total yards per game averaging 43.2 PPG. On the defensive end, Tigers yielded 27.5 PPG on 414.2 total yards split between a mediocre pass defense (285.8 PYG) and decent run stop unit (129.2 RYG). Tigers making a 4th consecutive appearance (2-1, 3-0 ATS) are 2-2 (3-1 ATS) Bowling this millennium. As for Northwestern, they closed out with victories over Michigan (21-14) and Illinois (27-10) giving the squad a 9-3 record and a 6-5 mark at the cash window. Wildcats not as productive on the offensive end averaged 24.5 PPG on 357.0 total yards. On the other side of the ball, Pat Fitzgerald's troops allowed a stingy 19.3 PPG behind a solid pass protection unit (210.1 PYG) yielding a mere 11 TD's and rushing defense that surrendered 127.8 yards/game. Wildcats haven't seen Bowl action since getting smacked 50-38 by UCLA in 2005 and have only three invites the past ten years (0-3, 1-2 ATS). Trends of interest: Tigers are 9-2 ATS in non-conference tilts but just 2-5 ATS the past 7 overall laying 10.5 or more points. Wildcats are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games, 7-18-1 ATS overall taking 10.5 or more points.
PapaJohns.com Bowl Preview
by Nick Parsons
This bowl game is being played in Birmingham Alabama at 3 PM on December 29th.
When Mike Teel arrived at Rutgers in 2004, the Scarlet Knights had no history of success as a Football Bowl Subdivision program. Entering his final collegiate game, the fifth-year quarterback has a chance to lead his team to a bowl victory for the third straight year as Rutgers plays North Carolina State in the Papajohns.com Bowl.
So it's no wonder to find out that Rutgers is a TD favorite in this matchup. A quick look at a few key ATS trends to consider before taking a look at the Scarlet Knights is that they are 5-1 ATS this season after playing a conference game and a perfect 4-0 ATS in non-conference games. However they are a horrible 0-3 ATS as a favorite of 3 1/2 to 10 points.
North Carolina State (6-6) also rallied late in the season, winning its last four games in a highly competitive ACC to make a bowl for the first time in five years.
While Rutgers has a veteran quarterback that's playing for the final time, North Carolina State enters this game with an eye on the future behind ACC rookie of the year and conference first-team selection Russell Wilson. The redshirt freshman, who won a five-way battle for the starting job, threw for 1,769 yards and 16 touchdowns with only one interception in 252 attempts.
The Wolfpack played spoiler in their final two contests, routing archrival and then-No. 25 North Carolina 41-10 before preventing Miami from gaining a spot in the conference title game with a 38-28 victory.
The Wolfpack also have some impressive ATS trends; 7-0 ATS this season after playing a conference game, 7-1 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record, 9-2 ATS as an underdog but a sub-par 1-2 ATS in non-conference games.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams and should prove to be a great game!
What bettors need to know: PapaJohns.com Bowl
By MATT FARGO
North Carolina State at Rutgers (-7, 55.5)
The Betting Numbers
Rutgers opened as a touchdown favorite over the Wolfpack and the number is holding tight a week later. Shopping around could get you a half point in either direction but don’t expect much of a move until game day. The total opened at 51 and has gradually gone up to 53 in the majority of shops with even a couple 54s available. It would not be surprising to see this one go up even more based on recent results from these two teams.
Series History
This is the first ever meeting between NC State and Rutgers.
The Teams
Both teams enter this contest on significant winning streaks. The Wolfpack closed the season with four straight victories and with a 6-6 record. It took every one of those wins to become bowl eligible. NC State started the season getting drubbed on national television at South Carolina 34-0 and then snuck by William & Mary the next week. It then lost five of its next six games before winning out in November. NC State became the first team in ACC history to finish the season 4-0 in conference play after beginning at 0-4. This is the 24th bowl appearance for the Wolfpack who have not gone bowling since 2005.
It was a very similar season for Rutgers as well. The Scarlet Knights dropped five of their first six games with the lone victory coming against FCS team Morgan St. Three of those losses were by a touchdown or less. Rutgers finished with six straight victories and the final five came by an average of 29.4 points per game. The Scarlet Knights finished in a tie for second in the Big East thanks to a 5-2 record with the two losses coming by a total of 10 points. This will be the fourth straight bowl appearance for Rutgers after going 27 years without participating.
Against the Numbers
It comes as no surprise that the slow starts and fast finishes led to some winnings on both sides. NC State finished the year going 9-2 against the number including spread wins in seven straight games to end the season. All seven of those wins were as underdogs and the final four being outright victories. The nine spread wins were tied for the third most in the nation. Six of the 11 lined games went over the total including six of the final nine as the offense picked things up late.
Rutgers came into the season with high expectations after compiling 26 wins over the last three years, but it dropped its first three games against the number. The Scarlet Knights were a moneymaking machine after that covering seven of their final eight games.
The Matchup
The surging offense from NC State revolved around the emergence of quarterback Russell Wilson. He tossed an interception in his first start against Clemson but after that he tossed 16 touchdowns with no interceptions in his final eight games. Still, NC State finished just 89th in total offense and 80th in scoring offense despite averaging 30.2 ppg in its final five games. The unit will be tested against a strong Rutgers defense that finished 34th overall and 18th in scoring. It allowed 17 or fewer points in six of the last seven games.
While the Rutgers defense stiffened at the end of the year, the offense exploded. The Scarlet Knights scored more than 21 points only once in their first seven games but surpassed that with no problem in their final five games, averaging 46.2 ppg in that span. The Wolfpack picked up their defense, allowing 17 points or fewer in three of their last four games.
Intangibles
One big thing to look at in bowl matchups is momentum and that looks to be a wash as both teams come into this game riding high. That could make the underdog worth a look. NC State will be making its first bowl appearance under the leadership of head coach Tom O’Brien, who simply does not lose in the postseason. He finished his tenure at Boston College with seven straight bowl wins. O'Brien was 8-0 against Rutgers when he coached at Boston College from 1997-2006.
What bettors need to know: Alamo Bowl
By DAVID MALINSKY
Northwestern vs. Missouri (-12, 66)
Line moves
Double-figure favorites tend to fare poorly in December bowls and bettors jumped on the dog here. The early +13s on Northwestern were picked clean with 12.5 becoming a common number now.
A total of 66 might see some upwards movement by game day in a dome where the strength of the Missouri offense and weaknesses of the Tiger defense can both be exposed.
Forget the Alamo?
Bowl games are usually considered rewards, but not always. Missouri brings a whole set of psychological issues here, largely because this is not where the Tigers wanted to be this December.
They began their season with high aspirations, - so high that anything short of winning the Big 12 Championship and getting a Heisman Trophy for Chase Daniel would be considered a disappointment. And while they did make it to the Big 12 title game, they backed into that one off three conference losses, before being rudely dismissed by Oklahoma in Kansas City.
Daniel’s name was nowhere to be found on most Heisman ballots. Now the reward is returning to the venue where they lost the Big 12 title game last December, which brings some additional bad memories.
Wild or Tamecats?
The folks at Northwestern can be proud of their 9-3 record in Pat Fitzgerald’s second season though the Big Ten. But a good PR team spins all of that without mentioning the non-conference schedule had cupcakes Syracuse, Duke, Southern Illinois.
Against the spread
After opening 2-0 ATS and moving high in the national rankings, Missouri closed on a 3-7 slide. Northwestern was 6-5 ATS and 4-2 when taking points.
Game outlook
Northwestern has been off since Nov. 22 and is happy to be here. The first quarter will be crucial for the Cats who could be take advantage of a Missouri squad that may be flat early. But once the Tigers start throwing the ball around on a fast track against a slow defense, this game should be decided by more talented Mizzou.
Monday's Research
By Indiancowboy
NC State vs. Rutgers
It is tough to ignore what the Scarlet Knights have done over the past several months. NC State's Russell Wilson has thrown for a remarkable 17 touchdowns and 1 interception this year. Mike Teel of Rutgers came on strong during the second half of the season throwing for 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It's just a shame they end up being pitted against each other. This game is being played in Alabama where I grew up just 50 miles from there in Tuscaloosa, Al. I have actually been to Legion Field for Football games as well as Bryant-Denny stadium more than 20 times and it's a fun place to watch a game. NC State has covered their last 7 games and 9 of their last 10. Rutgers has covered their last 7 of 8 and frankly, I think the Rutgers offense and defense have been clicking on all cylinders however. Remember, this is just an example, but take it for what it's worth. NC State played a Big East team this year in South Florida and lost 10-41 at home, of course, they have had some personnel changes since then. Nevertheless, Rutgers went to South Florida and defeated them essentially to the inverse 49-16. Once again, two of the hottest teams in the nation face off here and there should be plenty of fireworks. Rutgers has played a better power ranking win set of schedule of late, but in the same token, the ACC has done great this year and you just saw what FSU did to Wisconsin in Florida so it is a "up year" for the ACC imo.
Northwestern vs. Missouri
It's not everyday that you see a team ranked higher in the rankings getting around 12.5 points. If you are Missouri, for a team that was thought to be in the National Title hunt at the start of the year, to who miserably underperformed expectations that they now have to play in the Alamo Bowl and not even a BCS game, how do you "get-up" for against a team like Northwestern. This is a team that competed for the Big 12 Title, and now has does not even have a BCS game to show for it. But, note that the running back for Northwestern Sutton is questionable for this game but I can't imagine him not playing in this contest. Mizzou will also have at least a 3:1 edge in the crowd in this game as it will be held in Texas and plus Mizzou has a larger fan base as well in that area than Northwestern of course. But, don't count out NW in this contest as it's still a big 10 team that defeated Iowa but of course, Missouri's only four losses this year comes to the likes of top 25 teams for the most part in Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas. If you think NW can be competitive in this game, you should lean on the over as well.