Auburn vs. Northwestern Bowl Prediction
The SEC will take on the Big Ten on Friday afternoon when Auburn and Northwestern clash in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the Wildcats laying 4 points as a favorite and the total down to 43.5 after opening at 45.5, what’s the best bet on the board when it comes to this bowl matchup?
Game Snapshot
329 Auburn Tigers (+4) vs. 330 Northwestern Wildcats (-4); o/u 43.5
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
12:00 p.m. ET, Friday, January 1, 2021
TV: ABC
Auburn Tigers Game Notes
Auburn freshman RB Tank Bigsby (undisclosed) hopes to play in the Citrus Bowl on Friday. Bibsby (6’0/204) had battled a nagging hip injury in late-November, but was able to shake it off and rush 26 times for 192 yards in a 24-10 victory over Mississippi State on December 12. When asked about the freshman phenom’s playing status, OC Chad Morris said “We’re hoping. We’ll see about that on Friday.” It seems like this could be a COVID or contact tracing situation, but that is admittedly speculation. Either way, Bigsby appears to be a game time decision for Friday’s Citrus Bowl contest against Northwestern.
Northwestern Wildcats Game Notes
Northwestern junior CB Greg Newsome has decided to turn pro and will forego the Wildcats’ bowl game. Newsome (6’1/190), who suffered a groin injury during Saturday’s loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, will not play in the Wildcats’ Citrus Bowl matchup with Auburn. The junior cornerback was one of the Big Ten’s best this season, finishing the year with one interception and ten pass breakups. Newsome will likely be a Day 2 selection, with the general feeling among scouts being that his name should be called within the first 100 picks of next spring’s draft.
Auburn vs. Northwestern Betting Prediction
The Tigers are 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game and are 6-1 against the number in their last seven non-conference games. They’re also 5-1 at the betting window in their last six games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous contest and have covered in five of their last six games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, are 1-6-1 against the spread in their last eight non-conference games and are winless at the betting window in their last five games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous contest. They’re also just 2-5 against the number in their last seven games coming off a loss.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 16 BETTING PREDICTION: AUBURN TIGERS +4