Outback Bowl Preview

Northwestern vs. Auburn
When: Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. (central) on ESPN
Where: Tampa, Fla.

What to watch for: I really think the Outback bowl got this one right. Northwestern deserved to be in this game over Wisconsin, and the comittee went with the better team as opposed to possibly taking a worse team with a better fan base. The Wildcats come into this game as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten.

Northwestern won its final three regular season games, two of them against ranked opponents (Iowa and Wisconsin). Led by QB Mike Kafka, the Wildcats boast one of the best passing offenses in the Big Ten.

This will be a big test for Gene Chizik's Auburn Tigers, who rank eighth in the SEC in pass defense. Auburn comes into this match-up with a two game losing streak.

Prediction: I like the Big Ten to pick up its first bowl win of the season in this one. Pat Fitzgerald is going to have his team ready to go, and Mike Kafka is going to have a big, BIG game for the Wildcats. Northwestern picks up its first bowl victory since 1949 by beating the Tigers, 31-27.

Vs.

Photo Credit: espn.com