New Era Pinstripe Bowl Prediction
Is Northwestern a solid underdog play for bettors when it takes on Pittsburgh at 2:00PM ET in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Wildcats are now 4.5-point underdogs versus the Panthers after opening as a 4-point dog. The total, meanwhile, is sitting at 64 points after it opened at 66.5 when the bowl lines were first released.
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PITTSBURGH KEY TRENDS: The Panthers have been a great bet in December, covering in six of their last seven games played in this month. They’re also an impressive 12-3 against the number in their last 15 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game. That said, they’re just 1-4 against the number in their last five bowl games, are 1-4 ATS in their last five neutral site games, and have failed to cover in four of their last five games versus Big Ten opponents.
NORTHWESTERN KEY TRENDS: The Wildcats are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games versus ACC opponents and have covered in 15 of their last 18 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. They’re also 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games overall, are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game but haven’t covered against teams with winning records, going 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against top foes.
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OUR PREDICTION: If you’re going to hang with Pittsburgh, you better be able to contain the run and Northwestern ranks 31st in the nation against the run, allowing 136.7 YPG. The Wildcats are also holding points to 22.1 points per game, so their defense is going to keep them in the game, as will Justin Jackson. The Wildcats’ running back was first-team All-Big Ten, posting his third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign and has 3,905 career rushing yards, 27 touchdowns and a 4.7 per carry average. I like the combination of Northwestern’s defense and Jackson keeping the Wildcats within the 4.5 points.
NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL PREDICTION: NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS +4.5