(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Northwestern Wildcats came into the 2015 season with a lot of questions. Northwestern would prove many critics wrong by winning ten games for the first time since 1995 when they went to the Rose Bowl. The 10-2 Wildcats have a challenge in front of them in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa however on New Year’s Day as they face the 8-4 Tennessee Volunteers. The two teams met on New Year’s Day after the 1996 season as well with Peyton Manning torching the Northwestern defense during a Tennessee win.
Northwestern won their final five games of the regular season to get to that elusive ten-win mark but don’t score a lot of points doing it, averaging just 20.7 points and 332.6 yards per game. Clayton Thorson has thrown for 1,465 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions while finding ultra-back Dan Vitale 33 times for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Jackson has carried the Wildcats literally with 1,344 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Wildcats only allow 16.4 points and 310.5 yards a game on defense. If Northwestern gets behind big, they will be in trouble.
Tennessee is on a five-game winning streak themselves and finished that off with a 53-28 win over Vanderbilt to end the regular season. Joshua Dobbs has passed for 2,125 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this year and likes looking for Josh Malone with his 29 catches for 388 yards and two touchdowns. Jalen Hurd has rushed for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the ground game for the Volunteers. This is a case where the tough SEC schedule may help out Tennessee in a big way against a tough Northwestern defense. The Volunteers average 34.3 points and 422.5 yards per game on offense.
What time is the Outback Bowl?
The Outback Bowl will begin at Noon Eastern.
What date and channel will the Outback Bowl be on?
The Outback Bowl will be played on Friday, January 1 and can be seen on ESPN2.
