2013 TSHQ CFB Preseason Top 25: #16 Northwestern Wildcats
As another off season of College Football material kicks off, this year marks the third year I’ll throw my hat in the ring and look at a number of topics and categories. In the process I’ll look to do everything from predicting next year’s 25 best teams, identify the games of the year, narrow down the Heisman field, identify those replacing 2012′s stars and ultimately make...
Mark the main focus for spring practice
Venric Mark emerged as a star at Northwestern's running back position last season. The focus now must be protecting the talented but fragile junior speedster. Northwestern must do its best to protect Mark, and spring practice brings the start of that goal.
NU Position Capsule: Running Back
After a breakout season, it's no secret that Venric Mark will be Northwestern's feature back. But who else will see carries for the Wildcats' dynamic offense? PurpleWildcats gives a detailed look at the tailback position.
Northwestern Breaks Bowl Game Losing Streak With 34-20 Win
For the first time since the 1949 Rose Bowl, the Northwestern Wildcats emerged victorious in a bowl game, downing Mississippi State 34-20 in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Wildcats nearly squandered an early 13-0 lead, but out-scored the Bulldogs 21-7 in the final 30 minutes of the game to come out as winners.
3 Thumbs up:
-Northwestern...
Northwestern picks its way to win
Behind huge interceptions early and late, No. 21 Northwestern beat Mississippi State 34-20 in the Gator Bowl and snapped college football's longest postseason losing streak Tuesday.
The Wildcats (10-3) earned their first bowl game win since 1949, ending a nine-game losing skid that was tied for the longest in NCAA history. They also celebrated double-digit victories for the...
Gator Bowl Preview: Northwestern and Mississippi State
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl: Northwestern Wildcats (9-3) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4)
Jan. 1, noon CT
ESPN2 – Jacksonville, FL
Player Swag Bag: Fossil watch, Dome hat, Mercury garment bag and carry-on bag, Jostens ring, football
Northwestern’s Season: Northwestern is looking to break the streak of 9 bowl game losses going back 65 years to 1949. Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats...
New Northwestern helmets for Gator Bowl vs. Mississippi St.
When the Northwestern Wildcats look to end their bowl game drought tomorrow (you might have heard a thing or two about it in the local media) they’ll do so with these new helmets on. Expect to see a lot of running with Venric Mark and Kain Colter at the Gator Bowl vs. Mississippi State, MSU has a cornerback named Johnathan Banks who will be a top 15 pick in the NFL Draft.
So they’ll...
Gator Bowl Primer: Mississippi State vs Northwestern
Who: Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) vs Northwestern Wildcats (9-3)
Where: Jacksonville
When: New Year's Day, Noon EST
TV: ESPN 2
Line: B1G by 1
Picking this game is really a no win situation. On one hand you have a Mississippi State team that is a paper tiger. They went 0-3 against top 25 opponents with their closest game being a 20 point loss and their...
Big Ten Bowl Extravaganza Vol. 3: Northwestern
The Wildcats of Northwestern, coming off one of the more successful seasons in recent memory, get the pleasure of opening up a barrage of New Year’s Day bowl games that feature Big Ten squads. NU will square off with Mississippi State in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl. The game will air on ESPN at noon E.T.
Here is how our staff sees things shaking out:
Andy Coppens (Co-managing...
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl Preview: Northwestern looks to end bowl drought
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. No. 20 Northwestern Wildcats
Jan. 1, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Everbank Field (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Line: Northwestern -1
Once the very definition of futility in college football, in the last two decades, nerdy Northwestern has shaken off the vestiges of its pathetic history. Except for one: The Wildcats haven't won a bowl game since Harry Truman was holding...
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl Preview: Northwestern looks to end bowl drought
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. No. 20 Northwestern Wildcats
Jan. 1, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Everbank Field (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Line: Northwestern -1
Once the very definition of futility in college football, in the last two decades, nerdy Northwestern has shaken off the vestiges of its pathetic history. Except for one: The Wildcats haven't won a bowl game since Harry Truman...
Gator Bowl: Mississippi St.-Northwestern
Key matchup
Mississippi State has had its troubles against up-tempo offenses this season, allowing no fewer than 527 yards vs. Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Troy. The Bulldogs will be facing an opponent that plays at a similar pace with No. 21 Northwestern, but one that does it a different way.
These Wildcats are predicated by the run, ranking 14th in the nation (230.9 yards per...
Mark named NU's 39th All-American
Northwestern junior Venric Mark was tabbed First-Team All-American by the FWAA, honored as a punt returner. Mark becomes Northwestern's 39th All-American.
Discover Fan Loyalty Poll Gator Bowl Preview: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
The latest results of the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll asked the question if college football fans would rather receive gifts this Holiday season as per usual, or if they would forego receiving presents in order to watch their favorite team win the BCS Championship. In a very close vote, 46 percent of fans opted for presents, while 42 percent said they would trade in all of their Holiday...
PWTV: Colter, Mark meet the media
Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter and running back Venric Mark address the media following the 50-14 victory over Illinois.
Northwestern 50, Illinois 14
Venric Mark rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown as Northwestern improved its chances for a berth in a New Year's Day bowl game, beating Illinois 50-14 on Saturday.
Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter threw for a career-high three touchdowns and the Wildcats (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten) reached nine victories for the first time since 2008.
Penalties and turnovers hurt Illinois (2-10...
Both good, bad news on NU injury report
Northwestern's injury report for Saturday's game with Illinois includes linebacker Collin Ellis plus safeties Hunter Bates and Traveon Henry. Not listed, however, are Kain Colter, Venric Mark, or Nick VanHoose, who have each battled injuries in recent weeks.
Colter, Mark expected to play for Northwestern
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald says he expects quarterback Kain Colter and running back Venric Mark to play this week against Illinois.
Mark sat out the second half of Saturday's 23-20 victory at Michigan State with what was announced as an upper extremity injury, while Colter was shaken up in the second half. The two are a big reason why Illinois ranks third in the Big Ten...
Michigan State Vs. Northwestern Preview
Today at 12:00 PM in East Lansing, the Michigan State Spartans are taking on the Northwestern Wildcats.
Analyzing The Opponent:
For those of you unaware, here’s a recap of Northwestern’s season.
The Wildcats started off the season 5-0, including wins against Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Boston College. Since then they’ve been 2-3, with wins against Minnesota and Iowa. One of their...
Resilient Mark keeps running
It seemed unlikely that Venric Mark would be in the position he is. Yet, the dynamic athlete became Northwestern's starting running back, and is now a Doak Walker Award finalist. It has taken resiliency for Mark to withstand each hit, but he isn't backing down.
PWTV: Mark set to start
Northwestern running back Venric Mark leads no questions, telling the media he will start in Saturday's game with Michigan State, that following an injury in Ann Arbor.
5-Spot Challenge: Week 11
Congratulations to our second two-time winner of the season, bluwolf77. His differential of 93 was by far the best of the week and was the second best all season, behind only last week’s winner, kfarmer16. Bluwolf77, who also won Week 4, was only 17 away from the two teams’ combined rushing yards, 23 away from Devin Gardner’s total yards, six away from Venric Mark’s rushing...
Mark likely to start; VanHoose uncertain
Northwestern is expecting running back Venric Mark to play in Saturday's game with Michigan State, while top cornerback Nick VanHoose remains an uncertainty as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
M&GB Pick’em: Northwestern staff predictions
Last week, none of us expected Denard to miss the entire game, but regardless it went about as expected. Katie picked up her first win of the season, nearly getting the score exactly right. Her 38-13 prediction was just three off of the 35-13 result. The rest of us were all close as well. This week, Michigan returns home to face Northwestern. Denard’s status is up in the air once...
Top Non-BCS Bowl Projections
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/matheiu-enrolls-lsu-miles-focus-elsewhere
Follow @Dan Vasta and like Gridiron Grit on Facebook
Cotton Bowl- Texas vs. LSU (Jan. 4, FOX at 8 p.m. Eastern)
This is practically a BCS atmosphere and although Kansas State an Arkansas let us down last season due to the inability of K-State to throw the ball vertically, this matchup should be a million...
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HOT 40
| Latest Rumors | The Backyard | Going Viral |
|
|
Today's Best Stuff |
For BloggersJoin the Yardbarker Network for more promotion, traffic, and money. |
Company Info |
Help |
What is Yardbarker?Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond. |
