NCAA Football
2010-09-04 - Northwestern Wildcat at Vanderbilt Commodore
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Football : United States : NCAA Football
Saturday, September 4th, 2010 - Kickoff 7:30PM ET
(12:30AM GMT)
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt have just been dealt a big blow in mid July, when head coach Bobby Johnson suddenly decided to retire. This team went 2-10 last season, and so was going to have a hard time this year anyway; this was the last thing they needed and I think the psychological impact will be big and negative.
Robbie Caldwell is the new man in charge, but it will be some time before he gets this team doing and thinking the way he would like. Game 1 comes too soon.
Caldwell has picked junior Larry Smith to be the starting QB for the Commodores. He started 9 games last year before a hamstring injury tok him out for the season. Smith completed only 46.7% of his passes, throwing just 4 touchdowns but getting intercepted 7 times.
The team will be hoping to be able to rely on RB Warren Norman, but he had surgery on his right knee just last week, and I reckon he won’t be in the right shape, that’s if he even plays.
Last season was a mess, and now with a new coach, and a roster made up mostly of freshmen and sophomore players, this looks likely to be a year of rebuilding (meaning results will not be there) They’re running into a strong team and I think they begin their season with a loss.
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern also have issues but are doing better than Vandy. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has changed the offense around a bit but has enough depth on the bench from last years returning players.
The team has been to bowl games at the end of the last 2 seasons, so the quality is definitely there. In fact, Northwestern lost both bowl games in overtime, so they have been literally this close and with the new season underway, they will be raring to go in a new season where their expectations are high.
Dan Persa was the quarterback last season but saw limited action, although he was solid in the time he did play. He will play his 1st game of the season on Saturday, and is very well versed with the spread attack used by the Wildcats. Persa played most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the game against Iowa last season, where the Wildcats scored an upset win over the then No. 4 team after a touchdown pass by Persa. He also ran for 67 yards on 17 attempts, and can be classed as a dual threat QB.
In addition to bringing back their entire offensive lineup from last year, the Wildcats return almost half their defense too. Indeed, the linebackers are a big strength in the Northwestern roster and they will have success against Vanderbilt, who have had to replace their entire offensive lineup!
THE BETTING VERDICT
Northwestern matches up a bit too well here against Vanderbilt to be only a 4 point favourite.
I can see the Wildcats winning this by more than a touchdown.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take the Northwestern Wildcats -4 to win and cover the small spread
