Here are their rationales:
Chris Low:
This battle of academic heavyweights is the only regular-season matchup between the SEC and the Big Ten this year. Northwestern’s strength is spreading it out and throwing the football. Vanderbilt’s strength is defending the pass. The edge goes to Jamie Bryant’s Vanderbilt defense.
Adam Rittenberg:
It'll be tough for Pat Fitzgerald's crew, but the defense comes up big against a Vanderbilt team that won't have star Warren Norman at 100 percent even if he plays. Northwestern's run game doesn't do much, but new starting quarterback Dan Persa earns his stripes in the second half to secure win No. 1.
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2 comments:
Earlier in the week I thought Vandy had a good chance to win this game because we are playing at home and NW has a new starting QB. However we seem to be pretty beat up right now, by my unofficial count Norman, Stacy, Graham, Richardson, Tate and Hayward. Plus throw in a very inexperienced offensive line and I'm starting to doubt our chances. To win we need to run the ball and stop the pass and not sure with all those injuries we will be able to do so effectively. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Beware Persa scrambling for huge yardage. I suspect he might have a big day on the ground, reminiscent of Kafka against MSU in 2008. That's the X factor not analyzed sufficiently here.
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