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Bowl Record (0-0)
TCU -12
1000 to win 910
Setting the stage
- TCU has been on a disgusting roll...Won 7 straight and have only trailed for 17 minutes in that stretch...They have 4/11 starters on the MWC first team all-Conf D...Senior class can go out tied for 3rd in school history for most wins with a bowl game victory
- TCU is 8-3 ATS and playing their best football now....L3G averaging 45 pts and 535 yds offense...They have only punted 3 times L3G...Only 17 days off vs 32 last yr so may not be as rusty
- NIU won their last 2 games to get here....Unlike recent history - this team is not an elite MAC team despite having one of the best players in NCAA football - RB G Wolfe
- so we have a rock solid MWC team vs a mid-range MAC team....Looks tasty
Edge to TCU
- defense is outstanding; run D ranked 4th and only giving up 2.4 yds a pop...Only 3 of L15 opps have got to the 100 yd mark; 14 guys account for the 31 sacks - Truly a team based approach
- pass D is great - ranked 12th in pass efficiency D, 5th in scoring D, only giving up 32% 3rd down conversions....Overall NIU is going to have trouble doing anything consistently and this is pretty much the worst matchup possible IMO for them
- NIU starts games well (115-55 Q1) but TCU only allowed 22 pts in the first Q all yr
- TCU threw 6 int, NIU 14; TCU has edge on 3rd down conversion offense
- TCU ranks 6th in sacks allowed/game
- NIU will start backup QB Dan Nicholson who is 4-1 as a starter but is in over his head IMO against this D
- TCU comes into the game a lot healthier
NIU has a shot
- Wolfe is #1 in the country with 1900 rushing yds - and that includes a stretch in which he had 25,45,66,54 yds ! He had a very good game vs Ohio St with some nice runs and receptions but also had some stinkers vs some pretty bad teams.....If he has a monster day (like the 353 vs Ball St) I guess anything is possible
- NIU blocked 2 punts this yr
- very little film on starting QB Dan Nicholson
Even
- coaching, special teams - slight edge to NIU based on punt returns
- both teams have shown the ability to play well on the road
- strength of schedule surprisingly close - Both were weak
Meaningless (?) but interesting
- favs are a better play historically in the early bowl games
- TCU outscored opps 215-60 in the first half. Uh oh.
Prediction: TCU 40 NIU 10
TCU -12
1000 to win 910
Setting the stage
- TCU has been on a disgusting roll...Won 7 straight and have only trailed for 17 minutes in that stretch...They have 4/11 starters on the MWC first team all-Conf D...Senior class can go out tied for 3rd in school history for most wins with a bowl game victory
- TCU is 8-3 ATS and playing their best football now....L3G averaging 45 pts and 535 yds offense...They have only punted 3 times L3G...Only 17 days off vs 32 last yr so may not be as rusty
- NIU won their last 2 games to get here....Unlike recent history - this team is not an elite MAC team despite having one of the best players in NCAA football - RB G Wolfe
- so we have a rock solid MWC team vs a mid-range MAC team....Looks tasty
Edge to TCU
- defense is outstanding; run D ranked 4th and only giving up 2.4 yds a pop...Only 3 of L15 opps have got to the 100 yd mark; 14 guys account for the 31 sacks - Truly a team based approach
- pass D is great - ranked 12th in pass efficiency D, 5th in scoring D, only giving up 32% 3rd down conversions....Overall NIU is going to have trouble doing anything consistently and this is pretty much the worst matchup possible IMO for them
- NIU starts games well (115-55 Q1) but TCU only allowed 22 pts in the first Q all yr
- TCU threw 6 int, NIU 14; TCU has edge on 3rd down conversion offense
- TCU ranks 6th in sacks allowed/game
- NIU will start backup QB Dan Nicholson who is 4-1 as a starter but is in over his head IMO against this D
- TCU comes into the game a lot healthier
NIU has a shot
- Wolfe is #1 in the country with 1900 rushing yds - and that includes a stretch in which he had 25,45,66,54 yds ! He had a very good game vs Ohio St with some nice runs and receptions but also had some stinkers vs some pretty bad teams.....If he has a monster day (like the 353 vs Ball St) I guess anything is possible
- NIU blocked 2 punts this yr
- very little film on starting QB Dan Nicholson
Even
- coaching, special teams - slight edge to NIU based on punt returns
- both teams have shown the ability to play well on the road
- strength of schedule surprisingly close - Both were weak
Meaningless (?) but interesting
- favs are a better play historically in the early bowl games
- TCU outscored opps 215-60 in the first half. Uh oh.
Prediction: TCU 40 NIU 10