Alamo Bowl: Northwestern +12.5 vs Missouri (ov/un 65.5)

[OregonBuckeye]

Bradford doesn't impress you?

Not really. He throws a pretty ball but he never has a defender within a mile of him. It's basically like watching someone in 7-on-7's. McCoy and Robinson have carried their teams.

 

[Rookie]

I'm just agreeing that UT has a tough defense. Im also saying that mizzou's O, when compared to Ohio states O, is seen as more productive. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

I have no idea how to read this statement. Mizzou's offense is nowhere near as incredible as the conference play makes it out to be. Northwestern, while tough-nosed and disciplined, is still a pedestrian squad athletically.

They have a few outstanding athletes (Moore, Maclin, and Coffman) but otherwise I agree.

 

[BuckTwenty]

What a shame. Northwestern outplayed Mizzou from the very first whistle to the very last whistle and played an amazing game. If that NW kicker had hit that extra point after their 2nd TD of the game...

ESPN's coverage of the game on SportsCenter made it look like NW wasn't even in the game... like Mizzou was the one leading the vast majority of this game. Couldn't have been farther from the truth. Second-rate journalism. Sounds like they need to hire more Northwestern and Mizzou grads there (funny enough, 2 of the best journalism schools in the world).

I was a big fan of Pat Fitzgerald before. I'm an even bigger fan of him now. Love his class, passion, and energy. He's the perfect man for that school. I hope he stays there for a long time. They're gonna win their fair share of bowl games very soon.

 

[EngineerHorn]

First, let me preface this by saying I have zero allegiance to the Big 12. The only two B12 teams I'm actively pulling for are Okie St and Nebraska. I think it would be funny if Tech lost. I REALLY hope OU loses by 40. This conference was put together out of convenience.

The North division sucks. Really bad. It went 3-15 against South teams this year, and two of those wins were against Baylor. Mizzou got outscored by a combined score of 168-103 against South teams this year, its only win a 31-28 squeaker against BU.

Daniel's name was off most Heisman lists after week Week 6 (oSu), and couldn't be found on any after Week 7 (Texas). He struggled pretty badly his last two Big 12 games, and the only good game he had against a decent team was Nebraska, and that was before they actually started playing decently.

 

[NOTREDAMECHIEF]

What a shame. Northwestern outplayed Mizzou from the very first whistle to the very last whistle and played an amazing game. If that NW kicker had hit that extra point after their 2nd TD of the game...

ESPN's coverage of the game on SportsCenter made it look like NW wasn't even in the game... like Mizzou was the one leading the vast majority of this game. Couldn't have been farther from the truth. Second-rate journalism. Sounds like they need to hire more Northwestern and Mizzou grads there (funny enough, 2 of the best journalism schools in the world).

I was a big fan of Pat Fitzgerald before. I'm an even bigger fan of him now. Love his class, passion, and energy. He's the perfect man for that school. I hope he stays there for a long time. They're gonna win their fair share of bowl games very soon.

Nice post, could not agree more. NW deserved that game and I would trade coach's in a heart beat.

 

[buckeyesin07]

What happened to Kafka? Was he injured? He could've been a huge weapon for NU.

Kafka's a better runner than Bacher, but Bacher's the better thrower of the two. NU likely started Bacher given the state of MU's secondary. Not a bad move, IMO--Bacher played extremely well and certainly was not the reason NU lost last night.

 

[rocketman]

I was a big fan of Pat Fitzgerald before. I'm an even bigger fan of him now. Love his class, passion, and energy. He's the perfect man for that school. I hope he stays there for a long time. They're gonna win their fair share of bowl games very soon.

As a young coach, I think he's made great strides with each year and his experience is starting to show. In 2006, he was clearly in over his head - and who wouldn't be if they were put into that situation immediately following the tragic passing of Randy Walker - but now he's shown he can prepare his team for a bowl game and come in focused and ready to execute.

I'm no football coach, but they panicked in OT, and that would be a damn shame. At some point, I think you gotta start playing to your opponent's weaknesses even if they don't line up with your strengths. I know NU is a pass-happy spread team, but Sutton was getting 5-8 yards running right up the middle on Mizzou.

 

[JCOSU86]

I agree that Fitz is a good coach for NW, but I feel that the game last night is a picture perfect example of why JT coaches the way he does. The Cats lost that game in the kicking game, no doubt about it. From the extra point to the piss poor punt that was returned for a TD, to the punt downed at the 1, NW was outplayed on Special Teams. It's why they lost.

 

[redstatebuckeye]

Special teams did do them in, but if they would have called the clip in the middle of the field on the punt return it may have been a different game. I am surprised (I think) that the ESPN announcers did not even mention it.

 

[BB73]

As a young coach, I think he's made great strides with each year and his experience is starting to show. In 2006, he was clearly in over his head - and who wouldn't be if they were put into that situation immediately following the tragic passing of Randy Walker - but now he's shown he can prepare his team for a bowl game and come in focused and ready to execute.

I thought it was a telling shot when they showed Fitzgerald right after the second consecutive holding call late in regulation. The first call was legit, the second call was shaky, and NW'ern had lost all momentum. He was leaning forward, clapping and yelling encouragement to his team; rather than bitching to the refs about back-to-back holding calls.

He's the ideal guy for that program. The best player they've had since Otto Graham, a bright and classy guy that's loyal to the program. He could be there for 30 years.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

At least BQ's sister was worth looking at! Did anyone else know the chick behind Daniel's parents was on the phone for nearly all of the 4th quarter?

so you like ulgy horse faces?

 

[martinss01]

Oh well, at least they showed up unlike Wisky.

you were expecting more from wisky? the same wisky that lost to scum? seriously? it still puzzles me how exactly they managed to get a bowl bid at all.

Bradford doesn't impress you?

can't speak for oregonbuckeye but no, not even a little. other than being the qb on a team that is going to play for the nc, i haven't a clue how he won the heisman. personally id list him as the 3rd or maybe even 4th best qb in the big 12. thats not to say he sucks, but for me id rank him as above average. certainly not an elite level qb.

What a shame. Northwestern outplayed Mizzou from the very first whistle to the very last whistle and played an amazing game. If that NW kicker had hit that extra point after their 2nd TD of the game...

instead of kicking a field goal to tie mizzou would have thrown on 4th down and won in regulation? i definitely agree with you that nw outplayed mizzou. but nw right now is just too young and inexperienced. was good to see nw give a good showing and i really thought they were going to win. just wish they would have gotten the respect they deserved from their performance from the media.

I was a big fan of Pat Fitzgerald before. I'm an even bigger fan of him now. Love his class, passion, and energy. He's the perfect man for that school. I hope he stays there for a long time. They're gonna win their fair share of bowl games very soon.

agreed, one of the smartest hires ive seen in a while. i think he's a perfect fit for that program.