Yankee Stadium will host an intriguing matchup between the Pittsburgh Panthers and Northwestern Wildcats in Wednesday’s Pinstripe Bowl.
The Pittsburgh Panthers will try to secure their first nine win season since 2009 when they meet the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Pat Narduzzi guided Pittsburgh to an 8-4 regular season mark that included impressive wins against Penn State and Clemson. While losses to Virginia Tech and Miami kept the Panthers from an ACC title shot, they proved they can hang with any team in the nation thanks to an offense that ranks 11th in FBS with 42.3 points per game.
Running back James Conner was perhaps the most inspiring story in college football this season, as he piled up 1,369 yards and 20 touchdowns after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last December. Quarterback Nathan Peterman added 2,602 passing yards and 26 touchdowns to six interceptions.
Northwestern is headed to its second consecutive bowl game and seventh overall under head coach Pat Fitzgerald following a 6-6 campaign. The Wildcats shook off an ugly 0-2 start that included a loss to FCS Illinois State with a 5-4 run through Big Ten play.
One again, Northwestern’s best unit is a stingy defense that allowed 22.1 points per contest. Safety Godwin Igwebuike was the leading Wildcats playmaker with 101 tackles, six pass defenses and an interception.
The Pinstripe Bowl will feature a matchup of strength on strength, so oddsmakers are expecting a one-score game.
Odds
Spread: Pittsburgh -5.5
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -230, Northwestern +190
O/U: 65
Pittsburgh enters the game in the better form after winning three straight to close out the year, including the stunning upset of Clemson on November 12. While the Panthers offense presents a challenge to any opponent, their suspect defense should make this an entertaining game either way.
The question is whether a Northwestern offense that ranked 91st in the nation in points per game can take advantage. Pittsburgh owns one of the worst rush defenses in the country, so expect the Wildcats to lean heavily on running back Justin Jackson throughout the game.
Northwestern’s defense can keep it close, but the Panthers have too many weapons to defend over the course of the entire game. Jester Weah is a strong deep threat receiver who can open up the running game for Conner, while Quadree Henderson is a touchdown threat on every kick return.
While the Panthers defense wasn’t successful as a whole, it features star lineman Ejuan Price, who racked up 12 sacks this season. That could be a major issue for a Northwestern offensive line that ranked 94th in the nation in sack percentage allowed.
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The Wildcats should be able to put some lengthy scoring drives together thanks to Jackson, Still, the explosive ability of the Panthers offense and individual efforts from players like Henderson and Price will prove to be a little too much.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 34, Northwestern 27