A couple of schools that like to run the football, Coach Walt Bell and the Massachusetts Minutemen (+39) are set to pay a visit to the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. This afternoon game will get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to BTN.
Betting Preview: Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Massachusetts is a heavy live dog here and is currently getting 39 points from bookmakers. If the Wildcats stumble early on it’ll produce a worthy in-game betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 56 points.
The original odds have changed, as the opening line was -38. The game’s total has yet to change after it was set initially at 56.
The Minutemen are down 2.4 units so far in 2019 and 1-9 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 8-2.
The Wildcats have lost 5.0 units this season. The team is 2-7 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-6.
The Minutemen are 1-9 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Wildcats are 1-8 SU.
The Minutemen will try to get back in stride after a 63-7 defeat to Army West Point last weekTheir defense allowed the Black Knights to eat up the clock by running for 498 yards on 78 rush attempts, including nine rush TDs. Jabari Laws logged a productive day for the Black Knights in that one with 140 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts. Offensively, the Minutemen completed 9-of-22 passes for 99 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Andrew Brito went six-for-16 for 75 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Randall West completed three-of-five for 24 yards and one interception. The Minutemen produced a grand total of 26 rushing yards as a team in the loss.
Northwestern narrowly fell 24-22 to Purdue. The defensive secondary allowed the Boilermakers to air it out for 271 yards and two touchdowns. David Bell put up a productive outing for Purdue, posting 115 yards and a score on 14 catches. For Northwestern, Aidan Smith completed 19-of-31 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Kyric McGowan (146 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) and Drake Anderson (51 yards on 16 carries) spearheaded the running game as Riley Lees (eight receptions, 62 yards, one TD) and Jace James (three catches, 41 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps in the loss.
Massachusetts has run the ball on 53.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Northwestern has a rush percentage of 56.8 percent. The Minutemen have run for 126.9 yards/game and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Wildcats are totaling 146.8 rush yards per game and have seven total rushing TDs.
The Minutemen offensive scheme has averaged 164.9 yards in the air overall and has 13 passing scores so far. The Wildcats have produced 130.9 pass yards per game and have four total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Massachusetts has allowed 291.5 rush yards and 276.1 pass yards per game. The Northwestern D has allowed 200.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 148.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wildcats are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.33 to opposing QBs, while the Minutemen have allowed an ugly 10.25 ANY/A.
Smith has completed 74-of-146 passes for 637 yards, three TDs and seven INTs. Smith’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at a terrible 2.12 for the year and 5.26 over his past two outings. In the other huddle, Brito has amassed 629 passing yards this year, and has completed 66-of-124 attempts with five passing touchdowns and six interceptions. Brito’s got a 2.83 ANY/A, including 3.47 over the last two games.
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Northwestern Wildcats Free Pick
SU Winner: Northwestern, ATS Winner: Massachusetts, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- Massachusetts has averaged 3.3 yards per carry across its last three games and 2.1 over its last two.
- Northwestern has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.6 over its past two.
- The Northwestern offense has lost eight fumbles this season while Massachusetts has let three get away.
- The Minutemen offense has registered three pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Wildcats have put up one such play.
- The Massachusetts defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Northwestern has given up four such plays.
- The Massachusetts offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Northwestern has created six such runs.
- The Minutemen defense has allowed 24 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Wildcats have given up eight such runs.
- The Northwestern defense has registered more than twice as many sacks as Massachusetts this season (17 versus eight).
