Kentucky at Northwestern Music City Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Nissan Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Kentucky Wildcats travel to Nissan Stadium to take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 6.5 point favorites. The Wildcats have an ATS record of 3-9-0 while their over/under record is 6-6-0. The Wildcats have an over/under record of 5-6-1 and they are 9-3-0 against the spread.

Valuable Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 6-6-0 against the over/under

The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-9-0 against the spread

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 5-6-1 against the over/under

The Northwestern Wildcats are 9-3-0 against the spread

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/20/17 TE C.J. Conrad Undisclosed is out for season
08/23/17 WR Dorian Baker Ankle out indefinitely
08/15/17 T Cole Mosier ACL out for season

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

09/18/17 DB Roderick Campbell Undisclosed out for season
09/03/17 CB Keith Watkins II Knee out for season
08/31/17 DE Xavier Washington Suspension out indefinitely
08/23/17 WR Solomon Vault Lower Body out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Kentucky Wildcats are 86th in Division 1 in points scored with 310. They have run 757 plays this season for 4,210 yards, which ranks them 100th in the nation in total offense. The Wildcats average 5.6 yards per play, which is 70th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 226 1st downs this year, placing them 99th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Kentucky has run for 2,038 yards as a team, which ranks 57th in the country. They've run 466 times, averaging 4.4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Wildcats have been penalized on offense 66 times for 562 yards so far this season, which has them 85th in the nation in penalties. Stephen Johnson has thrown for 2,048 yards this season. He has completed 170 passes on 280 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.7%. His quarterback rating this year is 131.1. He averages 7.3 yards per pass attempt and 7.4 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Kentucky is 81st in the nation in points allowed on defense with 343. They have surrendered a total of 5,108 yards on D, which is 86th in Division 1. The Wildcats are ranked 105th in yards per play allowed with 6.3. Opposing offenses have completed 265 passes on 406 attempts against the Kentucky Wildcats defense this season, placing them 124th and 93rd in the country. The Kentucky pass defense has also given up a total of 3,162 yards through the air, which is 112th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 410 attempts for 1,946 yards this year, putting them in 59th place in D-1 against the run. The Wildcats have committed 84 penalties for 718 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 95th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Kentucky is ranked 124th in the nation in punt returns with 6. They've accumulated 104 punt return yards and average 17.3 yards per return, which is 3rd in college football. They have returned 43 kicks for 926 yards on special teams, ranking 19th in kick return yardage. The Wildcats average 22 yards per kick return and they are 97th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,240. The Kentucky Wildcats have attempted 28 field goals this season and made 22, which is 4th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 78%. Kentucky Wildcats kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 34 for 34 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,548 yards on 60 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That places them 45th in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Wildcats have run for 1,931 yards as a team, which ranks 71st in the nation. They've run 481 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Wildcats have been penalized on offense 58 times for 568 yards so far this year, which has them 108th in the country in penalties. They are 53rd in Division 1 in points scored with 356. They have run 920 plays this year for 4,862 yards, which ranks them 54th in the nation in total offense. The Northwestern Wildcats average 5.3 yards per play, which is 95th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 276 1st downs this season, ranking them 31st overall as an offensive unit. Clayton Thorson has completed 258 throws while attempting 426 passes for a completion percentage of 60.6%. He has passed for 2,809 yards this year. He averages 6 adjusted yards per throw and 6.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 121.9.

Defensive Statistics

The Northwestern Wildcats rush defense has given up 408 attempts for 1,336 yards this season, putting them in 8th place in the country against the run. They have had 62 penalties for 571 yards on defense this year. That places them 42nd in Division 1. Northwestern is 20th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 238. They have given up a total of 4,306 yards on D, which is 39th in the nation. The Wildcats are 24th in yards per play allowed with 5. Opponent offenses have completed 262 throws on 456 attempts against the Northwestern defense this season, ranking them 117th and 123rd in the country. The Northwestern Wildcats pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,971 yards in the air, which is 95th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Northwestern Wildcats have tried 14 field goals this year and made 12, which is 78th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 86%. Northwestern kickers have made 98% of their extra points, going 42 for 43 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,772 yards on 65 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That ranks them 42nd in the NCAA in punting average. Northwestern is 107th in the country in punt returns with 12. They've totaled 92 punt return yards and average 7.7 yards per return, which is 60th in D-1. They have returned 22 kicks for 406 yards on special teams, which puts them 125th in kick return yardage. The Wildcats average 19 yards per kick return and they are 88th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,360.

Who will win tonight's Wildcats/Wildcats college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky +6.5

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