This one is for you Cork!
SCOTT DELANEY
Wednesday winner ...
50-Dime NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS ... It's nice to talk the one-game-at-a-time talk, but right now, the Wildcats need to embrace the season - the remainder of it - for what it's worth; and that would be a berth into the Big Dance.
There's no doubt Northwestern has to make a final push in its final five conference games, winning bare minimum four of them, if not them all. Clearly sitting at 6-7 in Big 10 play, the Wildcats have to win as many games as they can if they plan on receiving an invite to the big ball.
Putting their minds to it, the Wildcats are fully capable, as they were 11-1 in non-conference action. They've got tough chores against Penn State and Indiana remaining, they'll have to visit Madison to take on Wisconsin, and then there's the two gimmes: Penn State and Iowa.
And if there is one coach I am sure has been stressing the importance of winning the "gimmes," it's Bill Carmody. He is well aware the Big Ten's league RPI is just sixth, so a 10-8 conference record may not even be good enough ... even if the Wildcats were to finish 21-9 before playing in the Big 10 tournament.
Northwestern is in after rallying from a 13-point deficit to beat Minnesota in overtime on Sunday, so momentum should be riding high with this team.
But enough about why to play on Northwestern, what about the opponent?
The Nittany Lions are 8-16 on the season, and sport a 1-7 road mark. They've also won two straight over Northwestern, and six of the last seven meetings. They've covered all seven of those games.
Nonetheless, I'm not scared - thus my Revenge Game title.
After all, Penn State has lost 12 in a row - all of them being in Big 10 play. Of the team's eight wins, they include victories over teams like: Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, Virginia, Maryland-Baltimore Country, Gardner Webb and American U.
Checking the betting numbers, the Lions are mired in ATS slides of 9-21 when catching points in this range, 1-8 when catching points in this range on the road and 0-4 after losing by double digits at home.
On the flipside, the Wildcats are on a plethora of ATS streaks, including 5-0 at home, 4-0 as the home chalk, 4-1 off an ATS cover, 8-2 when catching points in this range, 9-3 oss a straight-up win and 6-1 overall - all in Big 10 play.
Northwestern is going to win this by at least a dozen!
Paid & confirmed. GL!
:howdy: