The mind behind Lake the Posts, the most extensive Northwestern sports blog, isn’t high on the ‘Cats chances against Missouri in the Alamo Bowl.
“I think the Tigers will win 41-31,” he said. “But I hope I’m wrong.”
The author of Lake the Posts — he requested that he remain anonymous because of work conflicts — said Northwestern hasn’t faced anyone with the caliber of Missouri this season and will be “a longshot” to upset the Tigers in Monday night’s game. He did, however, offer up a blueprint on how to win.
“NU has to stop Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel,” he said.
Daniel, who threw for 4,135 yards and 37 touchdowns in the 2008 season, isn’t the only quarterback on the blogger’s mind. The writer said NU’s own C.J. Bacher needs to have a huge game to guide the Wildcats to their first bowl victory since 1949. The Lake the Posts founder said Missouri has a weak secondary that Bacher, who has thrown for 2,128 yards and 14 touchdowns, must take advantage of.
One thought not bothering the blogger is head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s inexperience coaching bowl games.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a factor,” he said. “He’ll be losing more sleep the night before worrying about how to stop Chase Daniel than coaching his first bowl game.”
Lake the Posts said that regardless of the final score, Northwestern’s performance in the Alamo Bowl will help dictate the future of the football program. He said that if the ‘Cats keep the game close (or win), they will show the school can compete with more traditionally successful programs, building up overall respect for NU. A Missouri blowout, though, would further reinforce the idea held by many that the university is still a sub-par football school, he said.
Though he said he isn’t banking on a Northwestern win, the Lake the Posts author said he’ll still be in San Antonio Monday night rooting for NU.
“Nobody will be cheering for the ‘Cats more than me,” he said. “And hoping my pick is wrong.”