Outback Bowl 2016: Northwestern vs. Tennessee Pregame Comments, Predictions

Northwestern will try to regain some pride for the Big Ten when it takes on Tennessee in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.

After watching the Michigan State take it on the chin against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl Thursday night, the Wildcats will have a chance to defeat a Southeastern Conference opponent when the two rivals meet in the Outback Bowl at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The Wildcats (10-2) opened the season with a significant upset victory over Stanford, and that win over the Cardinal gave the Northwestern program the lift it needed to have an outstanding season.

The resourceful Wildcats suffered a brief midseason lull with back-to-back losses to Michigan and Iowa, but Pat Fitzgerald's team picked it up from that point forward, stringing together a five-game win streak to close the season.

Northwestern's offense is led by running back Justin Jackson, who rushed for 1,344 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Fitzgerald's defense-oriented team registered two shutouts this season and limited two other opponents to single digits.

The exuberant head coach told media members that his team is motivated by having a chance to do something no other Northwestern team has ever done. 

"To be the first team to win 11 games, it's something about just leaving a legacy. It's something this program has never done before," Fitzgerald said (h/t Yahoo Sports).

Tennessee (8-4) will present a formidable challenge for Northwestern, as the Volunteers are one of the most improved teams in the nation from the start of the season.

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones saw his team lose four of their first seven games, but the Vols closed the season on a five-game winning streak. Tennessee has an explosive offense, scoring 50 or more points in four games this season.

Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been the triggerman for Tennessee, throwing 15 TD passes and rushing for nine more scores. Jones told media members that Dobbs has improved steadily.

"I think that the experiences that he has gained over time has helped in the maturation process as a leader, as a quarterback," Jones said (h/t Yahoo Sports). "This year, he has continued to progress and get better and better. He defines what a student-athlete is all about."

The Vols are 8.5-point favorites over the Wildcats, according to Odds Shark.

Fitzgerald is using Northwestern's underdog status to pump up his team, as evidenced in this tweet to WGN-AM reporter Adam Hoge:

"

#Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald on matchup vs Tennessee: "I think the only person that has picked us to win is my 6-year-old son."

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 29, 2015"

Jones said the game will come down to which team executes better, per OutbackBowl.com: 

"

When you watch Northwestern, again, they don't beat themselves. They force you into making mistakes, and they're very, very sound and very solid in what they do, and they force you to execute, and it gets back to that philosophy that we believe we're going to out execute you.

"

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Prediction: Northwestern 28, Tennessee 27—Both teams have reeled off five straight victories. While Tennessee has the edge on the offensive side, the Wildcats will come up with the key stop late in the fourth quarter to earn the victory.