Taking Bets

End of the first quarter. The longest first quarter in the history of man. NU up 14-0.

Here are some staggering stats.

Plays: NU 33, Iowa 9

Yards: NU 196, Iowa 12

Time of Possession: ... don't know yet, but we're taking bets.

Chris: NU 12:00, Iowa 3:00
Matt: NU 13:00, Iowa 2:00
David: NU 12:37, Iowa 2:23

We'll check back when we get the stat sheets.

Iowa's punter is having a phenomenal game.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Another 3 and out for Iowa. Jake Christensen is allerging to play action fakes. On one, he tucked it and picked up three yards on a scramble ... but he had two receivers wide open down the field. Then, on 3rd and 1, he overthrows a wide-open tight end on a roll out off a play action. NU driving, 1st and 10 at its own 30. It's 31 plays to 9 now.

Today we spell domination C-A-T-S

The Cats put together a long, methodical drive that was rewarded with a Bacher play action touchdown pass to SUPERback Mark Woodsum. 13 plays, 75 yards in only 3:58. That makes it 28 plays for NU as opposed to six for Iowa. It's 183 to 3 on yards. Holy moly is the phrase you're looking for.

NU 14, Iowa 0 - 3:32 left.

Fumbling snaps for your own benefit

NU forces another 3 and out. On a 3rd down from the 29, Bacher fumbles Trevor Rees' snap. But then he picks it up and finds Eric Peterman down the sideline for 12 yards and a first down. NU is driving, 3rd and 6 at the Iowa 41. 5:37 left.

Defense! Uhh! Uhh!

NU forces a 3 and out. Then Iowa forces a 7 and out. Stefan Demos punts it into the end zone, but it wasn't his fault this time. Iowa ball at the 20. 8:29 left.

I guess the fade route isn't all evil

NU starts at its own 27, and C.J. Bacher finds Ross Lane on a slant pattern for 23 yards. Lane does a good job shielding the defender, who is right on his back. On the next play, Bacher finds Lane out in the flat. Lane shimmies and fakes Iowa's Bradley Fletcher out of his shoes, picking up 25 down the sideline. Tyrell Sutton bursts through a big hole for 15, down to the 10, and three plays later Bacher finds Kim Thompson in the back corner of the end zone for a score. BUT, Thompson is ruled out of bounds. BUT again, there is a pass interference call, which puts the ball at the 2. And Sutton plunges in, with Mike Kafka under center? And the point is?

NU 7, Iowa 0. 12:29 to go in the first

Kickoff in 6 minutes

Good morning from the Ryan Field press box, where the eastern sun is blinding and new Willie still scares the crap out of me. As we wind down the minutes to game time, here's some tidbits for you: Omar Conteh, the Cats' leading rusher, is a late scratch. Malcolm Arrington will start at outside linebacker instead of "Fast" Eddie Simpson. And goalie/third-string punter Justin Pines will be handling the kickoffs today. Then going between the pipes against Wisconsin-Green Bay tonight. Somewhere, Philip Rossman-Reich is smiling.


Predictions:
Matt - NU 13-10, extremely sloppy game, NU gets lucky in the end.
Chris - Iowa 24-17, Iowa runs all over the Cats.
David - NU 27-14, Cats put a little distance on a team for once.

Thanks for joining us. If ... in fact ... you are.