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T-2. Northwestern Bulls (2-0) vs. 7. Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (1-1)
Friday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
This might be the top game in South Florida over the weekend because it comes with a handful of intriguing storylines.
In the short-term, this is a very good test for a Northwestern team that I personally have called “the Bulls’ most talented team since 2010”. The Bulls cruised past American week one and manufactured a win over Columbus in week two, but taking on the rival Tornadoes will equal their toughest game up to this point.
Also, from Booker T.’s perspective, the Tornadoes don’t want to lose consecutive games – to rivals no less.
Some people even called this a “trap game” for Northwestern considering the Bulls are set to travel to face IMG Academy next weekend, but I don’t subscribe to that theory because the roots of this rivalry run too deep for Northwestern to look past Booker T.
If anything, I can see the Bulls going “all in” this week – and seeing what’s left for next week.
A lot of people are looking at this matchup as a “battle of the quarterbacks” – talking about Northwestern’s Chatarius “Tutu” Atwell and Booker T.’s Daniel Richardson.
But I look at this matchup from an overall standpoint and I think the Bulls have everything they need to stymie the Tornadoes.
The Bulls’ defense has the playmakers in the front seven – namely Sam Brooks and Calijah Kancey – to put the pressure on Booker T.’s Daniel Richardson while also having a talented enough secondary to matchup with the Tornadoes’ receivers.
Plainly, Northwestern can blitz and pressure Richardson and rely on Divaad Wilson, Sharod Oliver and Richad Wildgoose to stick with receivers.
The other part of this matchup is Northwestern’s using its collection of running backs to control the pace of the game.
Davonne “Bo” Kendrick has separated himself as the Bulls No. 1 back while Corey Hammett, Kiaryn “Chop” Davis and Jacquez Stuart all contribute.
Still, Booker T. will make some big plays downfield and they will score some points because Richardson and his group of receivers are just that good.
However, I think this game will follow a similar path to the Tornadoes’ game against Central.
Bald Prediction = Northwestern wins 24-19
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