NORTHWESTERN (9-3) VS. KENTUCKY (7-5)
Site: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: Friday, 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: Northwestern by 7 ½.
All-time series: Northwestern leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Northwestern 7, Kentucky 0 (1928).
NORTHWESTERN
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (12th season, 86-65).
All-time postseason: 3-10.
Last postseason appearance: Beat Pittsburgh 31-24 in 2016 Pinstripe Bowl.
Draft spotlight: SS Godwin Igwebuike. Physical prospect with size and good strength for the position. Has some linebacker qualities. Tracks and adjusts well moving downhill, reacting well to the run. Makes a lot of plays close to the line. At his best in run support.
Other Wildcats to watch: RB Justin Jackson, C Brad North, DT Tyler Lancaster, P Hunter Niswander.
Wildcat Tracks: Northwestern comes into the game on a 7-game winning streak, its longest since 1996. … Jackson enters the bowl as the nation’s No.2 active rusher, amassing 5,283 yards over his career. … The Wildcats held their final three regular-season opponents to 13 points or less, including a shutout of Minnesota.
KENTUCKY
Coach: Mark Stoops (5th season, 26-35).
All-time postseason: 8-8.
Last postseason appearance: Lost to Georgia Tech 33-18 in 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl.
Draft spotlight: *LB Josh Allen. A long (6-5) but thin edge defender who has been rising up the chart this season. Seven sacks this season is tied for 6th in the SEC. Allen is someone who flashes quickness and balance needed to be a strong pass rusher, but he’s still extremely raw.
Other Wildcats to watch: WR Garrett Johnson, LB Courtney Love, *SS Mike Edwards.
Wildcat Tales: Sophomore RB Benny Snell is the first player in school history to top 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back seasons. … UK has thrown just five INTs this season, currently tied for the fewest in any season in school annals. … Kentucky is one of just two teams that shows five straight years of matching or improving on its win total.
* underclass draft prospect