Auburn sets sights on Outback Bowl matchup with Northwestern

By Bud L. Ellis

Five wins in five tries to start the season, and the Auburn Tigers had big hopes for the first week of the New Year.

After losing five of its final seven, Auburn is thrilled to spend New Year’s Day playing in Florida.

The 7-5 Tigers, boosted after nearly knocking off Alabama in the Iron Bowl in the regular-season finale, will take on Northwestern in the Outback Bowl, New Year’s Day at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Auburn got off to a flying start under first-year head coach Gene Chizik, opening the campaign 5-0 and winning 26-22 at Tennessee. But the Tigers hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, losing three games in a row before splitting their final four contests.

For Auburn, it’s the school’s first trip to the Outback Bowl since 1996, when the Tigers fell 43-14 to Penn State. The Tigers made their other Outback Bowl appearance in 1990, when the Tigers downed Ohio State 31-14.

The game marks the first meeting between Auburn and Northwestern (8-4), which is coming off an upset of then No. 24-ranked Wisconsin. Both teams feature strong offenses. Auburn is led by tailback Ben Tate, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist. Northwestern features one of the Big Ten’s best offenses.

After missing out on a bowl game last season, Auburn is back in bowl play for the 12th time in the past 15 seasons.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 8:32 pm by bud

Tags: Alabama, Auburn, Ben Tate, Northwestern, Ohio State, Outback Bowl, Penn State, Raymond James Stadium, Tennessee, Wisconsin