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Many years ago before Super Bowl III, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath predicted a Jets victory over the Baltimore Colts. Namath came through on his bold prediction as the Jets won the contest 19-7 over the Colts.
In that game was a running back by the name of Matt Snell. Playing for those same Jets, Snell scored a touchdown to help those Jets achieve an improbable victory that Super Bowl Sunday.
Fast forward to 2017. Snell’s nephew, Cats running back Benny Snell Jr., standing with his teammates Mike Edwards, Courtney Love, Lynn Bowden, Austin MacGinnis, and CJ Conrad before the crowd at Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon during UK’s basketball game with Virginia Tech, addressed the crowd and guaranteed a Wildcats victory over Northwestern in the Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl.
“We going to Nashville. We’re going to get this W. I promise,” Snell told the crowd during the last media timeout.
His prediction was met with love by the Rupp crowd.
We just had some special @UKFootball visitors at Rupp. @benny_snell @cjconrad1 @M__Edwards7 @Courtney_Love51 @H_Huncho @AMacGinnis8 #WeAreUK #GoToWork pic.twitter.com/IKjGRSgBPe
— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) December 16, 2017
In two seasons in Lexington, Snell Jr. has had remarkable success on the gridiron in helping to guide the Cats to back to back bowl games. The sophomore running back has rushed for 2,409 yards and 31 touchdowns.
The Wildcats know they face a challenge in Nashville in the form of Northwestern. The Big 10 version of Wildcats opened as a 6.5 point favorite over their SEC counterparts. Depending on the oddsmaker, that line has increased to 7.5.