2013 Gator Bowl picks and predictions: Northwestern expected to win

Northwestern is expected to finish its season with three consecutive wins, as they are projected to defeat Mississippi State in the 2013 Gator Bowl.

Pat Forde and Graham Watson of Yahoo Sports are both picking Northwestern to win, while five of the six experts at CBSSports.com are also predicting that the Wildcats will be victorious. Jerry Hinnen is the lone expert between the two sites that is picking Mississippi State to upset Northwestern.

Northwestern opened as a 2.5-point favorite, but the line has since shifted in Mississippi State's favor. The Wildcats are now favored by 1.5 points.

The Wildcats enter the game having won consecutive games over Michigan State and Illinois to improve to 9-3 on the season.

Mississippi State opened the season with seven consecutive wins, but has since lost four of its last five to fall to 8-4 on the year. Three of the Bulldogs' losses have come against Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU.