2010 Northwestern
That schedule will serve to prove, once again, that NW is the most unspectacular middle-of-the-road team in the Big 10.
8-4 (even with wins against MSU and Purdue) will do nothing to change perceptions of a "good enough" but never great program.
Michigan and Ohio State already puts you at lucky. The non-conference schedule is a joke. I think NW loses to either MSU or Indiana. Where's your 4th loss? You listed the 8 wins but only 3 losses.
Thinking further....how bad will Illinois be this year? Pretty bad last year and now lose Juice and Benn, Illinois State/NIU might be the second best team in the state.
It just makes me sad at what Juice could have been. It probably makes Illinois fans sadder though.
They're not the doormat that most of us grew up with...I'm looking forward to the day that Michigan can avenge the depressing loss to them in '08.
The NW I grew up with beat us back-to-back in '95 and '96, not to mention the heartbreaker in 2000. Also, that stupid, awful, damned-to-hell game in '08 that I still get hypothermic chills thinking about. I strongly dislike the Wildcats.
McGuffiegeddon in Houston? Probably. Their OOC schedule lines up pretty well, especially catching CMU post-LeFevour.
Tend to agree with your picks. From what I've been hearing, Persa should be pretty decent for a first year starter. It would not surprise me if they took either Iowa or PSU.
Vandy - oops you already caught that one.
I actually think NU beats at least one of Wisconsin/PSU (probably PSU) but chokes against MSU or Minny.
And you're spot on about NU dropping a total clunker out of conference just about every year. It's maddening, and with this year's schedule there's no excuse.
The offense should be the best in the Big Ten, and that even feels weird for me to type. The weak link in last year's squad was at RB, but I think Arby Fields will step up. With that much experience on the OL and a running threat in Persa, he doesn't have to be Barry Sanders to get some yards.
I do worry about the defense though. You're right about our LBs but I fear that we're going to see how much McManis meant to our pass D. Maybin is OK but there's no way we're going to stop anyone with a pulse.
Thanks for a great article, Jamiemac!
(cue cheesy Wildcat growl sound)
I think MSU will beat them. Purdue could too.
Even with all of that, I don't think that makes NW any good. The most impressive win you have predicted is MSU at home, that's not terribly impressive. They have a very weak OOC schedule, and they miss OSU and UM from the Big Ten schedule. I know missing UM isn't what it was 5 years ago, but combined with OSU, that's the easiest conference schedule in the Big Ten. I think it's safe to say that NW has the easiest 12 game schedule of any Big Ten team.
That schedule is so incredibly soft that any non-awful team would win at least 7 games. I think UofM would win 8 or 9 against that schedule and I still think we are a year or two away from being "good."
That said, as others have pointed out, NW has a penchant for losing to bad teams on the road so I think they will be no better than 8-4 with at least one loss to Vandy, Rice, Indiana or Minny. If they lose two of those games, they probably go 7-5.
With a schedule as easy as that I would hope they get around 8 wins. In 2011 though when they have to face Michigan and Ohio State again they'll fall back in place.
i also like MSU over the 'cats, but 8-4 isn't too diff than 9-3.
What a schedule, tho
You mean, michigan doesn't have to play NU.
no matter how you look at it, NU will shred Michigan's secondary, and their defense is fast, athletic, and smart.
Will Discuss this topic next week at NW WR Commit Tony Jones' Open House. I will be wearing Maize and Blue when I see Grand Blanc RB Justice Hayes There. Those two are inseparable.
that's weird as fuck that you're announcing this on a sports site, nonetheless that you are actually going to do it. no wonder recruits are dropping UM all the time.
Talking to a NW commit about next years season, not really that strange. Probably the wrong forum. You're right. Re Hayes, mostly a joke, but I usually wear Maize and Blue on the weekends. Point made on other threads, re recruiting, Hayes and Jones very tight. Hayes NW lean.