<p>Go Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>I know this year's team is very awesome. I hope they do well in the Big Ten (i'm also rooting for Michigan, what a historic win last night!)</p>
<p>5-0 and only one win away from a bowl bid.</p>
<p>Every school in the Big Ten this year has a solid football squad and no team Northwestern faces for the rest of this season will be rolling over. </p>
<p>But I'm sure Pat Fitzgerald is counting his lucky stars he has byes this year against Wisconsin and Penn State. That just leaves Ohio State, Michigan, ....</p>
<p>Northwestern will have to succeed against Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, three of the strongest Big Ten schools. I don't think they play Penn State in their schedule.</p>
<p>tenisghs:</p>
<p>They don't. We play 8 of the other Big 10 teams in a typical year along with 4 non-conference games. Northwestern (fortuitously) has "byes" against the two strongest teams in the conference - Penn State and Wisconsin. Only Northwestern and Penn State (#6 in the country in today's AP and USA polls) stands undefeated at this point - yes, we're tied for the lead in the Big Ten.</p>
<p>Good time for a bye since it gives Sutton to get 100% healthy, several O-linemen to return to a young and depleted O-line, the offense to get more used to new O-scheme (which has hampered the passing game all season) and to prepare for MSU in a big game.</p>
<p>The 'Cats just missed out on the Coach's Poll at 26 - if a couple of teams ranked 18-25 lose this weekend, the 'Cats should be ranked in the next week's poll.</p>
<p>
[quote]
5-0 and only one win away from a bowl bid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Probably need at least 7 wins for a bowl bid (last year the 'Cats were 6-6 but were left out of a bowl).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Northwestern will have to succeed against Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, three of the strongest Big Ten schools.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>While UM is improving, they are hardly one of the "strongest teams" in the conf. this year.</p>
<p>The 'Cats almost beat them last season and this year the game is a toss-up w/ maybe a slight edge to the 'Cats.</p>
<p>As for MSU, it'll be a close one w/ the team that makes less TOs the likely winner (the 'Cats are 2-1 against MSU the past 3 seasons).</p>
<p>The funny thing is that Iowa fans were whining about losing to "lowly" NU.</p>
<p>They seem to not understand that losing to the 'Cats has become habitual.</p>
<p>Since 1995 - the 'Cats are 7-5 against Iowa (and only one of 2 teams to beat them back-to-back at Kinnick).</p>
<p>Yes, Michigan is a team in transition (new coach, new system) but it is still unpredictable. Did you watch the Wisconsin vs. Michigan game last Saturday? Just simply amazing.</p>
<p>Wisc. is overrated. </p>
<p>Their O is one dimensional and since UM's strength is their front 4 on D...</p>
<p>Michigan State ranked #19. Gonna be a great game this Saturday! 2:30pmCST/3:30pmEST on ESPN2.</p>
<p>^ Also ranked in the Harris Poll.</p>
<p>Big game this Sat. - hope the student body comes out in force.</p>
<p>I'll be nervous to watch the game. It is gonna show if we are overrated or not.</p>
<p>This has been annoying to watch. Why in the world did we do that on-side kick? We've been literally sending MSU gifts one after another.</p>
<p>If NU didn't keep giving Sparty the ball at midfield or closer, NU may have had a chance. Hard to win a game when your opponent only has to go half the field or less to score.</p>
<p>The O just shot itself in the foot too many times.</p>
<p>The key from here on is to win the next 3 games before dOSU.</p>
<p>Nice showing by the students, btw.</p>
<p>Quite a game today against Minnesota.</p>
<p>Hey, what's with Wisconsin this year??? How many games have they blown at the end (e.g., Michigan, Ohio State, and now Michigan State)??? Ahead 24-13 with less than 9 minutes to go, the Badgers found another way to lose. If only Wisconsin had been able to hold their lead against Michigan State today, then NU, Minnesota, and Michigan State would all now have 2 losses. Assuming JoePa and his PennState Nittany Lions win out the rest of the season, including giving Michigan State another loss on 11/22, and assuming JoePa gets to go to the BCS Championship, then this coming Saturday's SOLD OUT game at Ryan Field between NU and Ohio State might have been the key game to determine which team (NU or Ohio State) gets to go to the Rose Bowl.</p>
<p>Alternatively, if the 'Cats didn't lose at Indiana last week ... or if they didn't spot Michigan State a 17-0 lead in the 1st quarter when the Spartans visited Evanston 3 weeks ago ... oh well. There's still hope for Pasadena. And of course, there are other bowls, too.</p>