SIU @ NU Prediction Thread

[rmndcat]

NU met its out of conference nemesis last week, falling to Duke after a comeback that almost worked. Duke has regularly tripped the Cats early in the season, even in some of the Cats' good years. For what it's worth, NU is still 1-0 in B1G play.

The Cats should be able to bounce back against the SIU Salukis, but how hard will it be?

Time to prognosticate.

Dogs 23
Cats 34

 

[epicbret]

Is SIUs WR still out? That's an offense with some solid players that when clicking is good. That said they were bad week 1 when I watched.

 

[Arlcatsfan]

Come out of the locker room ready to play.I want to see us jump on the Salukis right from the get go.Purdue,Michigan State and State Penn annihilated their respective opponents like SIU last week.At least a 24 point win.I do not want to see Fitz take the foot off the gas pedal.Also play a bunch of guys which we can do when you blow someone out.
NU Cats Of The Wild 47
Salukis Doggies 13.

 

[epicbret]

He's back, Cox, 2 TD last week.

Williams is a massive RB who they have some diverse packages for. Has NFL looks as an HBack.

Baker is like 5-7 but slings it

 

[epicbret]

45-27 cats

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Is SIUs WR still out? That's an offense with some solid players that when clicking is good. That said they were bad week 1 when I watched.

They’re generally healthy.

SIU does indeed have a pretty good FCS spread em out offense with some quick, but small, WRs, a very large RB (who they sometimes ignore), and a QB who can distribute effectively (but is also want to throw badly timed ints). However, their offense hasn’t been quite as deadly this year as the last couple when they were top 10, and their defense is a train wreck. NU ought to be able to score a lot of points with impunity and physically dominate most of SIU’s offensive players. Their quick WRs can get a few plays, but it should be NU control in the 35-13 sort of range.

 

[JoeWildcat]

We scored 31 against UNL and were a yard away from 31 against Duke, so I think we get that many against SIU. But I still think our defense is slow and porous.

NU 31
SIU 21

 

[epicbret]

They’re generally healthy.

SIU does indeed have a pretty good FCS spread em out offense with some quick, but small, WRs, a very large RB (who they sometimes ignore), and a QB who can distribute effectively (but is also want to throw badly timed ints). However, their offense hasn’t been quite as deadly this year as the last couple when they were top 10, and their defense is a train wreck. NU ought to be able to score a lot of points with impunity and physically dominate most of SIU’s offensive players. Their quick WRs can get a few plays, but it should be NU control in the 35-13 sort of range.

Agree they ignore Williams far too much. He's very versatile

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Agree they ignore Williams far too much. He's very versatile

To armchair coach, it isn’t unheard of for a pass happy, spread offense, former QB of a head coach to forget his RB exists for stretches to his own determent. Hell, NFL teams do that all the time, the Packers did it for years. Even when a run makes sense, there’s always some shiny pass concept you think is set up very cleverly to dial up.

Anyway though, while he’s big, I don’t think he presents the same physical mismatch at the point of attack vs NU that he does in FCS play. Good player though.

 

[No Chores]

"Cats 34-13. An easy win and we cover the spot.

 

[DaCat]

North by Northwestern 38
South by SIU 24

 

[Alvious]

Cats 27
Dogs 24

 

[FrancisSearle75]

NU - 18
Southern - 17

 

[Rebel II]

I can never figure NU out, no matter the opponent. Always makes life interesting. But I would like for them to exceed the spread for once!

 

[phatcat]

Cats win and cover

 

[Hungry Jack]

NU runs the ball 109 times for 580 yards and wins 28-7

 

[FeralFelidae]

Ugh, I just don't care. Last season SIU might have won. They seem to be bad this season, so they shouldn't.

 

[stpaulcat]

NU 42
SIGH

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I think this is one of those games where Fitz tells the offense "Look I don't want to be going for it on 4th down against SIU" so we end up kicking a few field goals that we normally wouldn't even attempt.

NU 37
SIU 17

 

[KappaKat]

NU-38
SIU- 27

 

[phatcat]

I think this is one of those games where Fitz tells the offense "Look I don't want to be going for it on 4th down against SIU" so we end up kicking a few field goals that we normally wouldn't even attempt.

NU 37
SIU 17

Attempting a few FGs

 

[NUCat320]

49-3, Cats. Late sympathy field goal.

 

[GECat2]

Didn't SIU get hammered by Incarnate Word? If we do not beat them by 30+ points we will be a laughing stock.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Didn't SIU get hammered by Incarnate Word? If we do not beat them by 30+ points we will be a laughing stock.

Incarnate Word also beat FBS Nevada, so they appear to be one of the best FCS teams this season. They put up 55 points on Nevada.

Northwestern lost to Nevada last time they played.

 

[DaCat]

Northwestern lost to Nevada last time they played.

No.

2017 NU 31, Nevada 20

 

[FeralFelidae]

No.

2017 NU 31, Nevada 20

Oh, I stand corrected. I forgot we played them that season. I just remembered that we lost to Duke.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

No.

2017 NU 31, Nevada 20

That game only felt like a loss.

 

[FeralFelidae]

That game only felt like a loss.

We lost to them in 2006, which was the game I remembered. I had totally forgotten that we played them in 2017. In fact, I still don't remember that game even after being reminded of it.

 

[DaCat]

We lost to them in 2006, which was the game I remembered. I had totally forgotten that we played them in 2017. In fact, I still don't remember that game even after being reminded of it.

Trust me, you're better off not remembering. We had to rally to win.

 

[chariots]

In the least Northwestern thing possible, NU 56 - SIU 14. Hilinski starts with two long TDs. The second half is every one and their uncle with rushing TDs.

 

[jensberg]

Sadly I think it'll be a close game and we win by 10 maybe 31-21

 

[Williesfan]

Southern Dogs 14
Northern Cats 45

 

[DaCat]

Sadly I think it'll be a close game and we win by 10 maybe 31-21

We would expect nothing else from you. Carry on!

 

[jensberg]

Seriously hope I'm wrong let's see

 

[mountaindrew]

I can never figure NU out, no matter the opponent. Always makes life interesting. But I would like for them to exceed the spread for once!

Yes Sir. Ditto. Hoping for a big show by our offense, but I don't expect it. Not really sure what to expect from our D against SIU. But until I see us play like we're capable of against a Goof Team....

NU 27
SIU 20

 

[phatcat]

Seriously hope I'm wrong let's see

Inigo, I hope we win...

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Yes Sir. Ditto. Hoping for a big show by our offense, but I don't expect it. Not really sure what to expect from our D against SIU. But until I see us play like we're capable of against a Goof Team....

NU 27
SIU 20

I'm very confident we will be able to run the football.
We will score a lot of points.
Hull and Porter may each run for 150 yards, but I expect us to go over 300 yards rushing.

 

[KappaKat]

The key is how well our DBs play. If they play well and we pressure the QB, SIU should not score more than 13.

 

[willycat]

Inigo, I hope we win...

if they lose to this SIU squad, then all of the coaches should be fired.

 

[jne381]

NU-35
SIU-14