Forced to play Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State every season, RU faces an arduous journey to be bowl contenders but has shown it is possible under Schiano in the past. The Scarlet Knights should be one of the more winnable game on the ‘Cats’ schedule,
A view from Northwestern
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Forced to play Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State every season, RU faces an arduous journey to be bowl contenders but has shown it is possible under Schiano in the past. The Scarlet Knights should be one of the more winnable game on the ‘Cats’ schedule,
RU wins by 13+. Fans get upbeat after opening day win, but we need to remain cautiously optimistic. We will know in 19 days. Hope we pack Schii
Read on the NW site, RU is considered the 3rd easiest team on their schedule, with UTEP and Howard considered easier, If I can find the article again, I will try to post.
That would be nice, but I would take a 1 pt win and move on to Temple, which I believe will be the toughest of the first three due to their QB.
Va Tech and NW are tougher opponents than temple
If NW loses, let's hope the naked hazing is kept to a minimum.
I am not picking RU, until I see if they have an offense this year.
with our defense I think we win by double digits. Run the ball and throw in some play action
I think this is the best defense we've had since 2012
I think this is the best defense we've had since 2012
In name only. NW was 1-11 last year, and the 2022 season may be looked back on by their fans as the good old days, they are an absolute mess. Virginia Tech used to be a decent program, but they will be lucky to repeat last year's win total of 3 games. I have zero confidence in their coach. Temple has a second year QB that finished the year strong and is only going to get better. When you have a legit QB you always have a chance. Now, Rutgers should crush all three of these opponents, but I still think Temple is the toughest of these three losers.
They lost their best OL BY FAR to the NFL in the 1st round. I wouldn't rule it out.
If Toure is back up to speed he and Bailey could be a menace
Did you see Northwestern's QB, Ben Bryant, a transfer from Cincinnati, torch Indiana last year?
Toure, Bailey and Lewis off the edge at the same time
This. The Temple QB can keep the game close. However I think our D is better than last season he will be harassed mercilessly in the 2nd Half and we win going away.
Cincinnati was a better team and program, so it was more than just the QB. NW is a clusterf*"k right now. No defense, no OL, no run game, or HC. The beauty of football is that it is a team game.
Northwestern is stubbornly good. If we make mistakes early, we’ll be in big trouble. They always have been stubborn, even in their Ls.
Can we even win going away??
If the offense is the same run first, slow, conservative, 7 TEs on the field then how likely are we to score alot of points and blow out anyone?
If the offense is the same run first, slow, conservative, 7 TEs on the field then how likely are we to score alot of points and blow out anyone?
They beat Nebraska in Ireland.
Lost to PSU 17-7 and tOSU 21-7
Also lost to Southern Illinois and Miami (OH)
Yes. Close game to late 3rd or 4th quarter . We pound the rock in the 4th and get a late score to win by two scores.
Is your point it was the first game of the year against a favored Nebraska team? If so, I agree, that is why I would take a one-point win and move on to Temple, it would be nice to win by multiple touchdowns, but a win is a win.
Exactly my point.
One score game into the 4th quarter isn't exactly "hammering" or "pounding" someone.
Would be much easier to already be up a couple scores by halftime or 3rd quarter in a game or two - especially our easiest games of the year.
However, with OC KC doubling down on the HC Schiano offensive plan, not sure any game will be comfortable.
Did RU really get outscored 202-48 in the final 5 games last season?
Must have erased the memories.
Must have erased the memories.
If our offense is what it appears to be, the only game we win going away this year is Wagner. Every other winnable game is going to be a street fight.
Good! I hope they go into our game with that mindset.
Yup. That's accurate.
We actually only scored 209 points all season (over 12 games - including 66 against Wagner).
Scored over 20pts twice all season (BC 22, Nebraska 24).
And Nebraska shouldn't even count - we scored a pick 6.
The offense only scored 17pts.
Removing Wagner (66-7) and we scored 13ppg for the season.
9 Big Ten games:
outscored total points 309-105
outscored by average of 34.3 to 11.7
Just looking at last years record, when compared to their other 2023 opponents makes RU look like that.
Northwestern might be 3rd easiest when it comes to RU's 2023 schedule
With only Temple and Wagner considered easier.
VT might be 3rd , but since they were 3-8 compared to NW's 1-11
Northwestern gets the nod at 3 while VT is #4 in the easy game category,
going by last year's record and not current roster..