[NU Sports] 2007 Predictions

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

When looking at predicting the upcoming season,  I look  at "probable's".   
We can dissect the schedule and see patterns; plug  in our 
strengths/weaknesses, and make accurate predictions. This is what I  see:
1) Northeastern-win
2) Nevada- a "circle" game; also a "swing" game, which in my  vocabulary 
means it's important to how the season will turn out.- win
3) Duke-win
 
4/5) OSU/Michigan-  Losses, with a better chance against Ohio  St.
 
6) Michigan St.-a "circle" game-win
 
7) Minnesota- a "swing" game; a win here and were in the top echelon of the  
conference-win!
 
8) Purdue-loss. 
 
9) E. Michigan-win.
 
10)  Iowa- I believe Iowa, Mich. St. and Minnesota are heading for  sub-.500. 
 We'll win this game where, inexplicably, most list members see  this as a 
loss.
 
11) Indiana- Our situation with RW and Indian'a with Hoeppner are much  
differant. Coach Hep had been sick for a year prior to his passing; I'm not  buying 
Indiana falling apart like we did.  I'm predicting that Indiana will  make a 
push for the first division; as such our Capital One Bowl hopes will be  
dashed by Indiana
 
12) Illinois-a "swing" game. 7-5 means Detroit.  8-4 means Phoenix or  San 
Antonio.  Zooker will see improvement, but the Cats continue to  catch-up in the 
battle for Sweet Siuox;  Wouldn't that be a change- Cats  and Ill-noise 
battling for something other than respectability.  This  series may become more 
intense as the years unfold...
 
 
So there you have it.  8-4 and 4-4 in-conference.  Truog's rule  of 1 loss 
out of conference won't materialize this year, as I see these 07 Cats  as a 
hungry, focused group eager to put 2006 in their rear-view mirror.  I  think 
Dennis's analysis of breaking down positions is correct; when stacked up  against 
the conference we're a .500 club at best, but we'll sure 'nuff run the  ball 
better with an average passing game; something that was missing for the  first 8 
games last year.  
 
Additionally, adding Indiana and Minnesota, as well as dropping Penn St.  and 
Wisconsin (wish this was a "rivalry" game instead of Purdue) and 4 beatable  
non-cons has made this the easiest schedule we've had in ages.   Although I 
predict a loss vs. Indiana, logic tells me we'd have a better shot  vs. Iniana 
rather than PSU or Wisky.
 
As for today, I see a nice start similar to the 2005's season opener vs.  
Ohio; a 38-10 win in which only our own mistakes will prevent us from hanging 50  
on 'em.  Let's face it, New Hampshire was the much better club early  in the 
season last year, and while I know that Northeastern beat UNH , we  answered a 
lot of our own question in last season final 4 games. I say the  Huskies will 
hit the road; the road will hit back.
 
          GO  CATS!!!                  Eric
 



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