[NU Sports] NCAA Football 2009

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> As long as the loss isn't at Duke I can handle 3-1,
> though this may (finally)
> be the year they go 4-0.  

Yeah - hopefully this is the year they finally do it. We really need as the NC schedule has killed at least 2 bowl berths the last decade.

> > Then 5-3 in the Big Ten. Wins against MSU, Purdue, IU,
> Minny and Illinois.  
> > Losses to Iowa, OSU and Michigan.
> 
> I think Illinois is going to be a big dog in the Big 10
> again next year, 

I'm not sure on Illinois as a power yet - without Mendenhaal there's going to be a lot more pressure on Juice. They have the talent to compete, but I'm not ready to place them in the top tier yet.

> Iowa is likely to be a more winnable game, I'm starting
> to hear grumblings

But that worries me as the Hawks could be set for a comeback.:)

> Indiana, MSU and Purdue are all big question marks,
> Michigan is the real 
> wild card.  They've got talent coming out their ears,

Exactly - I wish we played them at the start of the season again. Still, they're going to be ripe for a lot of payback from the Big Ten this year.

> I think 4-4 is a more likely mark out of the conference
> season, with wins 
> against PU, IU, Iowa and Minny and MAYBE an upset against
> MSU or a 
> late-season major bowl spoiler win against Illinois. By

No sure thing in the league, that's for sure. The Gophers will be better. Purdue will still be tough even in the transition and the Hoosiers have a lot of confidence from last year's breakthrough. And MSU is on the verge of entering the upper tier if they can keep a coach around.

Still, I like our offense when healthy to be able to score against anyone in the league except perhaps the Buckeyes. We're loaded on talent and a new OC should shake up our tendencies a bit and make us more unpredictable. Hopefully Sutton stays healthy and he could be in line for huge numbers.

And on D, anything is an improvement and I think we're poised for some real progress there ... so I like our chances. We just have to get that opening win over Syracuse and take it from there.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT