Category: Northwestern

Northwestern vs Purdue Prediction, Game Preview

Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers prediction and game preview.

Northwestern vs Purdue prediction and game preview.

[jwplayer Y0JpnIDl]

Northwestern vs Purdue Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Network: Big Ten Network

[jwplayer Y0JpnIDl]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northwestern (3-0) vs Purdue (2-0) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Northwestern Will Win

It’s Northwestern. It’s doing all of the little things right, along with one really, really big thing.

There have been six second half quarters of college football in the Northwestern season so far. Maryland, Iowa and Nebraska have scored as many points against the Wildcat defense as you have.

The NU defense has been a rock when pushed, doing a amazing job on third downs, it has picked off eight passes, and it’s third in the nation in pass efficiency D. Add all of that with excellent ball control – holding it for close to 33 minutes per game – a good turnover margin, and with an offense that works, and this is back to being the rock-solid 2018 version of Northwestern.

Why Purdue Will Win

What’s Purdue doing so right in its 2-0 start? Missing Wisconsin helps, but it’s the Big Ten ‘s best passing game that was able to push through the win over Iowa and roll by Illinois.

Aidan O’Connell is hitting 71% of his passes for 653 yards and five scores, there aren’t enough turnovers to matter, and the defense – while hardly a brick wall – has been great on third downs.

Northwestern’s defense might be great when it has to be, but it doesn’t generate a pass rush. O’Connell will have all the time he needs to work.

– CFN College Football Experts Picks

What’s Going To Happen

Northwestern will keep it all going by being Northwestern.

It’s not going to be a blowout like the Maryland win, but it’ll bend-but-not-break defensively, capitalize on the opportunities on offense, and will dominate against a Boilermaker defensive front that’s about to get pounded on.

Northwestern vs Purdue Prediction, Line

Northwestern 24, Purdue 20
Bet on Northwestern vs Purdue with BetMGM
Northwestern -3.5, o/u: 51.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 4

5: Alex Trebek
1: “Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen.”

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Interesting College Football Thoughts Ever

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Big Ten Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 10

Big Ten college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 10 of the season.

Big Ten college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 10 of the season.

[jwplayer OaNdOF7Q]

Results So Far
SU: 7-6, ATS: 6-7, Point Total: 6-7

– Bet on Big Ten football at BetMGM

Michigan at Indiana

12:00 FS1
Line: Michigan -3, o/u: 54

Nebraska at Northwestern

12:00 BTN
Line: Northwestern -4, o/u: 55.5

[lawrence-related id=522251]

Michigan State at Iowa

12:00 ESPN
Line: Iowa -7, o/u: 45.5

Maryland at Penn State

3:30 BTN
Line: Penn State -25, o/u: 63

[lawrence-related id=522199]

Minnesota at Illinois

3:30 BTN
Line: Minnesota -7, o/u: 61.5

Rutgers at Ohio State

7:30 BTN
Line: Ohio State -38, o/u: 64.5

Purdue at Wisconsin

Cancelled

– Bet on Big Ten football at BetMGM

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Northwestern vs Nebraska Prediction, Game Preview

Northwestern Wildcats vs Nebraska Cornhuskers prediction and game preview.

Northwestern vs Nebraska prediction and game preview.

Northwestern vs Nebraska Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
Network: Big Ten Network

[jwplayer OaNdOF7Q]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northwestern (2-0) vs Nebraska (0-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Nebraska Will Win

The team is certainly rested – and salty – after not being able to play Wisconsin last week. The Huskers weren’t all that bad in the blowout loss to Ohio State – relatively speaking. They lost 52-17, but they were active, the defense was popping, and the running game was working for 210 yards.

Northwestern might be playing well so far, but the offense that ripped up Maryland sputtered against Iowa. This isn’t a high-powered Wildcat team, and despite the 43-point day against the Terps, it’s not going to be interested in a shootout.

Nebraska needs to go on a quick early scoring drive like it did to start the Ohio State game. Quick, decisive, and aggressive. Again, it was a blowout loss, but Adrian Martinez looked good on a 12-of-15 day passing and 85 rushing yards with a score.

– CFN Experts Picks: College Football

Why Northwestern Will Win

Peyton Ramsey isn’t Justin Fields, but the Northwestern quarterback has been solid so far, completing 34-of-48 passes for 342 yards and a touchdown and an interception in the two wins.

He’s hitting 71% of his throws – hitting the downfield ones, too – and now he gets to go up against a Husker secondary that allowed Fields to connect on 20-of-21 passes for over 13 yards per throw.

The offense was the question mark coming into the season after a dud of a 2019 run, but the defense was supposed to be great – and it is. The Wildcat linebackers are keeping everything under wraps, allowing just 141 rushing yards in the two games, and this veteran group is used to Nebraska.

– CFN Experts Picks: NFL

What’s Going To Happen

The Huskers won last year 13-10, but lost three of the previous four in the series.

This is a good Nebraska team that really did seem to have a different sort of energy in the Ohio State game, but this Northwestern team is tight. It turned the ball over three times in the first two games, but it’s not getting hit with a ton of penalties, and it showing its typical style under Pat Fitzgerald.

Last week against Iowa, Northwestern got down, but it hung around … hung around … hung around, then got the big mistake it needed, capitalized, and won.

That’s going to be this game. Nebraska will get up fast, it’ll have a lead, but it won’t be able to put it away. Northwestern will come up with the late plays to pull this out.

– Week 10 College Football Schedule, Predictions

Northwestern vs Nebraska Prediction, Line

Northwestern 26, Nebraska 21
Bet on Northwestern vs Nebraska with BetMGM
Northwestern -4, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Big Ten Football Preview Keys To Every Team: Offense

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s offense? What does each team have to work on?

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s offense? What does each team have to work on?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Offense
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Biggest Key To The Illinois Fighting Illini Offense

Establish the run again. The 2018 Illinois running game worked. It came up with over 2,900 yards, averaged close to six yards per carry, and it found a groove from the start with 200 yards or more in nine of the first ten games.

That was the only time in the last eight years that the program ran for 1,900 yards or more.

The 1,874 yards Illinois ran for last season were the second-most in a season since 2011, but it was still ugly. There were four 200-yard rushing days – the Illini won three of them – with the shootout loss to Nebraska the only time the ground game averaged over five yards per pop.

The offensive line is better, but the running backs have to emerge in a hurry. Statistically, the pass protection has to be there, too, with the numbers depending a bit on who takes the quarterback gig.

– Big Ten Preview Keys To Every Team: Defense

Biggest Key To The Indiana Hoosiers Offense

It was this simple for the Hoosiers, at least last year – run well, win football games. Being able to run for any relatively arbitrary number wouldn’t have mattered in losses to Ohio State and Michigan, but IU was 8-0 last season when it ran for 100 yards, and 0-5 when it didn’t.

How much does 100 rushing yards matter to the Hoosiers? November 3rd, 2012. That was the last time they won when going under the mark, beating Iowa 24-21. They’re 0-23 since then when the ground game doesn’t hit triple-digits.

For a team that finished seventh in the nation in time of possession, run well, rely on your accurate passer to move the chains, control the tempo.

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Offense
Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

Big Ten Football Preview Keys To Every Team: Defense

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s defense? What does each team have to work on?

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s defense? What does each team have to work on?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Defense
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Biggest Key To The Illinois Fighting Illini Defense

Stop the run. Lost a bit in the shocking win over Wisconsin was the job done all day by the Illini D, holding Jonathan Taylor and company to just 156 yards on the ground.

Illinois needed an epic comeback against Michigan State – getting gouged for 275 yards on the ground – and went 1-4 on the season when allowing 200 rushing yards ore more. Since beating Rutgers in the middle of the 2016 season, Illinois is 1-22 when giving up two bills.

Fortunately, Nebraska is the only team on the first half of the slate that has any semblance of a ground game.

Biggest Key To The Indiana Hoosiers Defense

More big plays would be nice. Helped by an offense that kept the chains moving and stayed on the field, the defense was able to do just enough to stay in most games. There’s enough experience returning, though, to start turning games around.

The pass rush was okay, but hardly anything special, especially in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers failed to generate more than one sack in five of the last nine games, and 14 of the 27 sacks overall came against Ball State, Eastern Illinois, UConn and Rutgers.

Partly because of the lack of steady pressure, the interceptions didn’t come with just seven on the season and three in the first nine games.

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Defense
Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

Big Ten Football Preview: Quick Overview Of Every Team

The Big Ten football season is finally here. We get you ready with a quick overview of every team before it all starts up on Friday.

The Big Ten football season is finally here and it’s finally happening. We get you ready with a quick overview of every team before it all starts up on Friday.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview Quick Overviews of Every Team
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Illinois Fighting Illini

– The Illinois offense wasn’t exactly a smoothly run organization. The running game was okay at times, and the passing attack came through late when it had to in a few huge upsets, but for the most part, it was a struggle.

The Illini finished 112th in the nation in total offense, but it made the yards count with a not-awful 26.7 points per game. However, the O almost never had the ball – long, sustained drives were a rumor – and the attack fell flat late in the season.

There’s hope for a boost, though, with four starters back on what should be a good line, a deep group of quarterbacks to play around with, and with almost all of the key targets back.

– It’s been one of the stranger disappointments in the Lovie Smith era. He’s an elite defensive football coach who crafted some killers in the NFL, and yet he hasn’t been anything special at Illinois. It’s his D – he’s the coordinator – and it’s been great at forcing takeaways and getting into the backfield – but it’s been blasted too easily against the run and it’s been way too inconsistent overall.

Fortunately, the linebackers are great and the secondary is going to be a plus. Now the thump has to come from the interior.

Indiana Hoosiers

– The offense quietly started to work really, really well. It might not have been able to keep up enough to overcome the occasional defensive issues, and the firepower wasn’t there to do anything against the Ohio States and Michigans of the world, but at least the attack was able to keep things moving.

The running game needs to be stronger, but the passing attack was the second-best in the Big Ten. With the potential of eight starters returning – along with some parts that missed time last year – the league’s No. 3 offense should be every bit as strong under rising star QB Michael Penix.

– The defense couldn’t handle the better offenses, and it struggled too often late in the year, but it was hardly awful. It allowed 352 yards and 32 points per game, was serviceable at getting into the backfield, and it didn’t have any one glaring issue other than not being able to pick off enough passes.

The D line needs to be better at getting to the quarterback, but there’s a nice blend of bulk and experience across the front four.

Big Ten Preview Quick Overviews of Every Team
IIowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

2020 Big Ten Schedules, Predictions For Every Game, Win Total Picks

With the new 8-game schedule, what will happen this college football season in the Big Ten? The schedules and predictions for every game.

With the new 8-game schedule, what’s going to happen this college football season in the Big Ten? Here are the schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Schedules, Predictions

2020 Preseason Big Ten Championship Prediction
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten East Schedules, Predictions

2020 Indiana Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2019: 8-5, 2018: 5-7
2020 Indiana Preview

Oct. 24 Penn State L
Oct. 31 at Rutgers W
Nov. 7 Michigan L
Nov. 14 at Michigan State L
Nov. 21 at Ohio State L
Nov. 28 Maryland W
Dec. 5 at Wisconsin L
Dec. 12 Purdue W


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern

[jwplayer RmT1XeoM]

2020 Maryland Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 1-7
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019: 3-9, 2018: 5-7
2020 Maryland Preview

Oct. 24 at Northwestern L
Oct. 31 Minnesota L
Nov. 7 at Penn State L
Nov. 14 Ohio State L
Nov. 21 Michigan State L
Nov. 28 at Indiana L
Dec. 5 Michigan L
Dec. 12 Rutgers W


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Michigan Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2019: 9-4, 2018: 10-3
2020 Michigan Preview

Oct. 24 at Minnesota L
Oct. 31 Michigan State W
Nov. 7 at Indiana W
Nov. 14 Wisconsin W
Nov. 21 at Rutgers W
Nov. 28 Penn State W
Dec. 5 Maryland W
Dec. 12 at Ohio State L


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue

2020 Michigan State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 4-4
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 7-6, 2018: 7-6
2020 Michigan State Preview

Oct. 24 Rutgers W
Oct. 31 at Michigan L
Nov. 7 at Iowa L
Nov. 14 Indiana W
Nov. 21 at Maryland W
Nov. 28 Northwestern W
Dec. 5 Ohio State L
Dec. 12 at Penn State L


Missed: Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Ohio State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 7-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2019: 13-1, 2018: 13-1
2020 Ohio State Preview

Oct. 24 Nebraska W
Oct. 31 at Penn State L
Nov. 7 Rutgers W
Nov. 14 at Maryland W
Nov. 21 Indiana W
Nov. 28 at Illinois W
Dec. 5 at Michigan State W
Dec. 12 Michigan W

Missed: Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Penn State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 11-2, 2018: 9-4
2020 Penn State Preview

Oct. 24 at Indiana W
Oct. 31 Ohio State W
Nov. 7 Maryland W
Nov. 14 at Nebraska W
Nov. 21 Iowa L
Nov. 28 at Michigan L
Dec. 5 at Rutgers W
Dec. 12 Michigan State W


Missed: Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Rutgers Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 0-8
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019: 2-10, 2018: 1-11
2020 Rutgers Preview

Oct. 24 at Michigan State L
Oct. 31 Indiana L
Nov. 7 at Ohio State L
Nov. 14 Illinois L
Nov. 21 Michigan L
Nov. 28 at Purdue L
Dec. 5 Penn State L
Dec. 12 at Maryland L


Missed: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin

NEXT: Big Ten West Schedules, Predictions, Win Totals

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Big Ten Cancels Fall College Football Season, Might Play In Spring

The Big Ten will cancel its fall season – according to reports – and attempt to play this spring.

The Big Ten will cancel its fall season – according to reports – and attempt to play this spring.

The Big Ten is going cancel the fall season and move on to the spring.

[jwplayer CKtYFVZx]

After hinting about it over the last several weeks, and after it was leaked on Monday that the Big Ten presidents were 12-2 against playing in the fall, the league has decided to cancel the 2020 fall season and will try playing this spring.

More coming in a few moments …

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Big Ten Cancels Fall Season. What’s Next For College Football?

The Big Ten has canceled its 2020 football season due to concerns over the coronavirus. What’s next for college football?

The Big Ten has canceled its 2020 football season due to concerns over the coronavirus. What’s next for college football?

The Big Ten is going to do it. It’s going to cancel its 2020 college football season.

[jwplayer CKtYFVZx]

It was rumored to happen for the last few weeks, and now it’s actually happening the Big Ten is cancelling college football for the 2020 fall.

The details of what’s next are still sketchy, but commissioner Kevin Warren has been hinting at the idea of a spring football season. Forgetting that it would mean two college football seasons in ten months, and that college football in Minneapolis and Madison would be delightful in February, there aren’t any details yet on how that might work.

This all started rolling over the weekend with reports of a meeting among conference presidents about the viability of a college football season, and then Monday morning the Dan Patrick Show went with the story that the Big Ten was going to shut things down.

In the end, it was just too much. The Big Ten types have been hinting from the start that they didn’t believe they could safely make it all work. There were liability concerns, player safety issues, the lack of revenue from no fans in the stands, and then when it finally came time to practice and get it all going, the college presidents couldn’t make it work.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget the player movement side of things. Squashing the demands and the voices of players isn’t a bad thing for those who run the higher-levels of college athletics.

The Big Ten just gave the whole #WeWantToPlay movement one giant, “bless your heart.”

And now, very predictably, college football gets politicized. What could possibly go wrong?

What’s next for college football coming in a moment …

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Northwestern Football Schedule 2020 Prediction, Breakdown, Analysis

Northwestern football schedule 2020 with the Big Ten-only slate

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Northwestern football schedule 2020 with the Big Ten-only slate.

Northwestern Football Schedule 2020

Sept. 5 at Penn State

Sept. 12 Wisconsin

Sept. 19 at Michigan State

Sept. 26 Maryland

Oct. 3 at Iowa

Oct. 10 OPEN DATE

Oct. 17 Illinois

Oct. 24 Nebraska

Oct. 31 at Purdue

Nov. 7 OPEN DATE

Nov. 14 at Minnesota

Nov. 21 Michigan

Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

Missed: Indiana, Ohio State, Rutgers
[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]