The Good: The Wake Forest running game, Grobe's ability to make something of nothing

The Bad: Northern Illinois depth charts, the Wake Forest passing attack

The Ugly: Wake's mascot guy... what an ugly get up.

Outlook: Wake will do more running than Forrest Gump, and wear down the thin Northern Illinois defensive corps. Northern Illinois is no slouch themselves, but clearly no match either.

Bottom Line: Wake Forest will run it up the gut all day and win due to superior physical atheletes.

Score: Wake Forest 35 - Northern Illinois 21

Wake's 2 best runners are out. MacPherson can't pass his way out of a paper bag if the running game is shut down, which is fairly likely. Defense is still weak. Wake loses and the bowl talk is dead after Week #1.

NIU 24
Wake 13

Wake shocks everyone, including diehard Wake fans. Actual confidence under new system, and players prove last year no fluke. Wake by 10.

Our passing attack gets a huge boost from Freshman receiver and Wake wins by 7.

Wake 14
NIU 7
End 1st Quarter

The Wake running game is, as I predicted, too much for NIU. Also, the Wake passing is off, just like I predicted.

What stands out to me is the WF special teams. THEY'RE GOD AWFUL!

- Blocked PAT
- Punt returned for TD
- 20 yd. punt off side of foot
- Kickoff only made it to the 24 yd line

Fabian Davis ripped off a huge run for a TD.

The Deacs now lead 21-7 with 10:13 left in the half

And as we speak, NIU completes a 30yd TD. With the PAT, it will be 21-14 with 10:05 to go in the half

Wisnewsky(sp?), the Wake PK, just missed a chip shot FG. The score stays 21-14.

More horrible special teams play.....

5:40 left before the half.

Duke special teams > WF Special Teams

:04.4 before halftime, NIU is setting up for a 52yd field goal.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" />

He nailed it - officially a 51yd FG! At the half, it's...

Wake Forest - 21
Northern Illinois - 17

Wake misses a 30 yd. chip shot with the wind....
NIU drills one 51 yds INTO THE WIND....

Joe Novak - head coach at NIU. Hmm....

Anyone know if he is related to Maryland kicker Nick Novak?

Ovie Mughelli's 1yd run makes it 28-17

The special teams are bad...the defense ain't so hot either.

NIU just completed a long bomb for a touchdown to make it 28-24 midway thru the 3rd.

After a Wake TD made it 35-24, NIU's Thomas Hammock scored on 3rd & goal. They went for 2 and got it, making it 35-32.

Hold onto your hat, folks. NIU's getting it back with a chance to take the lead.

They gotta be going to Hammock on this drive -- that guy is a player!

Here is where we see what Wake's D is made of....

-JD

Big interception for Quintin Williams.

TDM: Isn't that your "son?"

-JD