(08-23-2014 06:51 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: Overall 10-2, MAC 8-0
NIU 49 Presbyterian 10
Northwestern 31 NIU 27
NIU 35 UNLV 31
Arkansas 31 NIU 28
NIU 35 Kent St 21
NIU 41 CMU 21
NIU 42 Miami 10
NIU 47 EMU 21
NIU 37 Ball St 34
NIU 37 Toledo 31
NIU 37 Ohio 27
NIU 41 WMU 20
Wow. After losing two of the best players, a new QB -- that's an overly-hopeful-positive position. Not to say one should give NIU the benefit of the doubt with an in-program coach called up while NIU has maintained being one of the Top teams in the MAC & mid-majors for years in a row.
But IMO, one's going to see a dip. Now, they don't have a tough MAC schedule, I'll give him that. But to go undefeated, while squeaking by UNLV (who CMU should have beat last year @UNLV), and getting beat by BOTH NW & Arkansas in barn-burners?
I'd say this would be my pre-season expectations, game by game (not overall for record):
NIU 44 Presbyterian 13
NIU 24 @Northwestern 34
NIU 34 @UNLV 27
NIU 27 @Arkansas 30
NIU 35 Kent St 21
NIU 34 CMU 27
NIU 41 Miami 20
NIU 38 @EMU 24
NIU 31 @Ball St 28
NIU 24 Toledo 30
NIU 28 @Ohio 24
NIU 31 @WMU 20 (It's going to be COLD & snowy this fall/winter)
With that said, I'll also say that they'll very possibly blow a game against someone in conference (@BSU or @Ohio?) where they should win.
BEST: 10-2, 7-1
OPTIMISTIC EXPECTATION: 9-3, 7-1
REALISTIC EXPECTATION: 8-4, 6-2 or 9-3, 6-2
IMO...
6-6: 5% Chance
7-5: 15% Chance
8-4: 50% Chance
9-3: 20% Chance
10-2: 10% Chance