http://boxscorenews.com/northern-illinoi...781-68.htm

South Carolina lost at home so Stanford moves into 2nd place.
I hope we can keep the away streak going for at least 2 more weeks.

My predictions for rest of non-conf

Northwestern 37
NIU 27

NIU 44
UNLV 28

Arkansas 48
NIU 21

All in all you said going home 2-2, most of us would take that. Would be awesome to squeak out an NU win, but not counting on it.

MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

Its not high praise for NU, by no means. There are just some extenuating circumstances which favor NU this week, they have an experienced QB, NIU's has some youth on D that just needs more reps to fully get settled. If these two teams played 8 weeks later, I would definitely change my prediction. I think turnovers will decide the game vs NU this week. Yeah UNLV, I know its bad to judge teams on one game, but UNLV does not have the physical horsepower to keep pace with NIU's offense, I would be surprised if UNLV won that game. And as for Arkansas, I think we all were a bit surprised seeing the first half of the Auburn game. I felt like I was watching the Badger team in SF vs NIU.

(08-31-2014 02:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

Its not high praise for NU, by no means. There are just some extenuating circumstances which favor NU this week, they have an experienced QB, NIU's has some youth on D that just needs more reps to fully get settled. If these two teams played 8 weeks later, I would definitely change my prediction. I think turnovers will decide the game vs NU this week. Yeah UNLV, I know its bad to judge teams on one game, but UNLV does not have the physical horsepower to keep pace with NIU's offense, I would be surprised if UNLV won that game. And as for Arkansas, I think we all were a bit surprised seeing the first half of the Auburn game. I felt like I was watching the Badger team in SF vs NIU.

Turnovers are a key in every game. I think the running game will decide it. I don't trust NIU if they get behind with the inexperienced QB shuffle going on. If NIU can control the ball running it and keep it close or stay ahead it should be a good one.

(08-31-2014 02:31 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

Its not high praise for NU, by no means. There are just some extenuating circumstances which favor NU this week, they have an experienced QB, NIU's has some youth on D that just needs more reps to fully get settled. If these two teams played 8 weeks later, I would definitely change my prediction. I think turnovers will decide the game vs NU this week. Yeah UNLV, I know its bad to judge teams on one game, but UNLV does not have the physical horsepower to keep pace with NIU's offense, I would be surprised if UNLV won that game. And as for Arkansas, I think we all were a bit surprised seeing the first half of the Auburn game. I felt like I was watching the Badger team in SF vs NIU.

Turnovers are a key in every game. I think the running game will decide it. I don't trust NIU if they get behind with the inexperienced QB shuffle going on. If NIU can control the ball running it and keep it close or stay ahead it should be a good one.

True turnovers are key in every game, I guess what I meant is that I don't like our chances to win the turnover battle.

(08-31-2014 02:32 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:31 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

Its not high praise for NU, by no means. There are just some extenuating circumstances which favor NU this week, they have an experienced QB, NIU's has some youth on D that just needs more reps to fully get settled. If these two teams played 8 weeks later, I would definitely change my prediction. I think turnovers will decide the game vs NU this week. Yeah UNLV, I know its bad to judge teams on one game, but UNLV does not have the physical horsepower to keep pace with NIU's offense, I would be surprised if UNLV won that game. And as for Arkansas, I think we all were a bit surprised seeing the first half of the Auburn game. I felt like I was watching the Badger team in SF vs NIU.

Turnovers are a key in every game. I think the running game will decide it. I don't trust NIU if they get behind with the inexperienced QB shuffle going on. If NIU can control the ball running it and keep it close or stay ahead it should be a good one.

True turnovers are key in every game, I guess what I meant is that I don't like our chances to win the turnover battle.

Just wondering why you think that....I think if NIU is forced to throw the ball a lot, I see the inexperienced QB's making mistakes perhaps. But other than that, I'm not sure why you'd expect NIU to turn it over more than Northwestern.

(08-31-2014 02:33 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:32 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:31 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  MD, I like how you always say how there isn't that much difference between the B1G and MAC, but now you don't even give the best MAC team credit against a bottom dwelling B1G team. I get not predicting a win, but losing by 10 against NU? At least you're finally predicting a win against UNLV.

Its not high praise for NU, by no means. There are just some extenuating circumstances which favor NU this week, they have an experienced QB, NIU's has some youth on D that just needs more reps to fully get settled. If these two teams played 8 weeks later, I would definitely change my prediction. I think turnovers will decide the game vs NU this week. Yeah UNLV, I know its bad to judge teams on one game, but UNLV does not have the physical horsepower to keep pace with NIU's offense, I would be surprised if UNLV won that game. And as for Arkansas, I think we all were a bit surprised seeing the first half of the Auburn game. I felt like I was watching the Badger team in SF vs NIU.

Turnovers are a key in every game. I think the running game will decide it. I don't trust NIU if they get behind with the inexperienced QB shuffle going on. If NIU can control the ball running it and keep it close or stay ahead it should be a good one.

True turnovers are key in every game, I guess what I meant is that I don't like our chances to win the turnover battle.

Just wondering why you think that....I think if NIU is forced to throw the ball a lot, I see the inexperienced QB's making mistakes perhaps. But other than that, I'm not sure why you'd expect NIU to turn it over more than Northwestern.

Just because of the QB uncertainty and lack of getting full amount of reps this summer. I think our QBs are going to make some mistakes Saturday.

MD, you realize they all got the same amount of reps they usually would, it was just not all with the first team, right?

They didn't run less plays in practice because there was a QB competition.

I have a feeling we are going to see niu play the same way cal did on certain plays with brining in another running QB (maddie) while Mac takes a breather.. They were talking about it on the radio how NU had no way of prepping for it and worked out really well for cal. I think it will really help our game as well.

MD, you are just a glass half empty kind of guy when it comes to the Huskies.

NIU is going to be able to score on NW. Their D looked slow, safety's got busted by speedy slots a lot. I also think the screen game will carve them.

I expect NW to look better offensively, than yesterday, but they lack big play potential. They're going to have to sustain drives on almost every drive. NIU will be able to bust some big plays, so I don't think sustaining drives is as important for them.

If they force two turnovers, niu could win by 10.

(08-31-2014 03:08 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I have a feeling we are going to see niu play the same way cal did on certain plays with brining in another running QB (maddie) while Mac takes a breather.. They were talking about it on the radio how NU had no way of prepping for it and worked out really well for cal. I think it will really help our game as well.

Totally agree. This 3 QB situation actually plays well into NIUs favor at the moment. With NW looking so unprepared for different types of gameplans, NIU should be able to run wild with their short screen game and read option.

I don't see anything wrong with MD's predictions in this case...seem extremely reasonable at this point. Not sure this is the time to jump on him.

I don't think his predictions are that off base. He's on point about unlv, they just don't have the horses to score like NIU.

NW by 10 is a stretch, but given they're 0-1, I don't like facing a team with so much to lose.

Arkansas, that will obviously be extremely difficult. The size differential for our D is going to be too much. NIU should score 24 on them though, I think NIU has enough on offense to at least keep it interesting. He's only off base by saying it's like Wisconsin at soldier field. That was a top 5 team. Arkansas has that size, but they don't have Russell Wilson or a stout D.

(08-31-2014 03:20 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  I don't see anything wrong with MD's predictions in this case...seem extremely reasonable at this point. Not sure this is the time to jump on him.

My issue is that MD will tell you that the B1G and MAC don't have that much of a talent gap. So when a top tier MAC team takes on a bottom tier B1G team and MD predicts a 10 point loss for the MAC team, I have to call him out on it.

(08-31-2014 04:12 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 03:20 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  I don't see anything wrong with MD's predictions in this case...seem extremely reasonable at this point. Not sure this is the time to jump on him.

My issue is that MD will tell you that the B1G and MAC don't have that much of a talent gap. So when a top tier MAC team takes on a bottom tier B1G team and MD predicts a 10 point loss for the MAC team, I have to call him out on it.

I guess it depends on what you consider bottom tier...purdue/indiana/maryland, I would consider that the bottom tier.

(08-31-2014 04:12 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(08-31-2014 03:20 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  I don't see anything wrong with MD's predictions in this case...seem extremely reasonable at this point. Not sure this is the time to jump on him.

My issue is that MD will tell you that the B1G and MAC don't have that much of a talent gap. So when a top tier MAC team takes on a bottom tier B1G team and MD predicts a 10 point loss for the MAC team, I have to call him out on it.

Yes, Northwestern is a middle tier Big 10 team, but outside of OSU, the gap between a middle tier Big 10 team is not much different from top tier and bottom tier. I just have always been a believer its better to look at teams based on their own merits and talent than what conference they belong to. When trying to predict games, I put more stock into the makeup of the individual teams at that time and whether the game is home or away than whether NIU is a MAC team and NW is a Big 10 team.

I expect a big game from DaRon Brown.