– Last Updated on July 25, 2018 10:36 am
2018 Football Preview – Big Ten – Wildcats
Looking for 2018 Northwestern Wildcats predictions? The Wildcats won ten games for the second time in three years and now the big question is if they are here to stay. They are moving into a respected team, and now the next step forward is to figure out how to get into the conference championship contender. They play in the weaker division, but they still have the Badgers to deal with and if they want to win the divison they need to find a way past them.
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2018-18 College Football Preview – Northwestern Wildcats
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald
2017 Record: 10-3
Northwestern Wildcats Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +18000
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Can they make another step forward this year and be a contendor?
2018 Northwestern Wildcats Predictions: Team Strengths
Clayton Thorson is back: Clayton Thorson has a lot of question marks surronding him, but it’s still better than not that the Northwestern Wildcats have him back.
He announced he was coming back last season, and then blew out his knee the next game and now the questions are will he be healthy.
He has a good arm and although he is still rough around the edges at some points last season as the season went on and his confidence grew he was budding into a star.
After Thorson there isn’t much depth, so he is going to need to be healthy. Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson just transferred to the Wildcats but he won’t be eligible until next year.
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Look for the Wildcats to really test Thorson this year and ask him to do a lot more.
Finally being respected: People around the college football world are finally starting to respect the Wildcats and that is a good sign for the Wildcats.
That helps give the teams confidence, and also will help with the rankings. This isn’t just a team that is a bottom dweller of the Big Ten anymore.
2018 Northwestern Wildcats Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Depth Anyone?: The biggest problem this Wildcats team is going to have all year is the depth across most positions.
Most places including quarterback there is no depth, and that is really going to hurt them if any injuries occur. This is a very talented roster but if injuries occur that is going to really wreak some havoc on their chances at winning that Big Ten title.
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Young defense: Not only is there not much depth, the defense is also becoming a lot younger with five starters gone from last years team.
They are going to need to grow up fast, because a lot is expected of them this year.
Northwestern Wildcats Prediction: 8-4
The lack of depth for the Northwestern Wildcats is really going to cause some issues for the team this year, and it’s going to make them take a step back.
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I think they will still finish with eight wins, but I don’t think they will be competing for that Big Ten Title this year.
2018 Northwestern Wildcats Schedule
Sept. 1: at Purdue
Sept. 8: vs. Duke
Sept. 15: vs. Akron
Sept. 29: vs. Michigan
Oct. 6: at Michigan State
Oct. 13: vs. Nebraska
Oct. 20: at Rutgers
Oct. 27: vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 3: vs. Notre Dame
Nov. 10: at Iowa
Nov. 17: at Minnesota
Nov. 24. vs. Illinois
What do you think about our 2018 Northwestern Wildcats predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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