Thursday, October 26, 2006

Mmmmmmm, Northwestern

Those wildcats are a tasty cupcake lined up for Michigan this week. Gotta wonder, though, exactly which Northwestern team will show up. Will it be the team that thundered out to a 38-3 lead on Michigan State? Or will it be the group that staggered and fell allowing Michigan State to score 38 unanswered points in the 2nd half? Or will it be some combination thereof?

What is certain is that Northwestern sucks this year. They got a nice 21-3 win at Miami (OH) to start the season on the emotion of Randy Walker's death and a return to his former school. Since then? Just 1-6 with some bad losses. Their only win since the first week was a nailbiter over Eastern Michigan. Their offense sucks (94th in total offense, 103rd in scoring offense). Their defense sucks (93rd in total defense, 90th in scoring defense).

It seems like the only drama surrounding this game is off the field. When will Mario Manningham be back? What's going on with Adrian Arrington? How crazy are the cops in Columbus as it relates to Prescott Burgess? How much longer until the Ohio State game?

Is there any doubt about the outcome of this week's game? Not really. I wish I could get fired up about it, but I can't. Northwestern's offense is in for a world of hurt and their defense is just overmatched.

Predictions?

Impossible to say. Carr will definitely call off the dogs early, but will it even matter? The only way Northwestern keeps it close is if they stack the line and tackle well because Michigan is going heavy on the ground this game. Kevin Grady, Brandon Minor, and Jerome Jackson will get a workout as they seek to avoid overworking Mike Hart again. I'll say Michigan 38, Northwestern 10.

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