2008 Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview

2008 Northwestern Wildcats season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Northwestern Wildcats football preview as well as the 2008 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule. Dont miss Maddux's free college football picks on the weekly college football odds from the #1 sports handicapping team.

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (3rd year at Northwestern)
Team Name: Wildcats
2007 Overall Record: 6-6
Returning Starters: 15

The Northwestern Wildcats (6-6 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) were outscored last season 25.8 PPG to 31.0 PPG. The team’s passing game, which was ranked 11th nationally, accumulated 307.9 YPG. But the ground attacked was rated 97th as the Wildcats ran for just 119.8 YPG. One thing that Northwestern needs in order to excel on the ground is a better and tougher O-line.

Senior QB C.J. Bacher (521 ATT, 318 COMP, 3,656 YDS, 19 TDs, 19 INT) can throw the ball, but he must keep it out of defenders’ hands. The receiving corps includes three returning starters—all seniors. Eric Peterman (66 REC, 774 YDS, 3 TDs) is back as the clubs leading catcher. There’s depth in the receiving unit and even more at running back. Senior Tyrell Sutton (108 CAR, 522 YDS, 4 TDs), who was injured last season, racked up 1,000-plus yard seasons as a freshman and sophomore. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a force. The frontline is reconstituted and will be the key to the offense’s success.

The D-line returns four starters, which can be good if they can finally create some penetration and pressure. Last season, the unit executed just 18 sacks. There are questions in the linebacking squad. But there is talent. Expect senior OLB Prince Kwateng to be an important contributor. There’s inexperience, new talent and some depth in the secondary. But who will be the big playmaker is still unknown. CB Sherrick McManis, a junior, is the team’s leading tackler, having made 75 in 2007. His solo tackles totaled 51.

The Wildcats’ schedule contains three straight swing games. The first two are at home against Michigan State (October 11) and Purdue (October 16). Northwestern then travels to Indiana on October 25 for their final tossup. Expect losses to Iowa, OSU, Michigan and Illinois.

Northwestern certainly has the opportunity to post a winning record. It would be their first since coach Pat Fitzgerald (10-14) took over two seasons ago. The defense returns seven and with new coordinator Mike Hankwitz on board the weak “D” could be improved enough to help this club do better than even.

Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Syracuse	Home
Sep 6	Duke	Away
Sep 13	Southern Illinois	Home
Sep 20	Ohio	Home
Sep 27	Iowa	Away
Oct 11	Michigan State	Home
Oct 18	Purdue	Home
Oct 25	Indiana	Away
Nov 1	Minnesota	Away
Nov 8	Ohio State	Home
Nov 15	Michigan	Away
Nov 22	Illinois	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 Northwestern Wildcats football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.