We're selling Northwestern this year off a "fake" 10-3 season a year ago as they were the first team in NCAA history to win 3 straight OT games in consecutive weeks. Believe it or not, Northwestern comes in with the nation's longest win streak at 8 games.
While the Wildcats return 14 starters, they do lose their all-time leading rusher in Justin Jackson, whose 5,440 career yards is in the Top 10 all-time in NCAA history! Also noteworthy is the fact the Wildcats' 3-year starting QB Clayton Thorson might have to sit this game out after tearing his ACL in last year's bowl game which gives us a lot of value in the early line.