Previously: Northwestern Offense
Given that Northwestern's offense has always been a weak spot under Pat Fitzgerald, it's the typically stingy defenses that have transported the Wildcats to being respectable. Last season was no different, as Northwestern posted a defense that ranked 3rd in SP+ and allowed just 15.9 points per game, helping to get the Wildcats to their second B1G championship game in three seasons. The offseason saw heavy turnover on that side of the ball, not the least of which came at the top, where the brain behind the great Fitzgerald defenses, Mike Hankwitz, called it quits and retired at the age of 73. The transition to a new DC has been bumpy, and the losses of top tacklers Blake Gallagher and Paddy Finisher, in addition to first round draft pick corner Greg Newsome II, have taken their toll. The result is a defense that has struggled mightily against higher-end competition, giving up 38 to Michigan State and 56 to Nebraska. So, today's FFFF wil
Essentials
WHAT
Michigan vs Northwestern
WHERE
Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI
WHEN
Noon Eastern
THE LINE
Michigan –23.5
TELEVISION
FOX (Johnson/Klatt)
TICKETS
exist
WEATHER
partly cloudy, low 50s ~0% chance of rain ~8 mph wind
Overview
Ah, Northwestern. They have many assets. Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The best sports blog in the world. A soccer stadium right next to Lake Michigan that exposes teams to levels of wind capable of elevating sport to comedy. And a football program that defines "scrappy": there was that one year they won the Big Ten West by winning approximately 200 overtime games that ended 10-7.
Unfortunately for this year's Wildcats, what they don't have is any run defense. Departures shattered what had been an excellent unit. There's no Paddy Fisher, no Gaz, hell they just lost a first round cornerback(!!!) for the first time in program history. Pat Fitzgerald has not had much occasion to Price is Right it this year
Essentials
WHAT
Michigan vs Northwestern
WHERE
Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI
WHEN
Noon Eastern
THE LINE
Michigan –23.5
TELEVISION
FOX (Johnson/Klatt)
TICKETS
exist
WEATHER
partly cloudy, low 50s ~0% chance of rain ~8 mph wind
Overview
Ah, Northwestern. They have many assets. Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The best sports blog in the world. A soccer stadium right next to Lake Michigan that exposes teams to levels of wind capable of elevating sport to comedy. And a football program that defines "scrappy": there was that one year they won the Big Ten West by winning approximately 200 overtime games that ended 10-7.
Unfortunately for this year's Wildcats, what they don't have is any run defense. Departures shattered what had been an excellent unit. There's no Paddy Fisher, no Gaz, hell they just lost a first round cornerback(!!!) for the first time in program history. Pat Fitzgerald has not had much occasion to Price is Right it this year
Previously: Northwestern Offense
Given that Northwestern's offense has always been a weak spot under Pat Fitzgerald, it's the typically stingy defenses that have transported the Wildcats to being respectable. Last season was no different, as Northwestern posted a defense that ranked 3rd in SP+ and allowed just 15.9 points per game, helping to get the Wildcats to their second B1G championship game in three seasons. The offseason saw heavy turnover on that side of the ball, not the least of which came at the top, where the brain behind the great Fitzgerald defenses, Mike Hankwitz, called it quits and retired at the age of 73. The transition to a new DC has been bumpy, and the losses of top tacklers Blake Gallagher and Paddy Finisher, in addition to first round draft pick corner Greg Newsome II, have taken their toll. The result is a defense that has struggled mightily against higher-end competition, giving up 38 to Michigan State and 56 to Nebraska. So, today's FFFF wil