Northwestern Football Preview – Illinois State Redbirds vs. Northwestern Wildcats
PREDICTION:
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 29 - ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS 19
This is a bittersweet week for Northwestern football. Sherman Ave correctly predicted that Western Michigan would defeat our beloved Wildcats, however, the Wildcats were able to successfully hold them to a mere point lead. What’s more, NU alum Trevor Siemian won his first NFL matchup. Siemian’s win combined with WMU’s win for a fantastic week for Broncos fans of all kinds.
Now, we believe it is time to push the panic button on Northwestern football. An NU loss to Illinois State could be an indicator of a season doomed to be winless. It’s comforting that ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Northwestern an 87.3% chance at winning, but, as we all know, ESPN is a publication biased in favor of elite schools. Additionally, most ISU players are rejects of Northwestern’s football team, which is a sad, sad reality in which to exist.
Sherman Ave is giving the Wildcats the edge in this game. Here’s hoping to at least a 1-11 season.
KEY MATCHUPS:
NU Fans v. Apathy
A lot of upperclassmen are returning this weekend and a lot of them will be at the game. Many are grappling with the idea that they’ve wasted their college years watching a pedestrian-at-best football team. Will they overcome? Odds are no.
Justin Jackson (NU) v. The Announcer That Always Calls Him “The Ball Carrier”
It has been two full years since Justin Jackson has heard his name without the title “The Ball Carrier” attached to the end of it. Is he doomed to live with that designation for the rest of his days, constantly forced to live up to his name and forever wrestle with his identity? Jackson will no doubt have some hurdles to jump in order to put his past behind him.
Also, if you so happen to apply to Sherman Ave in the coming weeks, do not refer to Justin Jackson in your application as “The Ball Carrier”. That is not a joke. He is your classmate and he has a name. It’s annoying and we’re sick of it.
