2007 Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview

2007 Northwestern Wildcats season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Northwestern Wildcats football preview as well as the 2007 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule. Dont miss our football picks for college games against the spread and bookmark our college football point spread page offering up to the minute odds & lines.

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (2nd year at Northwestern)
Team Name: Wildcats
2006 Overall Record: 4-8
Returning Starters: 16

Last season, the Northwestern Wildcats (4- 8 overall, 2- 6 Big Ten) had a fairly sound defense, ranked 88th in the nation, but a lethargic offense, ranked 106th. In 2000, the club won the conference title, and they last appeared in a post-season contest when they were in the 2003 Motor City Bowl. Last season, after the death of Wildcats' coach Randy Walker, Pat Fitzgerald stepped up and stabilized the team. This will be his first full-year at the helm.

The offense is a traditional three-wide and one-back, but offensive coordinator Garrick McGee likes to change looks and confuse defenses. The Wildcats have found a good QB in junior C.J. Bacher (59% COMP, 1,172 YDs, 6 TDs, 8 INTs), who starts his first full-year at the position. The team possesses a good group of receivers, including the versatile RB Tyrell Sutton (40 REC, 261 YDs, 2 TDs), who returns as the leading rusher with 189 carries, 1,000 YDs and 5 TDs. Wide receivers include sophomore Andrew Brewer and juniors Eric Peterman and Ross Lane. Hopefully, the Wildcat offense, which was ranked 106th nationally, scoring an average of 16.5 PPG, can generate more points.

Eight starters return to an offense that allowed 26.2 PPG in 2007 and was rated 93rd versus the rush. There's more muscle upfront this season, with the front seven showing the most experience. In the secondary corner Sherrick McManis and safety Brendan Smith are one of the best one-two combos in the Big Ten.

The Wildcats are looking at four swing games-- away against Michigan State and Illinois and home versus Minnesota and Indiana. Winning one of these will probably result in an improvement and any more than one a major step for this club. A bowl game is doubtful but not out of the question for Northwestern.

Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Sep 1	Northeastern	Home
Sep 8	Nevada	Home
Sep 15	Duke	Home
Sep 22	Ohio State	Away
Sep 29	Michigan	Home
Oct 6	Michigan St	Away
Oct 13	Minnesota	Home
Oct 22	E. Michigan	Neutral
Oct 27	Purdue	Away
Nov 3	Iowa	Home
Nov 10	Indiana	Home
Nov 17	Illinois	Away

 

For more info on the 2007 Northwestern Wildcats football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.