2014 Record: 5-7

2015 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 6.5

2015 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

This is a crucial season for Pat Fitzgerald in Evanston. Northwestern posted six straight regular seasons at .500 or better from 2007-2012, capped with a 10-win campaign in 2012. But they've had back-to-back losing seasons and are struggling to keep up in a rapidly-changing league.

Northwestern has a lot of guys back from last year's underachieving group. The Wildcats lost three games by a touchdown or less and were embarrassed by putrid Illinois in the season finale. But Northwestern also showed how good they could've been with shocking wins over Wisconsin and Notre Dame and a blowout of Penn State.

So which Northwestern team should we expect to see in 2015? They host Top-20 team Stanford in the opening game, and that could set the tone. Three of their next four games are at home, and they have a winnable road game at Duke. I don't see the Wildcats pulling an upset at Michigan, Nebraska or Wisconsin. However, other than the Stanford game I also don't really see a game that I definitely see them losing.

The best part about this play is that the books have thrown up a weak number. Even if Northwestern loses those four tough games they could still give another one away - Minnesota or Penn State come to mind - and they would clear the bar.

The big question is at quarterback. But if Fitzgerald can find an answer there then I see Northwestern cobbling together seven wins and a trip back to a mid-tier bowl. Play 'over'.

2015 Northwestern Wildcats Schedule

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past two years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with back-to-back winning seasons. Robert has tallied over $20,000 in football profit the last four years and in 2013 he hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58). Robert has produced an incredible 12 of 16 winning football months. Going back further he has churned out 35 of 51 winning football months, four of five winning overall seasons, seven of eight winning preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 600 football picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 101-71 over the last two years (58.7 percent).

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