2013 Record: 5-7

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.5

2014 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

Odds courtesy of 5Dimes.

There is a lot going on under the surface with this Northwestern team. They are in the middle of a monumental challenge of the NCAA system and will face increased scrutiny and all kinds of off-field distraction this season. But if they can shrug that off then this Wildcats team has the potential to do some damage in the Big Ten this year.

The Wildcats faltered to a 5-7 season last year after winning 10 games in 2012. This year they have 17 returning starters, including explosive runner Venric Mark but excluding starter Trevor Siemian. Siemian has plenty of experience but this will be his first year as The Guy. The defense has eight starters back, but needs to improve considerably against the pass (No. 99 last year).

An improved Cal team in the opener will test Northwestern. But if they can win that then they should be 3-0 heading into Big Ten play. I see six wins on the slate overall. And the key to the Wildcats season will be whether or not they can steal home games against Wisconsin, Nebraska and/or Michigan. The amount of wins they can garner from that group will determine if they can beat their Vegas mark.

Pat Fitzgerald is an outstanding coach. And this team has a chance to be very talented. But they have only won more than seven games once in the last four years. If they can be strong at home then this team has a shot at nine wins. I don't think they'll be that good. But I'll take a stab with the 'over' in this one and hope for a 5-1 start from the Wildcats.

2014 Northwestern Wildcats Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Sat, Aug 30th, 2014 California TBA Ryan Field

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 Northern Ill TBA Ryan Field

Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 Western Ill TBA Ryan Field

Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 at Penn State 12:00 PM Beaver Stadium

Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 Wisconsin TBA Ryan Field

Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 at Minnesota TBA TCF Bank Stadium

Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 Nebraska 07:30 PM Ryan Field

Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 at Iowa TBA Kinnick Stadium

Sat, Nov 8th, 2014 Michigan TBA Ryan Field

Sat, Nov 15th, 2014 at Notre Dame 03:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 at Purdue TBA Ross-Ade Stadium

Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 Illinois TBA Ryan Field

All Times EST

Robert Ferringo was the top football handicapper in the country last year, earning nearly $8,000 in total football profit in 2013-14 and posting one of the best seasons in America. He hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58) and was amazing down the stretch, closing with 11 of 14 winning NFL weeks and 12 of 15 overall winning football weeks. Robert has posted 3 of 4 winning football seasons, 6 of 7 winning NFL seasons, 30 of 44 winning football months, and 6 of 7 winning NFL preseasons. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System posted another winning season (now 2-for-2) and is 83-58 over the last two years (58.9 percent).

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