Northwestern football season predictions

The season is two days away, and after an offseason of unionizing, transfers, injuries and some promise, it's time for our staff to make our Northwestern season predictions. We're a bit more bullish on the Wildcats than you might expect, though we do have our reasons — particularly that the defense should be much-improved, the offense will better fit the personnel and the losses came in areas of great depth. And then there's Nate, who is always the most grounded of our pickers.

Anyway, without further ado, here's how each of our writers think this season will end for the Wildcats. Feel free to give us your thoughts in the comments, as well as your own predictions.

Kevin Trahan (@k_trahan)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: T-3
Most Important Game: Penn State
Bowl Game: Pinstripe

Chris Johnson (@ChrisDJohnsonn)

Overall Record: 6-6
Big Ten Record: 3-5
Place in the B1G West: 4
Most Important Game: Michigan
Bowl Game: Quick Lane

Josh Rosenblat (@JMRosenblat)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: 3
Most Important Game: Nebraska
Bowl Game: San Francisco

Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: T-2
Most Important Game: Wisconsin
Bowl Game: San Francisco

Kevin Dukovic (@kdukovic)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: 3
Most Important Game: Michigan
Bowl Game: San Francisco

Jason Dorow (@jasondorow)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: 3
Most Important Game: Nebraska
Bowl Game: San Francisco

Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport)

Overall Record: 7-5
Big Ten Record: 4-4
Place in the B1G West: 3
Most Important Game: Nebraska
Bowl Game: Pinstripe

Callie Counsellor (@CCounsellor)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: 3
Most Important Game: Iowa
Bowl Game: Pinstripe

Nate Williams (@BigEasyCat44)

Overall Record: 10-2
Big Ten Record: 6-2
Place in the B1G West: T-1 (NU wins 3-way tiebreaker)
Most Important Game: Iowa
Bowl Game: Capital One

Jon Davis (@NUHighlights)

Overall Record: 8-4
Big Ten Record: 5-3
Place in the B1G West: T-2
Most Important Game: Iowa
Bowl Game: San Francisco