um this is a big game that probably nobody thinks is but I think it it really will determine the trajectory for the Northwestern Wildcats and it is them hosting Miami Ohio 330 kick on the Big 10 Network Miami of Ohio one of the early favorites to win the Mac northwestern's a three-point favorite so really just for home field and of course they are on the lake they are uh in their I think 7500 person makeshift Stadium uh where they will take over that place and tickets are extremely expensive for that for these games um what's your take on this game Northwestern you know was an interesting team last year Where We manhandled Them ruers Week one and then everybody had these low expectations for them and they came back and they really had a decent season to say the least it was kind of cool to see um a Mac team I think there's only been like one year in the last decade or some there's some crazy stat out there where like a Mac team upsets a big 10 team or upsets a power you know one of the top two conferen or something like every year and when you're a favorite in the mac and you're going up against a team like Northwestern you know they hit their stride last year um I don't know how much continuity Northwestern has from last year to this year and I don't know if you know if you have like the details on that yeah I let me uh they're they return a lot on defense that's like their big um this is going to be a good game I mean oh yeah look a Mac favorite you know against a team like Northwestern um they return a lot on defense I think that might give them the edge I mean they they they they look better as the season went on last year um I think it's almost like a tossup type of game which the spread would indicate um and I'm not sure I could get a great read on it one way or the other other than if I if I say that you know I think this is maybe a good chance for the mack to come out with a victory over a a big 10 team um it's as good a chance is any I think and it's not to take anything away from Northwestern it's just that you have continuity on defense um you have some areas where you're struggle uh and and this is a Mac you know a favorite who's coming in looking to set the tone for their season that doesn't mean I'm predicting a win for them but I think it's probably the best chances we'll see for that kind of upset um yeah I think Northwestern squeaks it out yeah that's that's my feel like a a like a 217 or a 2013 type of game something like that you know to your point about continuity the quarterback is uh is Gabbert it's I think it's bla Gabbert's brother um and he's been he's been good for them um don't have any returning running backs that well like starting running backs they're they're a lot of they're guys from a couple past couple years I think their backups and they're they're decent they're not I don't think they're anything special they br they bring a veteran offensive line so I think the real the real key to the game is can northwestern's defense make enough plays and keep Miami from from really moving right um I you know the the Westlock Pirates podcast they uh they were saying that traditionally Northwestern has really struggled in September at least under Pat Fitzgerald yeah but that that they think that with David Brun and Zack Luhan who's their new offensive coordinator they're really focusing on starting strong and I I do think they will um I I think their quarterback is probably going to be be Mike Wright he's a runner like's dual threat so I think they'll they'll really focus on running the ball which with their offensive line I think they can they can do one one key thing their defensive line uh all were starters if if they weren't starters at Northwestern they were starters elsewhere jayen P was at Wyoming uh RJ Pearson was at BCU um Carmine Bastone uh was there a year ago Richie Hagerty at m at Miami of Ohio um and Si so like they they have a lot of starting experience maybe not at nor together yeah but and then Xander Mueller is like the rock of that defense uh at linebacker and I I think that defense is underrated and I think that they're going to give the Red Hawks a bit more uh than they can handle and I I think it's a low-scoring game I think Northwestern pulls it out yeah I agree with you there