Some thought Northwestern could win the Big Ten West division this year before 2019 began. After all, the Wildcats did win the division by three games a season ago.

However, Northwestern has been nowhere close to the top of the division this season. In fact, as we enter Week 12, the Wildcats are on the bottom at 0-7. They are currently looking up at 2-4 Nebraska.

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What’s next for Northwestern is a non-conference game, though. It’s a game the Wildcats should win. It’s actually a game they should win by a large amount.

Here’s Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on being favored by a big number over UMass:

UMass isn’t good. Northwestern should win. But judge the Wildcats by their 1-8 overall record. As Fitzgerald said, he just wants to win by one. Northwestern’s only won one game this season.

If there’s a message for the Wildcats, it’s that they just need to win.

Fitzgerald was also asked on Monday about if his team could be overlooking UMass:

Yeah, that’s not happening this year. Again, 1-8.

Northwestern has the chance to improve to 2-8 when it takes on UMass at noon ET on Saturday at Northwestern’s Ryan Field. The game will be televised on BTN.