Here’s how we see the 1988 Huskie football season.

Akron, Sept. 3 (Home)—The Zips upset NIU 27-21 in 1987. Coach Gerry Faust has a huge offensive line, but Huskies don’t figure to lose two straight at home to Zips. Pick_ NIU by 6

Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 10 (Home)—The Division I-AA Blue Raiders have a balanced attack, but NIU will have already seen the Multiple I offensive set. Pick_ NIU by 17

Wisconsin, Sept. 17 (Away)—Marvin Artley is the Big Ten’s second-leading returning rusher, but the 1987 Badgers gave up almost 400 yards per game. This could be the Huskies’ first-ever win over a Big Ten school. Pick_ NIU by 1

Minnesota, Sept. 24 (Away)—Trouble in the dome. The Sporting News has touted junior Gopher running back Darrell Thompson as a possible No. 1 NFL draft choice in 1990. A top Heisman candidate this year, Thompson has 4.4 speed and gets faster all the time (4.65 his freshman year). The Gophers might be bowl bound. Pick_ Minnesota by 17

Southwest Missouri State, Oct. 1 (Home)—The Bears come to DeKalb to face a Huskie team recovering from back-to-back games with Big Ten competition. Division I-AA Bears finished third in the Gateway Conference last year and should be about the same in 1988. Pick_ NIU by 13

Toledo, Oct. 8 (Away)—Don’t expect the Rockets to go through another dismal 3-7-1 season. Still, they haven’t proven they can throw the ball, and they’ll need to against a 4-4 set. Pick_ NIU by 7

Southwestern Louisiana, Oct. 15 (Away)—Ragin‘ Cajuns (no, really) won all six home games last year. Remember the run-and-shoot offense that Lamar buried the NIU defense with last year? Cajuns use it too. Huskies’ 4-4 defense will have to adjust on the flight down. Pick_ SWLU by 10

Southern Illinois, Oct. 22 (Away)—The key here—whose defense does a better job of stopping the other’s wishbone offense. Or is that the other way around? Either way, there aren’t a whole lot of positives for an SIU team picked last in the Gateway (even behind ISU). Pick_ NIU by 24

Ball State, Oct. 29 (Home)—The Cardinals must have spies in Huskie coaching staff. NIU has beaten Cards only once in last 14 years. Ball State should be better than 4-7 mark of a year ago. NIU Homecoming. Pick_ NIU by 3

Western Illinois, Nov.5 (Home)—Even though the Huskies posted an easy 29-14 win here last year, the Leathernecks were able to move the ball. A Sporting News pre-season Top 20 pick in Division I-AA, WIU has QB Paul Singer back (2,508 yards passing in 1987). Pick_ WIU by 3

Western Michigan, Nov. 12 (Home)—Although pass-happy WMU returns two QB’s who threw for over 1300 yards in 1987, one-back offense is predictable and should be easier to stop. Pick_ NIU by 9.

Record: 8-3…. Bowl game? Stay tuned.