The ‘Cats will take the field at Rutgers tomorrow afternoon with not much to gain, but a whole lot to lose. The Scarlet Knights come into the game riding a six-game losing streak while Northwestern appears to be hitting their stride mid-season, but it’s never that simple with this team. Here are the reasons why Northwestern will/won’t beat Rutgers.

Why Northwestern will beat Rutgers

1. Clayton Thorson’s confidence is at an all-time high

Coming off a career performance against Nebraska last weekend, the Northwestern quarterback seems to be finding his groove at a crucial time in NU’s season.