To circle back to the original post/article... The national guys don't seem to be sold on what NU is doing right now. Sure, there's recruiting hype, but NU still needs to win games. I've been surprised at how many of the guys I read/listen to were so lukewarm on the Diaco hire. Maybe that trepidation on behalf of the media is what lead to the initial Vegas predictions of 6-7 wins. And make no mistake, a 6 or 7 win season is a massive failure.
I think the lack of buy in by most of the national guys, is two fold.
1. The way the team finished last season. NU finsished on a downward turn. The only games anyone remembers are the last couple. They remember NU losing to Iowa. The fact that TA was about 50% for the game really doesn't enter the picture. They got beat badly by a Tenn team and didn't look good letting it happen. Contrast that with a win the year before against a solid UCLA team that no one gave them a chance at winning. Those are the games they remember.
2. There is a lot of unknown about this team. It is easy to pick them to lose when they don't know much about the skill players and having a new DC. I didn't see a lot of predictions over 7 wins for Penn St last year either. Now they are a legit playoff contender in lots of experts minds.