2014
Nebraska Football Preview
In
Part 4 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series. I’m going to talk a little
about the Nebraska Cornhuskers, our opponent on Sept 20th at Memorial
Stadium in Lincoln, NE at 8 p.m. on either ABC or ESPN.
Lets
first look at their Talent:
When you see the Cornhuskers, you know what you’re
getting here, and that’s a physical running game. This year is no different.
They get Ameer Abdullah back and this guy is the real deal. However, it’s not
just Abdullah, they also have Imani Cross and Terrell Newby back as well and
both playmakers to boot. At QB, Taylor Martinez is gone, but have a decent
replacement in Tommy Armstrong Jr. Now, he might not be the playmaker Martinez
was, but he’s serviceable. Another
Husker tradition is massive O-Lines, and with Colorado transfer Alex Lewis
filling in a missing piece, their Line will be a force to be dealt with again
in 2014, as they should be over 3,000 yards rushing, maybe 3,500. It’s better
than 2,804 yards from last year.
Defensively,
we know about the Blackshirts. They’re solid on the D-Line and have an
All-American DE in Randy Gregory. This is not the feared Husker D of old, but
still be one to deal with, if they can get some questions answered there,
especially in the secondary, which has been devastated by injuries/suspensions
to key personnel. They lost their top DB in Charles
Jackson as well as Sophomore LB Michael Rose to knee injuries. They also lost RS
Freshman Adam Taylor, to a broken ankle, and Sophomore S LeRoy Alexander, to suspension without explanation. Their back seven is going to have to come huge very quickly, especially
the secondary, which must step up fast. They
have talented vets back in Zaire Anderson, Michael Rose and David Santos, and
now they have to make a bigger impact, especially with the injuries. They have Corey
Cooper back, who can tackle with the best of them at safety, but it's going to
take a little time to reload without Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Ciante Evans.
Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:
It seems that every year, Bo Pelini is on the hot seat in Lincoln, and yet, each year, he finds a way to get the most out of his personnel. His winning percentage is .707 (58-24). He’s entering his 7th year as Huskers boss, and in three of those years, he’s won 10 games. All this guy does is win. Some expect a Big 10 title at some point. This guy is a very solid coach.
Now, to their 2014 Schedule:
Off a 9-4 record in 2013, which included a bowl win over Georgia in the Gator Bowl, 2014 will have another brutal schedule for the Huskers, especially when they get to Big 10 play, so let’s break it down.In their opener, they host FAU, in which it was supposed to be the Pelini bowl (Bo vs. Carl, before the latter was canned in Boca Raton). They have a new coach in Charlie Partridge and its going to be a while before they’re any good. It’s the home opener for the Huskers, and this is a game they should handle their business vs. the Owls
In Week 2, another tune-up game for the Huskers as McNeese comes calling in Lincoln. This is a team that embarrassed Buffalo last year in season opener in Buffalo’s house. With a trip to Fresno the next week, and after what McNeese did to Buffalo, Pelini will have the Huskers focused on this game, vs. a rebuilding Cowboys team. And the Huskers cruise in this one.
In week 3, the Huskers head west to Fresno to take on the Bulldogs. Even though they lost Derek Carr to graduation, this is still a very dangerous and loaded Fresno team. They added Brandon Connette from Duke (eligible this year). Their WR core took a hit with graduations of two 1,000 yard WRs from 2013 in Davante Adams and Isaiah Burst. They do get back Josh Harper and Greg Watson at WR. Their running game will be one to deal with in this game. Josh Quezada is a 1st team all Mountain West Player. Their O-Line is very good, though they did lose to graduation in Austin Wentworth, who was a 1st team all MWC player.
As for their defense, where they have the most experience is at LB. However on the DL, they only have back Tyeler Davison and he’s one of the Top 5 D-Linemen on Kiper’s 2015 Big Board. Their secondary is suspect.
As for this game, it’s a late night game (9:30 CT), and you feel that with Miami at home the next week, this has all the makings of a trap game on the road. In the end, the Huskers make enough plays to win late. Huskers the nod here.
In week 4, they’re back in Lincoln and we (CANES) come in for a Prime Time game. For Miami, it’s the biggest road game in the career of Al Golden. The two teams have not played in Lincoln since 1976. The CANES are 0-5 in Lincoln all-time. Our O-Line will be the best they face until deep into Big 10 play. I expect this to be a very tough game and can go either way. You have to think that in Prime Time with the brightest lights on and on the biggest stage, I think we’ll find a way to leave Lincoln a winner.
In week 5, they open B1G play when the Fighting Illini comes to Lincoln. They finished 4-8 last year, which is an improvement from 2-10 the year before. On Defense, they lost LB Mike Svetina to a foot injury. Uh oh. While on O, they added Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lund to be the QB there, it’ll be another long season in Champaign. As for this game, the Huskers coming off a likely tough loss vs. Miami, they will take their frustrations out on the Illini to start B1G play. Huskers roll in this one.
In Week 6, they head to East Lansing to take on a team that is a dark horse to win the National Championship in Michigan State. While the Spartans are not as strong defensively as they were last year, they are still a force to deal with; even they only return 5 starters from the 2013 team. On offense, they are very good, though, they do lose three starters on the O-Line from last year. The Huskers had that game last year, but they shot themselves in the foot with 5 turnovers and lost the game. If the Huskers are the team that has destiny on their side, this is a game they win like they did two years ago. I believe it’ll be another physical game, and in the end, the Huskers win a very tough game on the road in East Lansing.
In Week 7, they have a BYE, and coming off the BYE in Week 8, the Huskers are back on the road with a trip to Evanston to take on Northwestern. The Wildcats have had a very eventful off-season with the team wanting to unionize. Now with the season around the corner, Pat Fitzgerald has his team focused and united. Now, in this game, will there be a letdown after an emotional win vs. Michigan State for Nebraska? The good thing is that it’s off the BYE week. The bad thing, it’s off a BYE week and lack of focus could creep in. You have to believe the Huskers find a way to win this one on the road and keep the mo going. Huskers the nod here over NW.
In Week 9, they’ll be back in Lincoln to take on the newest member of the B1G in Rutgers. You have a feeling this will get ugly quick for the Scarlet Knights and the way, I expect the Huskers to be playing at this point, and this has all the makings of a rout. Huskers BIG in this one.
In Week 10, they are home again, this time vs. Purdue. Like the game vs. Rutgers the previous week, this could get ugly for the Boilermakers very quickly, and the Huskers in this projection remain undefeated in B1G play with a BIG win over Purdue.
In Week 11, they have their 2nd BYE, and in Week 12 off the BYE, they go to Camp Randle Stadium in Madison, WI for a HUGE showdown with the Badgers. This Badgers team has a lot of question marks going in and an inability to win close games. They lost a lot of key parts from 2013. This is the year, Nebraska wins over the Badgers.
In Week 12, they will host Minnesota in their home finale. Its senior day in Lincoln and the Huskers will still have a lot to play for in this game, and after this game, they will still be undefeated in B1G play. Nebraska rolls in this one.
In the season finale, they go to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes, which will likely be for the West title and a trip to Indianapolis. Given the fact that this game is in Iowa City, I have to believe the Hawkeyes will find a way to get it done vs. Huskers. Iowa wins a tight one and ends the Huskers regular season at 10-2.
My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:
This is the biggest road game in Al’s career to date. We have not had a true signature win on the road in Golden’s tenure. With the expectations very high, this has to be the year; Al gets that signature win vs. a Top quality opponent on the road. I think this is the game where we get it done, though it will come down to a play late.
In Part 5 of the 2014 series, I will talk about a
team that put us at the lowest point in the Golden era, and that’s the Duke
Blue Devils, whom we play at Sun Life Stadium on September 27th
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