CBS Sports: Breaking Down the Big Ten Schedules

[kchusker_chris]

Bama's isn't great at first glance but I notice at least FSU doesn't have an FCS school on their schedule.

And what does it matter anyway? I've said repeatedly in this thread about NEBRASKA'S schedule that the games that Bo and the team should be judged on will be Wisconsin, MSU, Miami and whatever they earn beyond that.

A four loss record with our schedule should be a disappointment, just like Bama and FSU would be let down if they went 9-4.

Is there really that much difference between an FCS school and Purdue, or Maryland? Both should be as close to a locked up win as you get for a team like Nebraska or FSU. I don't put a lot of stock in the FCS versus Sun Belt team. Not much of a difference, all should be wins. You're right though, this season will be measured on Wisconsin, MSU, Miami - how we go about losing 2 of those 3, and if we can avoid losing one of the other 6-8 heavily favored games.

 

[NUpolo8]

I take your point about Purdue, etc and the FCS teams. They should be winners, no question.

A two loss season would be an improvement, and like I said earlier, it probably would mean there's no look at a conference title but it also means that The Big Ten had some pretty good teams, and Nebraska would likely have a chance to play a pretty stout team in a good bowl.

 

[Landlord]

You're right though, this season will be measured on Wisconsin, MSU, Miami

Iowa as well. They're set to be just as good of a football team as they were last year.

 

[BigRedBuster]

There have been teams over the last 10 years that have gone undefeated or close to it with weaker schedules than this. Most critics of Nebraska would probably look at those programs as having more success than Nebraska has during that period even though Nebraska was playing a tougher schedule and losing a some.

At this point, as a fan of the game, I want a tougher schedule. As a fan of Nebraska that wants to see more wins, meh...I'm fine with it. There are one heck of a lot of programs out there that make a living off of having a few tough games a year and the rest easy. There was some talk of the power conferences breaking off and agreeing to only play each other. If that were to happen, it would be absolutely fantastic for the fans. BUT, expect one heck of a lot of teams to have worse records year in and year out.

 

[kchusker_chris]

You're right though, this season will be measured on Wisconsin, MSU, Miami

Iowa as well. They're set to be just as good of a football team as they were last year.

I almost threw Iowa in there when I was typing that - but didn't want to start a big argument about how "they're still Iowa". yada yada yada.

I think losing those LBers is going to be killer. That was probably the best trio of LBers the B1G has seen in a decade. There's been better individuals, like David - but not a group as good IMO. As much as Nebraska fans hate to admit it, I think Iowa is always going to be a very competitive game - no matter how good or bad either team is. It's the new Iowa State, or Colorado. They're usually going to play us tough.

 

[Saunders]

It’s not hard to figure out the thinking behind the final college football rankings.
Rule 1: Teams with the most wins get ranked the highest.
Rule 2: Tie breakers of equal wins go to the teams from the stronger conferences and fewer losses.
Rule 3: On average four mid majors make the final top 25 each year.
Rule 4: Over the last 20 years, the only rankings that mattered were No. 1 and No. 2.
http://cfbmatrix.com/final-top-25-50-2014/

NU at #10 with a 10-2 record (partially due to schedule).

 

[NUinID]

You're right though, this season will be measured on Wisconsin, MSU, Miami

Iowa as well. They're set to be just as good of a football team as they were last year.

I almost threw Iowa in there when I was typing that - but didn't want to start a big argument about how "they're still Iowa". yada yada yada.

I think losing those LBers is going to be killer. That was probably the best trio of LBers the B1G has seen in a decade. There's been better individuals, like David - but not a group as good IMO. As much as Nebraska fans hate to admit it, I think Iowa is always going to be a very competitive game - no matter how good or bad either team is. It's the new Iowa State, or Colorado. They're usually going to play us tough.

I don't have a problem admitting that Iowa will be a competitive game every year. We should win more than we lose, but Iowa should and will win games against us every 3-4 years, just like they do against other top teams in the conference.

Too many fans of Nebraska have to get over this its just _________ mentality. Its not really a knock on Nebraska like some think it is. A great number of teams have gotten a lot better over the last 20 years due to a number of things.

There is too much money at stake for schools to not invest in having a good solid football team. Schools either improve or they are left behind.

No Nebraska is not as good as they were in the 90's, sorry. But, you can't just look at NW, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, MSU, etc. through your jaded view of the past. They are all pretty solid football teams, and some are downright good. You have to come to play or you will lose. I am not just talking about Nebraska I am talking about all the power teams.

 

[Redux]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

 

[NUpolo8]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

Your fascination with losses due to injuries is in turn....fascinating.
Yes.

 

[Redux]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

Your fascination with losses due to injuries is in turn....fascinating. Yes.

You know me, just preparing my excuses

 

[Saunders]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

Your fascination with losses due to injuries is in turn....fascinating.Yes.

You know me, just preparing my excuses

#SEC

 

[NUpolo8]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

Your fascination with losses due to injuries is in turn....fascinating. Yes.

You know me, just preparing my excuses

Every scenario you are describing is likely one where Nebraska is not playing for a conference championship. Which is not acceptable at this juncture in Bo's career and with the state of the program.

There's not going to be a "what if" scenario where I am going to be content with Nebraska not playing for a conference title. At minimum, they need to be competitive in that game. The only feasible one would be the one I described where NU is 10-2 or so and Wisc, MSU, etc all are one loss teams or better. I don't see that as an incredibly likely scenario, however.

 

[Redux]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

Your fascination with losses due to injuries is in turn....fascinating. Yes.

You know me, just preparing my excuses

Every scenario you are describing is likely one where Nebraska is not playing for a conference championship. Which is not acceptable at this juncture in Bo's career and with the state of the program.

There's not going to be a "what if" scenario where I am going to be content with Nebraska not playing for a conference title. At minimum, they need to be competitive in that game. The only feasible one would be the one I described where NU is 10-2 or so and Wisc, MSU, etc all are one loss teams or better. I don't see that as an incredibly likely scenario, however.

Granted there is no reason Nebraska cant contend for a title this year, they absolutely should. I see the schedule as rough but manageable. I really think that a better turnover ratio and a healthy team equals 11 wins. But if that one loss comes to Wiscy and nit MSU, we could still lose the division. Should we go 10-2 Id wager yes no division title but a great bowl game. 9-3 would really depend on the losses and how we lost them, there are alot of tough road games and Id expect each loss to come away from Lincoln. That goes for any scenario.

 

[Landlord]

Going 10-2 is totally doable.

I think the 2012 team had a relatively equal schedule in terms of difficulty and did it with considerably less talent than this year's team should have.

Then it's just a matter of taking care of business in the postseason. We've gone 10-2 in 2010 and in 2012, but went 0-2 in both postseasons ending with the four losses. Seems our best regular seasons have our worst postseasons and vice versa.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Say Nebraska wins its 6 or 8 easier games that leaves what, @Fresno, Miami, @MSU, @WISCONSIN, @IOWA

3 conference road trips, 1 deceptively tricky ooc road trip, and 1 nostalgic team we have no clue what to expect from

If we lose 3 out of 5 of those by less than 5or 6 each due to an injury here or there, will a 9-3 season be a letdown?

It all depends. Did we have 5 turnovers in each of those 5 to 6 point losses? It's not about the #, it's about the way we came to the #.