HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
CFN.com
South Dakota State (0-2) at Nebraska (3-0) Sept. 25, 7:00
Here’s The Deal … South Dakota State is actually decent. Expected to be a player in the Missouri Valley race, the Jackrabbits suffered a setback in a tough home loss to Illinois State a week after getting stomped on by Delaware. The running game, despite the production so far, will be great, the special teams are strong, and the defense is solid against the pass. But things are about to get worse. Nebraska is playing as well as any team in America with a blasting of a not-that-bad Idaho team two weeks ago and a total and complete pansting of Jake Locker and Washington last week in Seattle. The Big 12 season starts next week at Kansas State, and while the Huskers might be trying to take it a bit easy this week, they can go through the motions and still win without a problem.
Why South Dakota State Might Win: SDSU has only netted 144 yards so far in two games, but Kyle Minett is a fantastic back with a nose for the goal line, and Thomas O’Brien is a veteran passer who’s putting up plenty of yards so far, even if there aren’t any home runs. The punting game has been terrific so far, with Dean Priddy bombing away for 45.38 yards per kick putting the Jackrabbits No. 2 in the FCS in net punting, however …
Why Nebraska Might Win: … Niles Paul has had a strong year so far returning punts; Nebraska is second among Big 12 teams and 26th in the nation in punt returns. The special teams are working, as is everything else for the Huskers right now with a defense that’s not getting into the backfield enough, but is suffocating everyone’s passing game. The offense that was such a liability last year has been phenomenal, averaging 344 rushing yards per game, thanks to …
What To Watch Out For: … Taylor Martinez, who needs to start getting some of the publicity that Denard Robinson is receiving. The redshirt freshman playmaker has rushed for 127 yards or more in each of the first three games, and he showed last week against Washington that he could throw, too, connecting on 7-of-11 passes for 150 yards and a score, looking like Peyton Manning compared to Jake Locker, who connected on 4-of-20 throws. This week the job it to bomb away and do even more to test out the midrange passing game. Nebraska can win just by running on the field, and while it’ll crank out the big runs early to put the game away, it has to try to work on being a wee bit more balanced.
What Will Happen: The Husker defensive front won’t allow the Jackrabbits to do much of anything to get the ground game going, while Martinez and Roy Helu will each tear off big first quarter runs to end the game before it gets going. The backups, led by No. 2 RB Rex Burkhead, will be the stars.
CFN Prediction: Nebraska 44 … South Dakota State 10 … 5Dimes.com Line: No Line
Must See Rating: The Social Network – 5 … $#*! My Dad Says - 1 … X
South Dakota State (0-2) at Nebraska (3-0) Sept. 25, 7:00
Here’s The Deal … South Dakota State is actually decent. Expected to be a player in the Missouri Valley race, the Jackrabbits suffered a setback in a tough home loss to Illinois State a week after getting stomped on by Delaware. The running game, despite the production so far, will be great, the special teams are strong, and the defense is solid against the pass. But things are about to get worse. Nebraska is playing as well as any team in America with a blasting of a not-that-bad Idaho team two weeks ago and a total and complete pansting of Jake Locker and Washington last week in Seattle. The Big 12 season starts next week at Kansas State, and while the Huskers might be trying to take it a bit easy this week, they can go through the motions and still win without a problem.
Why South Dakota State Might Win: SDSU has only netted 144 yards so far in two games, but Kyle Minett is a fantastic back with a nose for the goal line, and Thomas O’Brien is a veteran passer who’s putting up plenty of yards so far, even if there aren’t any home runs. The punting game has been terrific so far, with Dean Priddy bombing away for 45.38 yards per kick putting the Jackrabbits No. 2 in the FCS in net punting, however …
Why Nebraska Might Win: … Niles Paul has had a strong year so far returning punts; Nebraska is second among Big 12 teams and 26th in the nation in punt returns. The special teams are working, as is everything else for the Huskers right now with a defense that’s not getting into the backfield enough, but is suffocating everyone’s passing game. The offense that was such a liability last year has been phenomenal, averaging 344 rushing yards per game, thanks to …
What To Watch Out For: … Taylor Martinez, who needs to start getting some of the publicity that Denard Robinson is receiving. The redshirt freshman playmaker has rushed for 127 yards or more in each of the first three games, and he showed last week against Washington that he could throw, too, connecting on 7-of-11 passes for 150 yards and a score, looking like Peyton Manning compared to Jake Locker, who connected on 4-of-20 throws. This week the job it to bomb away and do even more to test out the midrange passing game. Nebraska can win just by running on the field, and while it’ll crank out the big runs early to put the game away, it has to try to work on being a wee bit more balanced.
What Will Happen: The Husker defensive front won’t allow the Jackrabbits to do much of anything to get the ground game going, while Martinez and Roy Helu will each tear off big first quarter runs to end the game before it gets going. The backups, led by No. 2 RB Rex Burkhead, will be the stars.
CFN Prediction: Nebraska 44 … South Dakota State 10 … 5Dimes.com Line: No Line
Must See Rating: The Social Network – 5 … $#*! My Dad Says - 1 … X
