predictionking
Four-Star Recruit
I've read a lot of debating about the NU-KU game deciding the North next season. For the most part I agree with that sentiment. I think Mizzou is going to take a major step backwards, and Colorado has to prove they can beat a decent team on the road. The Hawks or Huskers will most certainly be preseason 1 and 2 next Summer. That makes the NU-KU game in Lawrence the possible North Title game.
Living down here in the Kansas City area, I know a lot of KU fans. Nearly everyone of them think KU will beat NU simply because the Huskers are breaking in a new QB. That thought seems to be prevailing on this board as well. A lot of KU fans are making that argument. Wishfull thinking is fun. They could be right. Nobody really knows how well the Husker offense will perform next season.
However, anyone who honestly thinks that's the case needs to one important thing into perspective:
NU and KU play in mid-November. If Nebraska's QB situation isn't settled by then it's unlikely the Huskers will still be in contention for the North.
If the winner of that game does indeed decide the North, then that's good news for the Huskers. Huh, how do you figure? Please allow me to elaborate.
Right now KU has 3 distinct strengths going into that game:
1. Memorial Stadium in Lawrence is now a very tough place to play. The crowds there are great, and there is enough electricity there to fuel momentum.
2. Todd Reesing is a man in an 8th grader's body. The kid is a stud. I actually have a man-crush on him, but I'm not a pedophile..... or gay for that matter.
3. Desmond Briscoe will be the best offensive player on the field for either team. He's a difference maker and in a close game, he can change the outcome.
Here's where Nebraska could really hurt the HAWKS:
KU's offensive line was dominated by NU's interior D-Line last season. All indications show that should continue. Even guys like Crick and Moore had their way with the KU o-line. That o-line will have 3 new interior starters. Experience won't be an issue by mid-November. That's foolish to suggest. But it's also foolish to suggest those guys will be able to perform at higher level than the previous KU seniors did against Suh and company. Oh, btw, how good will Suh be by November '09?
- NU will easily control the line of scrimmage, and Reesing will be running for his life again. Expect Allen and Turner to dominate the KU tackles again as well.
KU had no running game against NU this past season. In fact, by the last half of the season, nobody ran on NU, including Clemson's 250 rushing yards a game attack with two NFL running backs. The KU and Clemson running games are completely different, so that doesn't mean much.
However, results do matter. Will KU try to revamp their running game this off-season? Sure they will, but with a new o-line and the same scheme it's unlikely they will run the football against the Huskers. NU will control the line of scrimmage, and the added speed and depth dimension in the linebacking corps lends more weight to the no KU running game argument.
NU's secondary has nothing but experience and more depth returning. It will be tested by the KU receiving corp. Meier, Briscoe, and Reesing are scary. However, with no running game and very little pass protection, it will be tough for KU to execute the passing game.
So in a nutshell, NU will won KU next season.
Living down here in the Kansas City area, I know a lot of KU fans. Nearly everyone of them think KU will beat NU simply because the Huskers are breaking in a new QB. That thought seems to be prevailing on this board as well. A lot of KU fans are making that argument. Wishfull thinking is fun. They could be right. Nobody really knows how well the Husker offense will perform next season.
However, anyone who honestly thinks that's the case needs to one important thing into perspective:
NU and KU play in mid-November. If Nebraska's QB situation isn't settled by then it's unlikely the Huskers will still be in contention for the North.
If the winner of that game does indeed decide the North, then that's good news for the Huskers. Huh, how do you figure? Please allow me to elaborate.
Right now KU has 3 distinct strengths going into that game:
1. Memorial Stadium in Lawrence is now a very tough place to play. The crowds there are great, and there is enough electricity there to fuel momentum.
2. Todd Reesing is a man in an 8th grader's body. The kid is a stud. I actually have a man-crush on him, but I'm not a pedophile..... or gay for that matter.
3. Desmond Briscoe will be the best offensive player on the field for either team. He's a difference maker and in a close game, he can change the outcome.
Here's where Nebraska could really hurt the HAWKS:
KU's offensive line was dominated by NU's interior D-Line last season. All indications show that should continue. Even guys like Crick and Moore had their way with the KU o-line. That o-line will have 3 new interior starters. Experience won't be an issue by mid-November. That's foolish to suggest. But it's also foolish to suggest those guys will be able to perform at higher level than the previous KU seniors did against Suh and company. Oh, btw, how good will Suh be by November '09?
- NU will easily control the line of scrimmage, and Reesing will be running for his life again. Expect Allen and Turner to dominate the KU tackles again as well.
KU had no running game against NU this past season. In fact, by the last half of the season, nobody ran on NU, including Clemson's 250 rushing yards a game attack with two NFL running backs. The KU and Clemson running games are completely different, so that doesn't mean much.
However, results do matter. Will KU try to revamp their running game this off-season? Sure they will, but with a new o-line and the same scheme it's unlikely they will run the football against the Huskers. NU will control the line of scrimmage, and the added speed and depth dimension in the linebacking corps lends more weight to the no KU running game argument.
NU's secondary has nothing but experience and more depth returning. It will be tested by the KU receiving corp. Meier, Briscoe, and Reesing are scary. However, with no running game and very little pass protection, it will be tough for KU to execute the passing game.
So in a nutshell, NU will won KU next season.