Couple of Predictions

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Take em with a grain of salt:

 

Tim Griffins Blog

 

Nebraska 45, Florida Atlantic 17: Zac Lee makes his first career start as the Cornhuskers attempt to build on momentum that saw them finish with a four-game winning streak, punctuating that with a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson. It will be important for the Cornhuskers to get a lot of work for an inexperienced set of running backs that features only two players -- Roy Helu Jr. and Marcus Mendoza -- with previous college experience. The Cornhuskers will face old rival Howard Schnellenberger, who claimed a memorable national championship while at Miami by beating them in the 1984 Orange Bowl. The Owls are coming off a victory over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. Quarterback Rusty Smith was the MVP of that game and comes into the contest as the Sun Belt Conference’s leading career passer. But look for Nebraska’s talented defensive front to repeatedly pressure him and set the tone for the victory.

 

 

CFN.com

 

Florida Atlantic (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0),7:00 EST, Saturday, September 5

 

Why to watch: Howard Schnellenberger led the Miami Hurricanes to one of the biggest shockers in college football history in a national title win over the mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1984 Orange Bowl. No he leads a good Florida Atlantic team into Lincoln with a chance to pull off another upset, and this one might not quite as stunning. Nebraska is solid under head coach Bo Pelini, who pulled the program up out of the nosedive of a Bill Callahan era, but it’s reloading on offense and needs to establish itself early on defensively. FAU won’t just roll over; this might be the Sun Belt’s best team and it has the makeup and the character to make this far more entertaining than Big Red fans might like.

 

Why Florida Atlantic might win: Rusty Smith vs. the Nebraska secondary. The Husker defensive backs will be as good as the pass rush, and Schnellenberger’s lines are fantastic at keeping the quarterback clean. The Owls were 17th in the nation last season in sacks allowed, and part of that was due to Smith, the Sun Belt’s best quarterback, getting the ball out of his hands in a hurry. FAU has just enough of a receiving corps to give the Huskers fits. Nebraska can’t rest if it gets a lead.

 

Why Nebraska might win: The Huskers might be replacing several key players on offense, but the FAU defense is undergoing a facelift on defense, especially in the front seven. The Owls always have quick defenders, but there isn’t a lot of size and there isn’t enough overall experience to count on. FAU has to make this a shootout and hope that Smith gets red hot, but the Owl defensive front isn’t likely to provide a lick of pressure. Not helping the cause if the loss of end Jamere Johnson to a knee injury and tackle Andy Czuprynski to an ankle problem.

 

Who to watch: The Nebraska defense will be more than fine, Pelini coached defenses rarely struggle, and the running game will be serviceable, but QB Zac Lee has to be excellent if there’s any hope of a run for the Big 12 title. He doesn’t have an elite group of receivers to work with and he doesn’t have a killer ground game to take the pressure off, so with this game against Florida Atlantic and the follow-up against Arkansas State to tune up, Lee needs to be strong early to be ready for Virginia Tech on September 19th.

 

What will happen: The Husker defense will give up too many passing yards, but the FAU defense won’t do nearly enough to come up with the big stops needed to get the win. This won’t be a walk in the park, but Nebraska will keep the Owls at arm’s length all game long.

 

CFN Prediction: Nebraska 37 … Florida Atlantic 13 ... Line: Nebraska -21.5

 

Must See Rating: (Mad Men 5 ... NYC Prep 1) … 2

 

 

I don't necessarily agree with the "Must see rating" however. I think EVERY Husker game is a 5 in my book.

[skerfan1705]

With the way that CFN has talked about Nebraska over the last couple of months.....that is not a bad prediction from them.....Maybe FAU protected Smith from getting sacked last year...but that certainly won't be the case on Saturday. 4 sacks. Gonna be a long night for Ol' Rusty.

 

 

 

GO BIG RED!

[knapplc]

It'll be interesting to see what people like these have to say this time next week.

[Blackshirtsguru]

I understand that FAU's OL kept their QB clean, but did they really face any good defense's? Especially in the Sunbelt Conference?

[knapplc]

I understand that FAU's OL kept their QB clean, but did they really face any good defense's? Especially in the Sunbelt Conference?

 

Sean Callahan just put this up on Facebook:

 

Florida Atlantic was outscored by BCS opponents 106-13 last season in games against Texas, Michigan State and Minn.

 

I just don't see this being a close game, from the get-go. Rusty Smith is going to be all kinds of banged up after his first couple of series. Maybe the coaches are blowing sunshine and rainbows up our buns about this front four and the baby LBs. Maybe it's all just a smoke screen to intimidate the Owls before the game.

 

Then again, maybe Rusty should be sure his insurance is paid up before kickoff.

[OwlFamily]

I understand that FAU's OL kept their QB clean, but did they really face any good defense's? Especially in the Sunbelt Conference?

 

 

Texas, Michigan State, stAte, all had pretty good D's

 

We are able to move the ball, the issue (especially in the Texas and Michigan St) game was finishing. In the 1st quarter of the Texas game we drove the ball into the Red Zone in our first 2 possesions, we failed to score on both. Same thing with Michigan, we had opportunities just didnt capitalize.

 

Our OL is bigger this year, and has experience. I really think Rusty Smith will have the time he needs to throw the ball and make the play, IN THE FIRST HALF.

 

After half time, when we get tired, is when youll start to get thru and put the pressure on.

[knapplc]

Our OL is bigger this year, and has experience. I really think Rusty Smith will have the time he needs to throw the ball and make the play, IN THE FIRST HALF.

 

After half time, when we get tired, is when youll start to get thru and put the pressure on.

 

I understand why you think that, but there wasn't anyone on any roster last year that FAU faced that's near the talent of Ndamukong Suh. If Barry Turner is even close to what he was before his injury, the Owls haven't faced anyone like him, either. From what our coaches are saying Jared Crick, our other DT alongside Suh, is turning into a man-beast as well.

 

I don't think fatigue will have anything to do with our D Line getting to Smith. It'll be pure talent against pure talent.

[Ohio Pete]

Wait, this is the team that lost 37-3 at Minnesota last year? And only returns 9 starters? Yeah, this has all the makings.

[Igetbored216]

Texas, Michigan State, stAte, all had pretty good D's

 

We are able to move the ball, the issue (especially in the Texas and Michigan St) game was finishing. In the 1st quarter of the Texas game we drove the ball into the Red Zone in our first 2 possesions, we failed to score on both. Same thing with Michigan, we had opportunities just didnt capitalize.

 

Our OL is bigger this year, and has experience. I really think Rusty Smith will have the time he needs to throw the ball and make the play, IN THE FIRST HALF.

 

After half time, when we get tired, is when youll start to get thru and put the pressure on.

 

Texas did not have a good D last year. Well, I guess it depends your perception of "good".

 

If middle-of-the-pack is good to you, then yeah, they were good.

[Igetbored216]

I understand why you think that, but there wasn't anyone on any roster last year that FAU faced that's near the talent of Ndamukong Suh. If Barry Turner is even close to what he was before his injury, the Owls haven't faced anyone like him, either. From what our coaches are saying Jared Crick, our other DT alongside Suh, is turning into a man-beast as well.

 

I don't think fatigue will have anything to do with our D Line getting to Smith. It'll be pure talent against pure talent.

 

You forgot about Pierre Allen. I think he will have a bigger year than Turner.

[knapplc]

Wait, this is the team that lost 37-3 at Minnesota last year? And only returns 9 starters? Yeah, this has all the makings.

 

And in case there was any chance of the Huskers taking them lightly, they went ahead and did this:

 

 

If anyone thinks that didn't catch the attention of the players in a BIG WAY, they'd better listen to Asante at the presser the other day again.

[huskerswrkhavoc]

Texas, Michigan State, stAte, all had pretty good D's

 

We are able to move the ball, the issue (especially in the Texas and Michigan St) game was finishing. In the 1st quarter of the Texas game we drove the ball into the Red Zone in our first 2 possesions, we failed to score on both. Same thing with Michigan, we had opportunities just didnt capitalize.

 

Our OL is bigger this year, and has experience. I really think Rusty Smith will have the time he needs to throw the ball and make the play, IN THE FIRST HALF.

 

After half time, when we get tired, is when youll start to get thru and put the pressure on.

 

Texas did not have a good D last year. Well, I guess it depends your perception of "good".

 

If middle-of-the-pack is good to you, then yeah, they were good.

 

 

 

I was thinking the same thing.... But Rusty is another year in and i'm sure that will help some.. I just don't really see how this game is going to be anything closer than a 3 possession contest....

[knapplc]

I understand why you think that, but there wasn't anyone on any roster last year that FAU faced that's near the talent of Ndamukong Suh. If Barry Turner is even close to what he was before his injury, the Owls haven't faced anyone like him, either. From what our coaches are saying Jared Crick, our other DT alongside Suh, is turning into a man-beast as well.

 

I don't think fatigue will have anything to do with our D Line getting to Smith. It'll be pure talent against pure talent.

 

You forgot about Pierre Allen. I think he will have a bigger year than Turner.

I could have mentioned Allen, Moore, Steinkuhler, etc. I think they're all going to have a great year. I think this could be one of the best two-deep D Lines we've ever had.

[Igetbored216]

I could have mentioned Allen, Moore, Steinkuhler, etc. I think they're all going to have a great year. I think this could be one of the best two-deep D Lines we've ever had.

 

Yeah, but I guess I was emphasizing the fact that I think Allen is a better overall end than Turner.

 

Both are very good though.

[blkshrtz]

Crick is suppose to be pretty decent bo had alot of good things to say