Bowl Game

[Excel]

Georgia, Arkansas, LSU and Bama had weak offenses?

South Carolina played 2 of those teams. Those 2 teams put up 86 points on South Carolina...

 

NU doesn't have half the passing attack UGA or Arky has....

[Overland Park Husker]

Georgia, Arkansas, LSU and Bama had weak offenses?

South Carolina played 2 of those teams. Those 2 teams put up 86 points on South Carolina...

 

NU doesn't have half the passing attack UGA or Arky has....

True, but Nebraska is twice as good as any of those offenses South Carolina played in the SEC (save for Ark and Georgia). I get what you're saying and agree we'll be hard pressed to pass on them, but I don't think that will be our game plan.

[Hunter94]

Georgia, Arkansas, LSU and Bama had weak offenses?

South Carolina played 2 of those teams. Those 2 teams put up 86 points on South Carolina...

 

NU doesn't have half the passing attack UGA or Arky has....

 

 

so SC loads the box and that will be that.........

[Excel]

Just as a point of reference here is where Nebraska stacks up offensively against teams USC has played

 

 

15. Clemson

29. Georgia

31. Arkansas

51. Navy

57. East Carolina

62. Nebraska

89. Mississippi State

98. Vanderbilt

102. Florida

103. Tennessee

104. Auburn

118. Kentucky

 

and defensively

 

3. Georgia

9. Florida

19. Vanderbilt

28. Tennessee

36. Nebraska

43. Mississippi State

51. Arkansas

56. East Carolina

58. Kentucky

59. Clemson

78. Auburn

85. Navy

[Excel]

and reversed for NU.

 

Offense

 

15. Wisconsin

31. Northwestern

34. Michigan

40. Fresno State

46. Wyoming

57. Washington

60. Michigan State

70. Iowa

74. USC

94. Penn State

107. Ohio State

109. Minnesota

 

Defensively

 

4. USC

5. Michigan State

8. Wisconsin

10. Penn State

18. Michigan

24. Ohio State

68. Iowa

77. Minnesota

80. Northwestern

94. Washington

98. Wyoming

101. Fresno St.

[Chaddyboxer]

It looks like it'll be quite a fair match up. I am hoping the Huskers come out with the WIN, but I am favoring the Gamecocks just a bit...not much though.

[mnhusker]

I guess it's a good thing we are not a pass first team, if we can run the ball we can win this if we can't it will be a long day. To me the quality of the opponets pass d falls behind run-d, offense and special teams in that order.

[roundegotrip]

Badgerfan, I like that a lot, and I was interested to see what those lists would look like in terms of scoring offense and scoring defense.

 

South Carolina's opponents first:

 

OFFENSE

15. Arkansas (37.4)

27. Clemson (33.6)

34. Georgia (34.2)

43. Nebraska (30.5)

50. Navy (29.7)

***Average Opponent (27.2)***

61. Vanderbilt (26.9)

67. East Carolina (26.3)

72. Florida (25.6)

73. Mississippi St. (25.5)

82. Auburn (24.3)

106. Tennessee (20.3)

117. Kentucky (15.8)

 

DEFENSE

17. Georgia (19.6)

19. Mississippi St. (19.9)

25. Florida (20.6)

27. Vanderbilt (20.8)

35. Tennessee (22.6)

37. Arkansas (22.8)

39. Nebraska (22.8)

***Average Opponent (24.3)***

55. Kentucky (24.7)

62. Clemson (26.2)

78. Navy (28.9)

80. Auburn (29.3)

97. East Carolina (32.3)

 

 

 

Wheeeee! Now on to Nebraska's opponents:

 

OFFENSE

4. Wisconsin (44.6)

23. Michigan (34.2)

36. Washington (31.5)

39. Michigan St. (30.9)

45. South Carolina (30.1)

51. Northwestern (29.5)

***Average Opponent (28.9)***

53. Iowa (28.7)

55. Fresno St. (28.5)

60. Wyoming (27.0)

75. Ohio St. (25.1)

110. Penn St. (19.8)

111. Minnesota (18.4)

 

DEFENSE

5. Penn St. (15.7)

6. Wisconsin (17.0)

7. Michigan (17.2)

9. Michigan St. (17.5)

13. South Carolina (18.8)

26. Ohio St. (20.8)

42. Iowa (23.3)

***Average Opponent (24.2)***

66. Wyoming (27.0)

67. Northwestern (27.3)

93. Minnesota (31.7)

101. Washington (33.3)

107. Fresno St. (35.2)

 

 

Interestingly, Nebraska and USC's opponents have a virtually identical scoring defense average. Nebraska has played slightly tougher offenses, to the tune of an extra 1.7 ppg average. Nebraska and USC are pretty evenly matched in terms of scoring offense, but USC has a solid advantage in scoring defense.

 

That said, given his track record, I'll give Bo the benefit of the doubt that he'll have the defense prepared for this game. I think this could be a more competitive matchup than some experts might be making it.

[huskered17]

Wow. Too add onto this. A bowl show group also laughed when someone asked about the challenge that Nebr's WR corp will have for So Car DB's. They said what challenge?

 

Pretty fair assessment really. I doubt Nebraska will do much damage with the pass.

 

USC is the #2 Pass Defense in the country (only Bama is better) and number 5 in the country when it comes to getting interceptions. (133 ypg and 18 INTS). While NU is #104 in national passing with just over 160 ypg. Granted NU isn't really geared toward the pass anyhow but come on, your top WR has only 4 TD's and just barely 400 yards on the season. USC won't get lit up at all.

 

That's why I find the predictions you guys are making to be kind of laughable.

 

Here are some numbers you all have predicted through the air that I find unlikely:

 

200 - NUance

185 - NebraskaDrumline

210 - huskered17

210 - kansas husker

190 - Hammerhead

210 - Mavric

190 - Wolverineslappy

 

NU will need to lean on the run to win this game and fortunately for them USC is weaker in this area. (but still not bad, 45th nationally)

 

 

Picked that high passing total, because we are probably going to need that kind of output, if their D/ends are as good as advertised. I hope we open up with a passing attack, just to shock them and our fans. Tired of trying to keep it close till the 4th Q. If they force Neb to pass when they want us to, then it will probably be a long day. Lets hope the players and coaches have fun. Empty out the playbook. Win or lose, its been a good season.

 

GBR!!!

[ladyhawke]

I smiled when I read the original post. That's fine. ESPN has not been very complimentary of Nebraska (imho) ever. (Remember when Herbstreit just about blew a gasket when Nebraska's 1995 team was voted the 'Best College Football Team of All Time'?)

But back to the original post: College bowl games are kind of like the Olympics: It's a snapshot in time. Just because you've won all year doesn't mean you're going to win in the bowl game and vice versa. So, may the best team win and GO BIG RED!

[The Big Red Husker]

and reversed for NU.

 

Offense

 

15. Wisconsin

31. Northwestern

34. Michigan

40. Fresno State

46. Wyoming

57. Washington

60. Michigan State

70. Iowa

74. USC

94. Penn State

107. Ohio State

109. Minnesota

 

 

 

What is interesting here is we lost to the top 3 on this list, and number 4 was an ugly win IMO....This gives me some hope....as I think if we can somehow stop the QB which BO has NEVER been able to do, we have a chance of keeping this low scoring.

 

 

Defensively

 

4. USC

5. Michigan State

8. Wisconsin

10. Penn State

18. Michigan

24. Ohio State

68. Iowa

77. Minnesota

80. Northwestern

94. Washington

98. Wyoming

101. Fresno St.

 

We did quite well against MSU and we were able to win on the road against PSU.....BUT We will have to complete some passes against these guys, we just can't make a living off of playing into their strength. NU does have a few who might present them with difficult matchups and Martinez has improved as a passer IMO, so if we are able to pass for 150+ yards that would certainly help our cause...