ADS Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Expert Picks Game 3: UCLA @ Nebraska BTN.com http://btn.com/2013/09/11/week-3-we-predict-all-12-big-ten-games-2/ Tom Dienhart: Nebraska 38 - UCLA 33 Brent Yarina: Nebraska 40 - UCLA 37 Sean Merriman: Nebraska 42 - UCLA 35 Stephan Bardo: Nebraska 35 - UCLA 42 ---------- CollegeFootballNews.com http://cfn.scout.com/2/1320325.html Why You Should Give A Hoot: UCLA-Nebraska may not be the biggest Week 3 game among ranked teams, but it has plenty of meaning to both of the combatants. The 23rd-ranked Huskers have a score to settle with the Bruins, who won last year’s game on the West Coast, 36-30. Nebraska, which fancies itself as a co-favorite in a very deep Big Ten Legends Division, rebounded from a rough start with Wyoming to bludgeon Southern Miss last Saturday. All eyes will be on Bo Pelini’s defense, which has been maddeningly inconsistent from time to time. UCLA returns to work after resting in Week 2. The Bruins opened 2013 strong, hammering Nevada, 58-20, behind a high-powered offense. Head coach Jim Mora, like Pelini, is determined to guide his team to higher ground, preferably ending the year in Pasadena. A win in Lincoln could catapult No. 16 UCLA to new heights of confidence in advance of the start of the Pac-12 season. Why UCLA Might Win: If Nebraska plays defense the way it did against Wyoming, the Bruins will shred the Blackshirts. UCLA likes to spread the field with playmakers and allow star QB Brett Hundley to distribute. Hundley represents a very tall order for the Huskers, because of his ability to make things happen with his arm and his legs. While it was just one game versus Nevada, Jordon James looks as if he might be the answer at running back, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Why Nebraska Might Win: UCLA will score. Nebraska will answer. The Huskers move the ball like a Pac-12 program, a poor-man’s Oregon, if you will. They, too, boast a dual-threat quarterback, Taylor Martinez, who’s flanked by playmakers. Nebraska harbors the better skill position talent, a big-play group consisting of backs Ameer Abdullah and Imani Cross and receivers Kenny Bell and Quincy Enunwa. The retooled Bruin defensive backfield will need to be on its game Saturday afternoon. Who To Watch Out For: Nebraska has yet to allow a sack, but here comes LB Anthony Barr and the explosive UCLA front seven. The Huskers are going to be very busy trying to keep the Bruins from forcing Martinez into ill-advised hurls. - The Husker staff has liked what it’s seen so far out of DE Randy Gregory, a first-year JUCO transfer. He had four pressures last week, but needs to start turning a few of those hurries into sacks. - UCLA rates a sizable edge at linebacker in this one. While the Bruins have Barr and tackling-machine Eric Kendricks, Nebraska starts two true freshmen, Nathan Gerry and Josh Banderas. - For those still unaware of Hundley, this could be his coming-out party if he’s the reason the Bruins leave Lincoln with a W. What Will Happen: Nebraska is flawed. UCLA is focused. The Bruins have had two weeks to prepare for a Husker defense that still has a long way to go before achieving consistency. With Hundley in charge, the visitors will keep the sticks moving and the scoreboard changing. Nebraska can certainly hang with UCLA offensively, but not for 60 minutes. Barr and Kendricks will eventually do something disruptive that jars the ball loose and changes the tenor of the game. The Bruins are the more complete team right now, which will be the difference in the compelling Week 3 undercard to Alabama-Texas A&M. Prediction: UCLA 41 - Nebraska 34 ---------- Yahoo! Sports http://sports.yahoo..../football/picks Pat Forde - Nebraska Win Graham Watson - UCLA Win ---------- CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/3 Dennis Dodd - U, Bruce Feldman - N, Jay Fowler - N, Tom Fornelli - N, Jerry Hinnen - N, Chip Patterson - U, Prediction Machine - N ---------- AP - Ralph Russo http://collegefootba...avyweight-match No. 16 UCLA (plus 4½) at No. 23 Nebraska Huskers looking for revenge after last year's loss at Rose Bowl NEBRASKA 38 - UCLA 31 Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Pat Forde takes the Huskers 41-35 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--forde-yard-dash--all-eyes-turn-to-college-station-070351423.html Graham Watson takes UCLA http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/picks Quote Link to comment
knapplc Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What Will Happen: Nebraska is flawed. UCLA is focused. The Bruins have had two weeks to prepare for a Husker defense that still has a long way to go before achieving consistency. With Hundley in charge, the visitors will keep the sticks moving and the scoreboard changing. Nebraska can certainly hang with UCLA offensively, but not for 60 minutes. Barr and Kendricks will eventually do something disruptive that jars the ball loose and changes the tenor of the game. The Bruins are the more complete team right now, which will be the difference in the compelling Week 3 undercard to Alabama-Texas A&M. Prediction: UCLA 41 … Nebraska 34 Line: Nebraska -4.5 – O/U: 71 Must See Rating: (5 Boardwalk Empire – 1 Teen Beach Movie) … 4.5 http://cfn.scout.com/2/1325254.html Certainly can't argue with that prediction. Hate to say it, but that's a very likely outcome. Quote Link to comment
ADS Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 What Will Happen: Nebraska is flawed. UCLA is focused. The Bruins have had two weeks to prepare for a Husker defense that still has a long way to go before achieving consistency. With Hundley in charge, the visitors will keep the sticks moving and the scoreboard changing. Nebraska can certainly hang with UCLA offensively, but not for 60 minutes. Barr and Kendricks will eventually do something disruptive that jars the ball loose and changes the tenor of the game. The Bruins are the more complete team right now, which will be the difference in the compelling Week 3 undercard to Alabama-Texas A&M. Prediction: UCLA 41 … Nebraska 34 Line: Nebraska -4.5 – O/U: 71 Must See Rating: (5 Boardwalk Empire – 1 Teen Beach Movie) … 4.5 http://cfn.scout.com/2/1325254.html Certainly can't argue with that prediction. Hate to say it, but that's a very likely outcome. That's how I see the game playing out. Quote Link to comment
EZ-E Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What Will Happen: Nebraska is flawed. UCLA is focused. The Bruins have had two weeks to prepare for a Husker defense that still has a long way to go before achieving consistency. With Hundley in charge, the visitors will keep the sticks moving and the scoreboard changing. Nebraska can certainly hang with UCLA offensively, but not for 60 minutes. Barr and Kendricks will eventually do something disruptive that jars the ball loose and changes the tenor of the game. The Bruins are the more complete team right now, which will be the difference in the compelling Week 3 undercard to Alabama-Texas A&M. Prediction: UCLA 41 … Nebraska 34 Line: Nebraska -4.5 – O/U: 71 Must See Rating: (5 Boardwalk Empire – 1 Teen Beach Movie) … 4.5 http://cfn.scout.com/2/1325254.html Certainly can't argue with that prediction. Hate to say it, but that's a very likely outcome. We have shown in the first two games the ability to hold onto the football accept for a true frosh. As I say this I am knocking on wood. (Feel free to OOC quote that post) Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/3 Dodd - UCLA Feldman - Nebraska Fowler - Nebraska Fornelli - Nebraska Hinnen - Nebraska Patterson - UCLA Machine - Nebraska Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 http://btn.com/2013/09/11/week-3-we-predict-all-12-big-ten-games-2/ Dienhart NU 38-33 Yarina NU 40-37 Merriman NU 42-35 Bardo UCLA 42-35 Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Brett McMurphy picks NU http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/83576/video-picks-of-the-week Quote Link to comment
ADS Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 Majority of the "experts" are picking Nebraska Quote Link to comment
GSG Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 8 Outrageous College Football Predictions: Week 3 The Big Ten will go 4-0 against the Pac-12The Pac-12 is the better league both at the top and in the middle of the league as compared to the Big Ten. Yet, after this weekend, the Big Ten could have Rose Bowl-esque bragging rights. Ohio State's defense will be tested by Jared Goff and Cal but should win handily in Berkeley. Nebraska has enough offensive firepower to take advantage of UCLA's rebuilt secondary at home in Lincoln despite its own defensive short-comings. Wisconsin, the three-time defending Big Ten champion, has the most daunting task by heading southwest to Tempe, but it has yet to allow a point in back-to-back six-touchdown blowouts to start the year. Not to mention the Badgers' back-to-back games with thee different 100-yard rushers. And Illinois' neutral site bout with Washington in Chicago has gotten dramatically more interesting as Illini offensive coordinator Bill Cubit and quarteback Nathan Scheelhaase appear to be perfectly suited for one another. Don't be that shocked if the Big Ten goes unbeaten against the Pac-12 this weekend. Quote Link to comment
B.B. Hemingway Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What Will Happen: Nebraska is flawed. UCLA is focused. The Bruins have had two weeks to prepare for a Husker defense that still has a long way to go before achieving consistency. With Hundley in charge, the visitors will keep the sticks moving and the scoreboard changing. Nebraska can certainly hang with UCLA offensively, but not for 60 minutes. Barr and Kendricks will eventually do something disruptive that jars the ball loose and changes the tenor of the game. The Bruins are the more complete team right now, which will be the difference in the compelling Week 3 undercard to Alabama-Texas A&M. Prediction: UCLA 41 … Nebraska 34 Line: Nebraska -4.5 – O/U: 71 Must See Rating: (5 Boardwalk Empire – 1 Teen Beach Movie) … 4.5 http://cfn.scout.com/2/1325254.html Given the tragic events this week involving the UCLA players, I don't know if an argument can be made for them being focused..... Quote Link to comment
StPaulHusker Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 That's an interesting point Rollin Rock has. It wouldn't be uncommon for a team to come out less than inspired after something like this. Oklahoma State got beat against Iowa State a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment
teachercd Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I am a bit shocked at how many are picking NU. I will say this again but you simply can't put a price on how freaking valuable it is to have sooooo much film on UCLA now, it changes everything. 1 Quote Link to comment
knapplc Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 That's true RR and StPaul, but it also wouldn't be surprising to see them come out hyper focused and "win one for the Gipper," so to speak. It's a crummy situation either way. And the worst of it is, even if they play lights out and win the game, Pasquale still won't be with them. Just utterly sucks. Quote Link to comment
StPaulHusker Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 That's true RR and StPaul, but it also wouldn't be surprising to see them come out hyper focused and "win one for the Gipper," so to speak. It's a crummy situation either way. And the worst of it is, even if they play lights out and win the game, Pasquale still won't be with them. Just utterly sucks. No doubt. It can go either way. Quote Link to comment
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