*** 2016 Game 1 "Expert" Picks: Fresno State at Nebraska***

[Saunders]

It's back....

2016 Game 1 “Expert” Picks: Fresno State @ Nebraska

—————

CollegeFootballNews.com

http://collegefootballnews.com/2016/big-ten-week-1-game-previews-predictions-lines-tv

For two programs in desperate need of a positive start, the opener is going to be more than just a Nebraska coronation. Fresno State needs to come up with a good showing after a miserable 2015.

The Bulldogs have switched up coordinators to try cranking up an offense that averaged just 315 yards per game, and a defense that finished 101st in the country and couldn’t seem to do much of anything right.

This year, Fresno State has a good enough secondary to slow down the Husker passing game, and some dynamic new parts in the backfield – starting with redshirt freshman quarterback Chason Virgil – to challenge a highly-questionable Nebraska defensive front that’ll need time and work.

However, Fresno State doesn’t have the lines. The Husker defensive front might have to undergo an overhaul, but it’s not going to get powered on. The O line should be able to blast away and go with a more powerful attack when needed. It’ll be an inspired Nebraska effort – there won’t be any need to worry about a Hail Mary like last year against BYU.

Fearless Prediction: Nebraska 40 - Fresno State 23

—————

BTN.com

http://btn.com/2016/08/30/polls-its-time-to-pick-your-week-1-big-ten-football-winners/

Tom Dienhart: Nebraska 30 - Fresno State 27

Sean Merman: Nebraska 31 - Fresno State 27

Brent Yarina - Nebraska 38 - Fresno State 21

—————

ESPN Big Ten Blog

http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135895/b1g-kickoff-week-game-picks-can-badgers-shock-lsu

Winner: Nebraska

—————

FootballStudyHall

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2016/9/1/12748262/college-football-schedule-tv-listings-vegas-picks

S&P+: Nebraska 41.6 - Fresno State 18.2

—————

Athlon Sports

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/predicting-which-team-will-win-every-game-week-1-college-football-2016

Steven Lassan: N

Mitch Light : N

Bryan Fischer: N

David Fox: N

Jim Weber: N

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/fresno-state-bulldogs-vs-nebraska-conhuskers-oreview-and-prediction-2016

Until Nebraska is in complete control of this one, the Sea of Red in Lincoln will be anything but calm. That said, it shouldn't take a Husker team that is athletically superior at every position very long to impose its will on a Fresno State team that is still a season or two away from being competitive again in the Mountain West. Look for the Huskers to build an early lead through the air on the backs of their talented receivers. That will force the Bulldogs to press, leading to mental mistakes that they are not talented enough to overcome. Nebraska head coach Mike Riley will probably use the entire second half of this game to get his less experienced non-starters some valuable minutes and improve the quality of depth under fire while he has the chance.

Prediction: Nebraska 52 - Fresno State 17

—————

Big Red Wrap-Up

http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/big-red-wrap-fresno-state-prediction-0

Kevin Kugler: Nebraska 35 - Fresno State 17

Sean Callahan: Nebraska 48 - Fresno State 20

—————

Daily Nebraskan

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/sports/score-predictions-nebraska-vs-fresno-state/article_3d4599ca-6d91-11e6-8562-a3eb6520cd5c.html

There should be no repeat of last season’s opener. That’s not so much a testament to Nebraska as it is a shot at Fresno State because the Bulldogs are not very good. Last season, Fresno State went 3-9, and for the 2016 season, FSU has tabbed the inexperienced Chason Virgil as its starting quarterback. In 2015, the true freshman Virgil threw for 298 yards and completed just 31 passes in the Bulldogs’ first three games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. FSU also will not return any running backs who rushed for more than 60 yards last season. Yes, season.

The top returning back from 2015 is Dejonte O’Neal, who ran for 56 yards and isn’t even a running back anymore. So, Fresno State’s offense shouldn’t be a too much of a threat to the Blackshirts. What about the defense? Fresno State’s defense gave up more than 40 points in six games last season, including 73 to Ole Miss. Tommy Armstrong and company should have a field day, and this one shouldn’t be close.

Brett Nierengarten: Nebraska 52 - Fresno State 13

Michael Dixon: Nebraska 56 - Fresno State 10

Riley Bowden: Nebraska 45 - Fresno State 17

—————

AP - Ralph D Russo

https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP/status/770471472800366593

Nebraska 45 - Fresno State 14

—————

FEI Projections

http://www.bcftoys.com/2016-game-projections/

Nebraska 42 - Fresno State 12

—————

 

[ADS]

Those Big Ten Network picks are eye opening. Those guys really have no faith in Nebraska this year.

 

[Frostberg]

The BTN guys really this it's going to be a close game? I don't get it

 

[Hedley Lamarr]

I would imagine they pay tribute to 27 this game. I expect us to destroy them

 

[RedSavage]

The BTN guys really this it's going to be a close game? I don't get it

Me either but I hope they aren't right

 

[ithinkiloverg44]

Dienhart really doesn't like this team. Very strange.

 

[Redux]

Seriously what is the deal with the BTN crew? I get it, last year was rough. But what the hell did they see during their half a day at a Husker practice to suggest we struggle worse than 2015?

 

[Count 'Bility]

Those Big Ten Network picks are eye opening. Those guys really have no faith in Nebraska this year.

I dont blame em. Seems like they get high on Nebraska every since, and including, our first year, only to be pretty much kicked in the balls. Also, this one practice they saw, it's been discussed by local media pretty in depth, that that practice was not even close to as reminiscent as what the typical practices have been. It's very understandable that the BTN guys went away with downish type of opinion. Something about the real part of the practice being closed or something.

 

[Saunders]

Those Big Ten Network picks are eye opening. Those guys really have no faith in Nebraska this year.

None of them picked NU in the top 3 of the west this year, and yet they're all aboard the Iowa train 100%. Like, they're all expecting them to win double digit games back to back for the first time in 12 years.

 

[HuskerNBigD]

Those Big Ten Network picks are eye opening. Those guys really have no faith in Nebraska this year.

Had the exact same thought.

 

[ADS]

Those Big Ten Network picks are eye opening. Those guys really have no faith in Nebraska this year.

None of them picked NU in the top 3 of the west this year, and yet they're all aboard the Iowa train 100%. Like, they're all expecting them to win double digit games back to back for the first time in 12 years.

An early congrats to Minnesota on their Big Ten West crown then. Because those dinguses are never right.

 

[NUinID]

I get the BTN guys not being real high on NU this year, but do they really think that this is going to be a huge struggle of a game? As for Dienhart's prediction, if NU only scores 30 on FSU and the defense gives up 27 to them than we are truely in trouble this year. I say 42-13 NU

 

[SuperBigFan69]

Seriously what is the deal with the BTN crew? I get it, last year was rough. But what the hell did they see during their half a day at a Husker practice to suggest we struggle worse than 2015?

Well...past history of the coaching staff I would imagine. Riley has a track record for the last 5 years of sort of being a coach that has close games and ends up around .500

So they are probably taking that into account.

I think the Huskers win and cover. I see something like 45-13

 

[Saunders]

I get the BTN guys not being real high on NU this year, but do they really think that this is going to be a huge struggle of a game? As for Dienhart's prediction, if NU only scores 30 on FSU and the defense gives up 27 to them than we are truely in trouble this year. I say 42-13 NU

Fresno is a bad, bad, bad team. If it's that close, we have a losing season (again) and Riley might not make it through the year.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

I get the BTN guys not being real high on NU this year, but do they really think that this is going to be a huge struggle of a game? As for Dienhart's prediction, if NU only scores 30 on FSU and the defense gives up 27 to them than we are truely in trouble this year. I say 42-13 NU

Fresno is a bad, bad, bad team. If it's that close, we have a losing season (again) and Riley might not make it through the year.

Yeppers