Saunders
Heisman Trophy Winner
2018 Game 1 “Expert” Picks: Colorado @ Nebraska
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CollegeFootballNews.com
https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/09/nebraska-vs-colorado-fearless-prediction-game-preview
For those of you who get all squishy about the old Big 12 – or Big 8 – days, this was an annual big deal during the 1990s. It topped out in an epic 2001 Big 12 title game – with the Buffs running wild for a 62-36 win, but the Huskers went on to play for the national title – and with epic showdowns in 1995 and 1996. And now, these are two programs looking to get by. Of course, the excitement is off the charts for Nebraska with the hiring of Scott Frost, but the take-off was delayed after a lightning storm cancelled the game against Akron. The Huskers should be better, but with road games at Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State and Iowa, and with home dates against Purdue, Minnesota and Michigan State to deal with, lose to Colorado, and it’ll be tough to get to six wins. The Buffs might be sleeper-good in a tumultuous Pac-12 South, and they couldn’t have started better with a 45-13 destruction of Colorado State. With winnable home games against New Hampshire, UCLA and Arizona State up next, win this, and there could be a huge start.
One Reason Why Colorado Will Win
Yeah, Colorado State’s pass defense would give up 300 yards you and a Marv down in accounting, but it was still an impressive performance by the Buffs in the blowout win. Steven Montez has NFL tools, talent and upside, and he put it together for at least one week, hitting 22-of-25 passes for 338 yards and four scores with one pick – just two throws weren’t caught – and he ran for 34 yards and a touchdown. This has the potential to be a solid, balanced attack, with a running back by committee approach to go along with what Montez can do. Nebraska missing the Akron game meant it couldn’t get any live reps in. The Buffs looked razor-sharp from the start.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
Don’t take too much away from being Colorado State. Again, the defense isn’t anything fantastic. The Buff lines are just okay, and while this is a solid team across the board, there’s nothing fantastic outside of Montez. Nebraska has the upside in the secondary to hold tight against the Colorado passing game – at least, it won’t be target practice for Montez – and the defensive front should be able to generate a little bit of pressure. And yes, Colorado has a game under its belt, but the Nebraska coaches have film on this team. The Buff coaches aren’t quite sure what these Huskers are quite yet.
What’s Going To Happen
Nebraska superstar recruit Adrian Martinez will have his moments, and he’ll show what he’s about to be a really, really big thing – right up until he throws a key pick in the second half. The Huskers will be fired up, the crowd will be crazy – at least, crazy for Memorial Stadium – and they’ll come up with just enough offensive pop to get everyone fired up – but this will be about Colorado, too. All of a sudden, the Buffaloes will start to get more national respect for a tight defense that will keep Martinez from running wild – outside of a few big runs – as they throw a wet blanket on the opener.
Colorado 34 - Nebraska 31
CFN Expert Picks
https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/09/week-2-college-football-expert-picks-predictions-2/2
Gill Alexander, VSIN @beatingthebook: Nebraska
@JeffFeyerer, CFN: Nebraska
@PeteFiutak, CFN: Colorado
@DanHarralson, VolsWire.com: Nebraska
@PhilHarrisonBW, BuckeyeWire.com: Nebraska
@IsaiahHole, WolverinesWire.com: Nebraska
@JeremyMauss, MWwire.com: Colorado
@Russ Mitchell, CFN: Nebraska*
Shannon McKinley, TicketCity.com: Nebraska
@Jeremy Simon, WVUwire.com: Nebraska
Keith Stewart, Winners & Whiners: Colorado
@CrowleySullivan, SpartansWire.com: Nebraska
@JoeVitale, UGAwire.com: Nebraska
Ben Worgull, BadgersInsider, @TheBadgerNation: Colorado
@Ryann_Zeller, FrogsWire.com: Nebraska
Clucko The Chicken (a coin flip): Nebraska
CONSENSUS PICK: Nebraska
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Omaha World Herald
https://dataomaha.com/gameday/2018/colorado#two-minute-drill
This should be fun. A lot of fun. Nebraska and Colorado players probably don't know or care much about the rivalry between the two programs, but the fans in the seats do. With the explosiveness of both offenses, Saturday’s game could feel similar to the 2016 Oregon game, when just about anything seemed possible. Look for points, back-and-forth big plays and, at game’s end, Nebraska still standing with a key win.
Nebraska 34 - Colorado 30
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ESPN FPI
http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401012729
Nebraska - 74.5% Win
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Athlon Sports
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-picks-expert-predictions-every-game-week-2-2018
Steven Lassan: N
Mitch Light : N
Braden Gall: N
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/colorado-buffaloes-vs-nebraska-cornhuskers-prediction-picks-2018
Well, Nebraska didn’t play last week, and Colorado beat a team that at least looks like it’ll field one of the worst defenses in the country. While some of Frost’s tendencies are available for defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot to attempt to exploit, his track record isn’t the best. When Eliot served in the same role at Kentucky under Mark Stoops, the Wildcats surrendered an average of over 30 points per game. His numbers didn’t improve much last season, as the Buffaloes held the opposition to an average of 28 points per contest. Colorado has a respectable play-caller in Darrin Chiaverini, and as we’ve discussed, he has the weapons to do damage. This game likely comes down to whether or not the Buffaloes can keep up with the Nebraska offense and cause the Big Red defense to make more than its fair share of mistakes.
Nebraska 45 - Colorado 31
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Big Red Wrap-Up
http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/big-red-wrap-colorado-prediction
Kevin Kugler: Nebraska 35 - Colorado 31
Jay More: Nebraska 42 - Colorado 21
Damon Benning: Nebraska 34 - Colorado 28
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AP - Ralph D Russo
https://www.collegefootball.ap.org/article/college-football-picks-conference-bragging-rights-line
Fascinating opener for Scott Frost's Huskers after last week's game was canceled. You would think the Buffs should have the edge on continuity alone ...
Colorado 31 - Nebraska 24.
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The Athletic - Stewart Mandel
https://theathletic.com/507632/2018/09/06/stewart-mandels-week-2-college-football-picks/
It’s great to see the Buffs and Huskers reunite. It’s strange that this inadvertently turned into Scott Frost’s debut. It could be a tough outing for the Huskers’ defense, especially if QB Steven Montez completes 88 percent of his passes like he did against Colorado State.
Nebraska 27 - Colorado 24
The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
https://theathletic.com/507793/2018/09/06/bruce-feldmans-week-2-college-football-picks/
Buffs QB Steven Montez is really talented and has some nice weapons around him. Plus Colorado had a game to get the kinks out whereas Nebraska didn’t because the weather ruined the Akron opener.
Colorado 28 - Nebraska 24
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Bill Connelly S&P+
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/9/6/17826820/college-football-picks-week-2-2018-predictions-odds-spreads
S&P+: Colorado 33 - Nebraska 28 (60.5% CU Win)
F+ Projection: Nebraska by 3.4 (57.8% NU Win)
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Bleacher Report
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2793420-college-football-picks-week-2-predictions-for-every-game#slide4
Is Thanksgiving over? The once-classic late-November Big 12 matchup returns following an eight-year hiatus, and it's actually Nebraska's opener due to a weather-related cancellation. Scott Frost has earned the benefit of the doubt, but Steven Montez's huge showing for Colorado in Week 1 is cause for prediction concern.
Nebraska 34 - Colorado 27
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CollegeFootballNews.com
https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/09/nebraska-vs-colorado-fearless-prediction-game-preview
For those of you who get all squishy about the old Big 12 – or Big 8 – days, this was an annual big deal during the 1990s. It topped out in an epic 2001 Big 12 title game – with the Buffs running wild for a 62-36 win, but the Huskers went on to play for the national title – and with epic showdowns in 1995 and 1996. And now, these are two programs looking to get by. Of course, the excitement is off the charts for Nebraska with the hiring of Scott Frost, but the take-off was delayed after a lightning storm cancelled the game against Akron. The Huskers should be better, but with road games at Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State and Iowa, and with home dates against Purdue, Minnesota and Michigan State to deal with, lose to Colorado, and it’ll be tough to get to six wins. The Buffs might be sleeper-good in a tumultuous Pac-12 South, and they couldn’t have started better with a 45-13 destruction of Colorado State. With winnable home games against New Hampshire, UCLA and Arizona State up next, win this, and there could be a huge start.
One Reason Why Colorado Will Win
Yeah, Colorado State’s pass defense would give up 300 yards you and a Marv down in accounting, but it was still an impressive performance by the Buffs in the blowout win. Steven Montez has NFL tools, talent and upside, and he put it together for at least one week, hitting 22-of-25 passes for 338 yards and four scores with one pick – just two throws weren’t caught – and he ran for 34 yards and a touchdown. This has the potential to be a solid, balanced attack, with a running back by committee approach to go along with what Montez can do. Nebraska missing the Akron game meant it couldn’t get any live reps in. The Buffs looked razor-sharp from the start.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
Don’t take too much away from being Colorado State. Again, the defense isn’t anything fantastic. The Buff lines are just okay, and while this is a solid team across the board, there’s nothing fantastic outside of Montez. Nebraska has the upside in the secondary to hold tight against the Colorado passing game – at least, it won’t be target practice for Montez – and the defensive front should be able to generate a little bit of pressure. And yes, Colorado has a game under its belt, but the Nebraska coaches have film on this team. The Buff coaches aren’t quite sure what these Huskers are quite yet.
What’s Going To Happen
Nebraska superstar recruit Adrian Martinez will have his moments, and he’ll show what he’s about to be a really, really big thing – right up until he throws a key pick in the second half. The Huskers will be fired up, the crowd will be crazy – at least, crazy for Memorial Stadium – and they’ll come up with just enough offensive pop to get everyone fired up – but this will be about Colorado, too. All of a sudden, the Buffaloes will start to get more national respect for a tight defense that will keep Martinez from running wild – outside of a few big runs – as they throw a wet blanket on the opener.
Colorado 34 - Nebraska 31
CFN Expert Picks
https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/09/week-2-college-football-expert-picks-predictions-2/2
Gill Alexander, VSIN @beatingthebook: Nebraska
@JeffFeyerer, CFN: Nebraska
@PeteFiutak, CFN: Colorado
@DanHarralson, VolsWire.com: Nebraska
@PhilHarrisonBW, BuckeyeWire.com: Nebraska
@IsaiahHole, WolverinesWire.com: Nebraska
@JeremyMauss, MWwire.com: Colorado
@Russ Mitchell, CFN: Nebraska*
Shannon McKinley, TicketCity.com: Nebraska
@Jeremy Simon, WVUwire.com: Nebraska
Keith Stewart, Winners & Whiners: Colorado
@CrowleySullivan, SpartansWire.com: Nebraska
@JoeVitale, UGAwire.com: Nebraska
Ben Worgull, BadgersInsider, @TheBadgerNation: Colorado
@Ryann_Zeller, FrogsWire.com: Nebraska
Clucko The Chicken (a coin flip): Nebraska
CONSENSUS PICK: Nebraska
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Omaha World Herald
https://dataomaha.com/gameday/2018/colorado#two-minute-drill
This should be fun. A lot of fun. Nebraska and Colorado players probably don't know or care much about the rivalry between the two programs, but the fans in the seats do. With the explosiveness of both offenses, Saturday’s game could feel similar to the 2016 Oregon game, when just about anything seemed possible. Look for points, back-and-forth big plays and, at game’s end, Nebraska still standing with a key win.
Nebraska 34 - Colorado 30
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ESPN FPI
http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401012729
Nebraska - 74.5% Win
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Athlon Sports
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-picks-expert-predictions-every-game-week-2-2018
Steven Lassan: N
Mitch Light : N
Braden Gall: N
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/colorado-buffaloes-vs-nebraska-cornhuskers-prediction-picks-2018
Well, Nebraska didn’t play last week, and Colorado beat a team that at least looks like it’ll field one of the worst defenses in the country. While some of Frost’s tendencies are available for defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot to attempt to exploit, his track record isn’t the best. When Eliot served in the same role at Kentucky under Mark Stoops, the Wildcats surrendered an average of over 30 points per game. His numbers didn’t improve much last season, as the Buffaloes held the opposition to an average of 28 points per contest. Colorado has a respectable play-caller in Darrin Chiaverini, and as we’ve discussed, he has the weapons to do damage. This game likely comes down to whether or not the Buffaloes can keep up with the Nebraska offense and cause the Big Red defense to make more than its fair share of mistakes.
Nebraska 45 - Colorado 31
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Big Red Wrap-Up
http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/big-red-wrap-colorado-prediction
Kevin Kugler: Nebraska 35 - Colorado 31
Jay More: Nebraska 42 - Colorado 21
Damon Benning: Nebraska 34 - Colorado 28
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AP - Ralph D Russo
https://www.collegefootball.ap.org/article/college-football-picks-conference-bragging-rights-line
Fascinating opener for Scott Frost's Huskers after last week's game was canceled. You would think the Buffs should have the edge on continuity alone ...
Colorado 31 - Nebraska 24.
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The Athletic - Stewart Mandel
https://theathletic.com/507632/2018/09/06/stewart-mandels-week-2-college-football-picks/
It’s great to see the Buffs and Huskers reunite. It’s strange that this inadvertently turned into Scott Frost’s debut. It could be a tough outing for the Huskers’ defense, especially if QB Steven Montez completes 88 percent of his passes like he did against Colorado State.
Nebraska 27 - Colorado 24
The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
https://theathletic.com/507793/2018/09/06/bruce-feldmans-week-2-college-football-picks/
Buffs QB Steven Montez is really talented and has some nice weapons around him. Plus Colorado had a game to get the kinks out whereas Nebraska didn’t because the weather ruined the Akron opener.
Colorado 28 - Nebraska 24
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Bill Connelly S&P+
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/9/6/17826820/college-football-picks-week-2-2018-predictions-odds-spreads
S&P+: Colorado 33 - Nebraska 28 (60.5% CU Win)
F+ Projection: Nebraska by 3.4 (57.8% NU Win)
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Bleacher Report
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2793420-college-football-picks-week-2-predictions-for-every-game#slide4
Is Thanksgiving over? The once-classic late-November Big 12 matchup returns following an eight-year hiatus, and it's actually Nebraska's opener due to a weather-related cancellation. Scott Frost has earned the benefit of the doubt, but Steven Montez's huge showing for Colorado in Week 1 is cause for prediction concern.
Nebraska 34 - Colorado 27
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