CBS Sports: Breaking Down the Big Ten Schedules

[Saunders]

so if the kid is good but not great, is that all Fresno needs to beat us?

History says yes.

When was the last time we lost to a mid major with good not great QB play?

 

[Landlord]

so if the kid is good but not great, is that all Fresno needs to beat us?

History says yes.

 

[papersun87]

We've had average QBs from mid-major schools putting scares into NU since the Solich days. This is not new.

 

[RedDenver]

Honestly if Nebraska cant go 4-0 heading into conference play they will be hard pressed to contend for a division title. Winning at Sparty is going to be tiugh but not mandatory. Winning at Wisfy and Iowa are definitely mandatory though. Wiscy looks to be our biggest threat in the West and Iowas scchedule is manageable enough to stack up conference wins and fight for a spot.

I agree with your sentiment, but our non-con literally makes no difference in whether we win the division. Who thought MSU would win the division after losing to ND and playing inept offense in the non-con?

Sure, we could go 0-4 ooc, then go 8-0 in conference play and win the division. Incredibly unlikely though. Im saying 4-0 in ooc games would go a long way in cementing us as a threat. If we go 3-1 were not really on the radar as far as a contender goes. Basically if we cant beat our 4 non B1G opponents were going to struggle to win 7 or 8 league games.

Again, I agree with the point you're making. I'm just pointing out that whether we're perceived as a "contender" makes absolutely no difference since winning the division is solely based on record.

 

[RedDenver]

We've had average QBs from mid-major schools putting scares into NU since the Solich days. This is not new.

So other teams playing well and keeping the score closer than we as fans would like is the same as them beating us?

 

[papersun87]

You guys are in rare form today. You knew full well what I meant.

Edit: Not to mention, I think we all know well enough in this day and age of FCS beating FBS and what have you that no mid-major opponent can ever be counted out, especially not one that posted 11 wins last season (even with the loss of its star quarterback). Factor in that in the Pelini era we've lost a game to a team we should easily handle in each and every season, and I think writing off Fresno as an easy win is a bit premature.

 

[Landlord]

He asked if having a good quarterback was all they needed to beat us and you said history says yes.

What he didn't ask is "should we write off fresno as an easy win?"

If that's not what you meant you should have said something differently because we haven't lost to a mid major since 2004. So history says no.

 

[NUpolo8]

He asked if having a good quarterback was all they needed to beat us and you said history says yes.

What he didn't ask is "should we write off fresno as an easy win?"

If that's not what you meant you should have said something differently because we haven't lost to a mid major since 2004. So history says no.

You guys really need to slow down with creating all of these achievements. We had room for the "9 wins" banner, but if we want to hang the "Better than Brady Hoke" and "Haven't lost to a mid major" banners we may have to do another expansion project.

 

[True2tRA]

He asked if having a good quarterback was all they needed to beat us and you said history says yes.

What he didn't ask is "should we write off fresno as an easy win?"

If that's not what you meant you should have said something differently because we haven't lost to a mid major since 2004. So history says no.

You guys really need to slow down with creating all of these achievements. We had room for the "9 wins" banner, but if we want to hang the "Better than Brady Hoke" and "Haven't lost to a mid major" banners we may have to do another expansion project.

Does the "Better Than Hoke" Banner hang directly above the 2006 "National Championship Caliber Defense" Trophy? Crap! We really are running out of room here guys.

 

[sd'sker]

You guys are in rare form today. You knew full well what I meant.

Edit: Not to mention, I think we all know well enough in this day and age of FCS beating FBS and what have you that no mid-major opponent can ever be counted out, especially not one that posted 11 wins last season (even with the loss of its star quarterback). Factor in that in the Pelini era we've lost a game to a team we should easily handle in each and every season, and I think writing off Fresno as an easy win is a bit premature.

i think you are right. history has demonstrated that we struggle with any team with a good qb and they are capable of beating us. does not mean that have or will, but history has proven that they are a threat to beat us and can beat us.

 

[NUpolo8]

The bunting on the Brady Hoke banner actually looks better hanging next to the "Best Coach on Twitter" banner

 

[Landlord]

You guys are in rare form today. You knew full well what I meant.

Edit: Not to mention, I think we all know well enough in this day and age of FCS beating FBS and what have you that no mid-major opponent can ever be counted out, especially not one that posted 11 wins last season (even with the loss of its star quarterback). Factor in that in the Pelini era we've lost a game to a team we should easily handle in each and every season, and I think writing off Fresno as an easy win is a bit premature.

i think you are right. history has demonstrated that we struggle with any team with a good qb and they are capable of beating us. does not mean that have or will, but history has proven that they are a threat to beat us and can beat us.

what about bo's quarterback graveyard...

 

[NUinID]

He may very well end up heing better than the others but Id wager The games against USC and @Utah may wear him down a bit before we roll into town. Fresnos schedule is top heavy so they should fight tooth and dagger to win 1or two of their OOC games, their entire season depends on that Duke transfer at QB. IF he lives up to the hype they could be a really good team. I just dont see Nebraska falling to them though.

West Coast late night game. We shall see.

I don't think you will see the same thing as UCLA. For one thing you knew UCLA was going to be talented Skippy had recruited well he just couldn't get them to play well. I think BP will remind them quite a bit about that game on the west coast at night. Plus they are just not nearly as talented as UCLA.

I don't think the QB from Duke is going to be their savior. If he was great he would still be at Duke. He split time with their other QB in the first half of the season, but I don't think he even saw the field in the last 5-6 games.

He is obviously better than anything they have and will be ok, but to come in a start with a month of practice and be great is a stretch. Russell Wilson is the only QB of note to transfer for that one year and have a significant impact on their new team. He is the exception not the rule.

The B1G has historically stunk it up going to the West Coast to play the PAC-12, so I am expecting this to be as much us not playing up to par as Fresno State giving it one heck of a shot. It is their first home game, they will have played at USC and at Utah. They won't be scared out our athletes. They will be ready to give it a puncher's chance or they will be beat down already and we will push them around. Right now, I am more than scared of them, but I still expect a win. It will be a good game though.

Scared is pretty strong. They should be respected as a decent mid major team that if you don't take seriously they will give you fits. I would tend to lean more towards them being a little beaten up by USC and Utah than battle tested.

Did any of you watch their bowl game against USC last year. They got man handled and they had Carr as their QB.

I am not saying this will be a cake walk game, but if NU comes into the game and is focused and plays hard they should have at least a 17pt win in the end. Their offense was really good last year, but their defense was equally bad. They were winning games 52-45. They will most likely have some success offensively, but I have a hard time seeing them stop our offense.

 

[Landlord]

Does the "Better Than Hoke" Banner hang directly above the 2006 "National Championship Caliber Defense" Trophy? Crap! We really are running out of room here guys.

Is there anything I can do to help you process that I never said that? I feel bad that you keep mistakenly referring to something nobody said.

 

[sd'sker]

You guys are in rare form today. You knew full well what I meant.

Edit: Not to mention, I think we all know well enough in this day and age of FCS beating FBS and what have you that no mid-major opponent can ever be counted out, especially not one that posted 11 wins last season (even with the loss of its star quarterback). Factor in that in the Pelini era we've lost a game to a team we should easily handle in each and every season, and I think writing off Fresno as an easy win is a bit premature.

i think you are right. history has demonstrated that we struggle with any team with a good qb and they are capable of beating us. does not mean that have or will, but history has proven that they are a threat to beat us and can beat us.

what about bo's quarterback graveyard...

i guess i should have said any good mobile qb. at least since 2010. but papersun's point makes sense to me. we sometimes struggle with teams that we should not and all they need is a good qb to make the difference.