The Maudfather
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Wyoming (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0) Aug. 31, 8:00, BTN
Why You Should Give A Hoot: It wasn’t exactly the way Nebraska might have hoped to end the season after winning six straight games to close out the regular season, losing to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship and Georgia in the Capital One Bowl by a combined score of 115 to 62. The Huskers are in tune-up mode with Southern Miss next week before the big showdown against UCLA, and after that they’ll probably be favored in every game up until the November date with Michigan. But to start out they have to deal with a plucky Wyoming squad with a good quarterback in Brett Smith and potentially dangerous offense. The Cowboys could use a big, shocking win to show the new Mountain West that they deserve to be in the conference title hunt. It’ll be a fight to keep this close, but the Huskers might be looking down field a ways to get to the Bruins.
Why Wyoming Might Win: Will Nebraska have problems hanging on to the ball again? Fumbles and mistakes were a problem in the losses last season, and if they’re still an issue in any way, UW has to capitalize. The Cowboy offense has good size and quick options who could surprise a potentially inconsistent Husker offense.
Why Nebraska Might Win: Get ready for the Big Red Machine as the Huskers run, run and run some more. The offense loses Rex Burkhead, but it has enough great running backs to play around with the combination and keep everyone fresh, while Martinez should be able to do whatever he wants. There’s no real threat of a Cowboy pass rush, so expect a bit of a balanced attack from time to time, all the while keeping Brett Smith on the sidelines. Things will start to break wide open by the second half.
Who To Watch Out For: It’s not all Martinez in the backfield. At 5-9 and 190 pounds, junior running back Ameer Abdullah isn’t all that big, but he holds up well, has elite wheels and is an elite kick returner and top receiver averaging 13.1 yards per punt return while catching 24 passes for 178 yards and two scores. He led the team in rushing with 1,137 yards with eight scores, but he only ran for one touchdown over the final eight games. Watch out for a breakout performance to kick things off.
- Is Martinez really the best quarterback in this game? Yes, but Brett Smith is one of the nation’s most effective playmakers. He took the program by storm as a true freshman, leading the way to a bowl appearance in 2011, and last year he was even better even though the team didn’t hold up its end of the bargain. He was banged up a bit in the middle of the year, but he came back roaring, throwing 15 touchdown passes and just one pick over the final six games. A great runner, he can take off and make things happen when needed, but he’s better when he uses his arm and his vision to bomb away down the field
- Watch out for the Husker defensive front to come out frothing at the mouth. After the way last season ended and with some key replacements up front, experience will be made up for be drive. Everyone will be focused on teeing off on Smith.
What Will Happen: Wyoming’s pluck will only last so long before Nebraska’s lines start to take over. The Husker offense will explode after a rocky first half.
Prediction: Nebraska 48 … Wyoming 14
Line: Nebraska -29 o/u: 65.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hard Knocks – 1 ‘N Sync on the VMAs) … 2.5
Link
Why You Should Give A Hoot: It wasn’t exactly the way Nebraska might have hoped to end the season after winning six straight games to close out the regular season, losing to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship and Georgia in the Capital One Bowl by a combined score of 115 to 62. The Huskers are in tune-up mode with Southern Miss next week before the big showdown against UCLA, and after that they’ll probably be favored in every game up until the November date with Michigan. But to start out they have to deal with a plucky Wyoming squad with a good quarterback in Brett Smith and potentially dangerous offense. The Cowboys could use a big, shocking win to show the new Mountain West that they deserve to be in the conference title hunt. It’ll be a fight to keep this close, but the Huskers might be looking down field a ways to get to the Bruins.
Why Wyoming Might Win: Will Nebraska have problems hanging on to the ball again? Fumbles and mistakes were a problem in the losses last season, and if they’re still an issue in any way, UW has to capitalize. The Cowboy offense has good size and quick options who could surprise a potentially inconsistent Husker offense.
Why Nebraska Might Win: Get ready for the Big Red Machine as the Huskers run, run and run some more. The offense loses Rex Burkhead, but it has enough great running backs to play around with the combination and keep everyone fresh, while Martinez should be able to do whatever he wants. There’s no real threat of a Cowboy pass rush, so expect a bit of a balanced attack from time to time, all the while keeping Brett Smith on the sidelines. Things will start to break wide open by the second half.
Who To Watch Out For: It’s not all Martinez in the backfield. At 5-9 and 190 pounds, junior running back Ameer Abdullah isn’t all that big, but he holds up well, has elite wheels and is an elite kick returner and top receiver averaging 13.1 yards per punt return while catching 24 passes for 178 yards and two scores. He led the team in rushing with 1,137 yards with eight scores, but he only ran for one touchdown over the final eight games. Watch out for a breakout performance to kick things off.
- Is Martinez really the best quarterback in this game? Yes, but Brett Smith is one of the nation’s most effective playmakers. He took the program by storm as a true freshman, leading the way to a bowl appearance in 2011, and last year he was even better even though the team didn’t hold up its end of the bargain. He was banged up a bit in the middle of the year, but he came back roaring, throwing 15 touchdown passes and just one pick over the final six games. A great runner, he can take off and make things happen when needed, but he’s better when he uses his arm and his vision to bomb away down the field
- Watch out for the Husker defensive front to come out frothing at the mouth. After the way last season ended and with some key replacements up front, experience will be made up for be drive. Everyone will be focused on teeing off on Smith.
What Will Happen: Wyoming’s pluck will only last so long before Nebraska’s lines start to take over. The Husker offense will explode after a rocky first half.
Prediction: Nebraska 48 … Wyoming 14
Line: Nebraska -29 o/u: 65.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hard Knocks – 1 ‘N Sync on the VMAs) … 2.5
Link
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