This year, though, it seems as if Nebraska is still in the same place they were last season. Even though Nebraska started 0-6 in 2018, it feels as if this 3-1 start to 2019 isn’t much better. I think the loss at Colorado really put things in perspective for most people. Even Coach Frost said it in his press conference on Thursday, he hopes that Nebraska can stay with Ohio State and allow the crowd to carry the team. This doesn’t feel like a team that is 3-1. Barely beating Illinois on the road will do that to you.
This game may not matter much in the overall scheme of things. Nebraska certainly won’t be out of winning the West division with a loss. If they keep the game close, it may show everyone again how great a job Scott Frost is doing with this particular group of kids. If they get blown out it will confirm the status quo that Nebraska is still seasons away from being a playoff contender.
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An upset would really get the ball rolling, however. If Nebraska puts on a big performance, while ESPN sets up shop in Memorial Stadium, it would signal that the program is headed to better days.
I don’t expect Nebraska to win. I don’t think many do. It’s not to say that they can’t, but eye test certainly doesn’t favor the Huskers. There is an upper echelon in college football that older Nebraska fans know all too well, but many younger fans just haven’t been able to experience yet. I think in year four of this staff, you would hope that this type of game will be a distant memory. In year two, it just doesn’t seem reasonable.
This season has already been more of a success than last season. Nebraska is half way to a bowl game and has better talent than they did last season. They may even be better coached than last year too. It is hard to keep expectations in check. It’s harder to know that Nebraska just isn’t quite ready for big boy football just yet. I think it’s one of those stepping stone games. This weekend, Nebraska will find out just how much farther they have to go.
Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 41, Illinois 29. The final score was Nebraska 42, Illinois 38. The game was much closer than it should have been. Nebraska fumbled the ball four times and had an overwhelming disadvantage on penalties. The crazy thing is, Nebraska played it’s best game on offense in many ways. Not counting the fumbles of course. The Blackshirts were put in bad spots all night, but responded when they needed it in the second half. Nebraska proved they could win a game on the road when they don’t play their best. A glass half full person would say that’s a good omen as they move through the season in the Big Ten.
Quick Notes:
Clean Game… I don’t know if it is Big Ten referees or just playing better competition, but Nebraska takes one step forward (Northern Illinois) then three steps back in their first conference game. Poor officiating not withstanding, Nebraska continues to shoot themselves in the foot. Fumbles are a plague on this team that Nebraska has failed to cure. Add in special teams gaffs and failure to capitalize on the other teams mistakes and you wonder if Nebraska will ever be a consistently clean team? Northwestern isn’t that great this season, but they are always one of the cleanest teams in the Big Ten. If Nebraska could get themselves 3/4 of the way to that, they could become a dominant team in the West division.
Wan’dale Robinson…. Co-player of the game last week with Adrian Martinez. Robinson was so ballyhooed out of high school that if he failed to make a difference in a game this season, it would have been a disappointment. The kid delivered when called upon. That hasn’t been the case often at Nebraska in the past. It’s not clear whether Robinson should play more running back, but I think we found out that he needs to at least be in the conversation. Robinson carried Nebraska in the fourth quarter last week. If Maurice Washington can stay healthy, he gives Nebraska a one-two punch that only a couple teams in the Big Ten can match. It will be interesting to see how Coach Frost monitors touches going forward.
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Special Teams…Yikes! I don’t know if it is because of the kicking game being so unbalanced, but Nebraska put out a stink bomb last week. Kickoffs were short, the punting game looked like they were going for broke when playing it safe was maybe the better call. Nebraska will be at best a seven to eight win team without getting special teams under control. At worst, they could be lucky to win a couple more games based on the issues that it causes. The SOS for help needs to be put out in the worst way.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 44 Nebraska 36
This game is funny. Nebraska went to Columbus and scared the hell out of the Buckeyes last season. Nebraska is better than last season, so you would think they could replicate their performance. Unfortunately, Ohio State looks like they are much better too. Nebraska probably caught OSU flat footed last season, because no one outside of Nebraska thought they could win. I think Ohio State thinks that they could lose this game in Lincoln. That alone will have their attention. I expect Nebraska to play hard, but if they play anything like they did in Illinois, they won’t be able to climb out of a hole against Ohio State. I think Ohio State gets a great start, with Nebraska closing hard at the end. Either way, I will be screaming like a lunatic inside the Sea of Red, GBR!!!
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