The air has been pretty cool in Lincoln this week. Almost like the city if calmly prepared to host an old ex-in law at home, but this time, we don’t plan on being hospitable!
I can’t remember the last time the state has been this pumped up for a game. There is so much momentum right now in the program. Nebraska is hosting over 40 high school prospects that they have offered scholarships this weekend. Dylan Raiola is the talk of college football when it comes to new and exciting freshman quarterbacks. Deion Sanders is the perfect foil, flamboyant, yet charming, but arrogant enough, Nebraska Nice, doesn’t apply. Nebraska has lost three straight to Colorado, but certainly feels like this time, the Huskers have the horses to come out on top. Throw in a night game at Memorial Stadium and that is one wicked gumbo ready to be eaten up.
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| Bleed Husker Red Tees |
I think a lot of about Nebraska playing two games in the last 20 years that mirror a lot about the emotion and expectations of this game. In 2010, Nebraska was poised to win the Big XII, expectations were a mile high, and Texas came to Lincoln. Nebraska was looking for revenge for the :01 second game loss that Mack Brown seemingly willed into existence, denying the Huskers a conference championship from the prior year. Nebraska was teed up to blast off back into college football relevance, but the game was a disaster from the start. The Huskers played about as poorly as they could play and an average Texas team left Lincoln winning 20-13.
The next game I think of is 2014 in Lincoln against the Miami Hurricanes. Nebraska fans remembered every Orange Bowl matchup with Miami and now it was time to get them on their own turf. It was probably the most intense matchup from a non-conference game that I ever attended. Nebraska was really good that year, but for many Bo Pelini reasons, could not get over the Wisconsin hurdle. Nevertheless, the team, especially the Blackshirts made play after play in that game, feeding off the crowd that was restless and relentless. It was a great atmosphere, and Nebraska sent the Hurricanes packing with a 41-31 loss.
This Colorado game falls in that same category to me. I’m not sure Colorado is better than Miami in 2014. I think they are better than the 2010 Texas team, but I expect the Huskers to respond better than they did that day. Expectations are a wild part of these games. Nebraska should have beaten Colorado twice under Scott Frost but failed both times. You could argue Nebraska never had a shot to beat CU in Boulder last year, but the game itself certainly lead one to believe that Nebraska, with an actual offense, could have won that game. This year, with the game in Lincoln, I foresee a different outcome.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Nebraska 45, UTEP 17. The actual score was Nebraska 40, UTEP 7. The start of the Dylan Raiola era in Lincoln was about as good as it could get. Nebraska only turned the ball over once, gave up one quick touchdown drive, had some great highlight reel touchdown catches and the Huskers played over 100 players in the game. The starters were out of the game in the middle of the third quarter. Those are old school Nebraska type game events. Nebraska is good. They may be very good.
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| Bleed Husker Red Tees |
Quick Notes:
Dylan Raiola…He will get mentioned in this blog a lot this year. After last year’s quarterback roulette wheel, Nebraska looks about 10 times better this season with Raiola. He didn’t force throws. His accuracy out to 20 yards is as good as any Husker quarterback I’ve ever witnessed. He has a huge spotlight on him this week. I’m not sure how he will respond, but I will say this week has little bearing on his career at Nebraska. If he stays healthy, by the time he leaves he will be a first round NFL draft pick.
Ty Robinson…Pro Football Focus said that Nebraska didn’t blitz one time against UTEP. Robinson and the defensive line did a great job getting pressure in the backfield without any help. Robinson had to sit out the first half of last year’s game at Boulder against CU. He could be a major disrupter against the Buffaloes freshman five star left tackle, making his first start on the road.
Rhamir Stewart…Shoutout to the young safety. He had his first interception of his career against UTEP. In a game that had fewer turnovers than the Huskers may have wanted, Stewart and Malcom Hartzog both had picks. Stewart likely won’t play a lot this season, but it’s good to see the young depth building up on the Blackshirts.
Dante Dowdell…His fumble notwithstanding, Dowdell had the best look of any of the Husker running backs in the first game. I still think Emmett Johnson is going to be really good, but Dowdell has power that Johnson doesn’t. Rahmir Johnson is still the starter this week, but I could see Dowdell being the hammer against Colorado. He just can’t put the ball on the turf. Luckily, he doesn’t have a history of fumbling in high school, so it may be a one off. Nebraska has some nice options in the backfield.
Isaiah Neyor…The transfer from Texas made the highlight play of the game on a deep throw from Raiola for 59 yards. Neyor caught the ball, stumbled away from two defenders, then rebalanced himself and scored. The play was great from the get-go and Neyor certainly is someone that Nebraska should be able to use consistently this season. He and Jahmal Banks barely came out of the game before it was a blowout. It will be interesting to see if Nebraska rotates more at receiver this week.
Score Prediction: Nebraska 37, Colorado 21
To me this game is going one of two directions. One of these teams is going to take the game by the horns and handle it. I’m just not sure which team will do it. All the signs point to Nebraska finally cracking this egg and letting the yolk run. Matt Rhule has been a master at rebuilding programs at Temple and Baylor and he seems to be headed in that direction in Lincoln. Sometimes you have to walk before you can run, but honestly, with this set of Blackshirts, Dylan Raiola under center, and a crowd that will be rocking at night, this game points to a Nebraska convincing win. I’ll be there screaming my head off and GBR!!!
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