Is CU the Best Two Win Team in the Country?
3 comments so far
November 20, 2006 by
Let's face it. Facing a two-win team at this point in the season is about as exciting as a rematch with Nicholls State. But history has shown that Colorado doesn't have to have a good team to give the Huskers trouble. In 1986, the third-ranked Huskers headed to Boulder to face a 2-4 Buffalo team and lost 20-10. Of course, that Colorado team went on to win three of four to earn an invite to the Bluebonnet Bowl. The 2000 CU squad came to Lincoln for the season finale with only three wins on its resume, and yet the Huskers needed a miraculous field goal drive to stave off the upset.
But this year's version of the Buffaloes doesn't match up with the teams that were competitive with Nebraska in the past. Still, with a close loss at Georgia, the Buffs appear to be a team capable of hanging with a good team. Some might even think that the Buffs are better than their record would indicate. Others might say you are what your record says you are - in CU's case a two-win team. But are all two-win teams the same? Let's look at which Division I-A teams are sitting with two wins at this point in the season and see how CU measures up.
Jeff Sagarin's predictor ratings place the two win teams in this order:
#86 Colorado (2-9)
#92 Illinois (2-10)
#102 North Carolina (2-9)
#108 Miami-Ohio (2-9)
#113 San Diego State (2-8)
#115 New Mexico State (2-8)
#130 Louisiana-Monroe (2-8)
#143 Buffalo (2-9)
Sure enough, CU is on top. Illinois is the only team with 10 losses, and yet is second on this list due to some close losses to good teams (by seven to Ohio State and by six to Wisconsin). If CU loses to Nebraska as expected, the Buffs will likely fall behind the Illini. North Carolina has a good chance to climb off this list when they visit an 0-11 Duke team. The remaining schools all play in smaller conferences with weaker strength of schedule. So where we sit today it's fair to call CU the best two-win team in the country (there's something for the recruiting brochure).
With a win over Nebraska, they'd gain some momentum both for recruiting and for their confidence. They'd also move into a whole new weight class with teams like #70 North Carolina State (3-8). Then the debate starts all over again.
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Scott Nov 20 06
I'm expecting NU to win this game but I'm not expecting a blowout win. This is CU's bowl game, the game with nothing to lose, nothing left to play for except momemtum for next year and to end the season on a winning note.
But at the same time there have been moments when Nebraska hasn't exactly played its best football and has let lesser teams be competitive with them and have even beaten them this year.
A few bad bounces here and there could spell some trouble. But I don't think that will happen agains the Buffs. I think this team has some new life after the A & M game and having an extra week to rest and heal will hopefully pay off.
Grant Nov 20 06
Callahan's brief history at UNL has proven when he is given more than one week to prepare for a team, the Huskers dominate. I look for a solid performance and for the Huskers to win by 3 scores.
Side note...how about Norvell interviewing at ISU? Is he that hard up to be a head coach? Doesn't ISU's head job pay less than UNL's assistant job? Why take over a program that is tough to get recruits(lack of facilities)? Not to mention ISU's VERY small budget for athletics. Doesn't seem to be a good place to enter the head coaching field...but, what do I know.
Scott Nov 21 06
I can't blame the guy for wanting to be a head coach, even if it is at Iowa St. Turner Gill took over a poor Buffalo program and Frank Solich took over Ohio which was another below average program but I'm sure Turner and Frank thought the situation was right for them and Coach Norvell might be thinking the same thing. As of now, he has only interviewed. He could choose not to accept it and may not even get offered. If he leaves I'll wish him luck. If he stays I'll still support him as I'm sure the rest of the Husker faithful will.