NU's 2008 Schedule Looks Favorable
12 comments so far
December 6, 2007 by
Changes to the 2008 football schedule may have made Bo Pelini's inaugural season as the Cornhusker head coach just a little bit easier. NU will still play all of the same teams. But, changes to when NU has its bye week and the sequence in which they play those teams help the Husker cause.
Opponent Shuffle
Nebraska's game against Virginia Tech has been moved to September 27th. The move is apparently to accommodate television coverage. NU was originally scheduled to play Western Michigan on the 27th. So now, the Huskers will open with the Broncos on August 30th instead.
The Benefits
The schedule change gives NU an open week on September 20th. The bye will give NU extra time to prepare for its most challenging non-conference opponent, Virginia Tech. Also, in recent years, NU has had a very late bye week, in November. Having an additional time for players to rest and heal prior to the start of conference play could pay dividends for the Huskers.
Also, NU gets to open with one of its weaker opponents now. No offense to Western Michigan fans, but they were 5-7 this year and finished third in the MAC's western division. To be fair, New Mexico State was only 4-9 this year and San Jose State was 5-7, both in WAC play. So, who am I to handicap who is best or worst? Maybe I'm making assumptions based on name recognition.
Home Cooking
NU's 2008 schedule is also heavy on home games to start the season. Of NU's eight home games, five come to open the year, including the conference opener against Missouri. This should help the team establish plenty of confidence before finally venturing on the road against Texas Tech on October 11th.
The schedule for 2008 certainly sets up as well as any I have seen in maybe 10 years for NU. I hope Pelini and his staff can make the most of it.
» Enjoy this article?
Send it to your friend or get Husker news by email!
Related Stories: Scheduling
Post a comment
Jason Dec 06 07
On a related note, I just updated our schedule page. You can find the schedules from 2006-2010 here.
Anyone want to road trip to Washington with me on 9/18/2010? :)
bnahusker Dec 06 07
Hey Jason,
If you are hiring someone to carry your bags, and you are buying the tickets, my wife and I would love to see Seattle!
This schedule, and Bo's attitude ought to be good for at least an 8-4 season.
GBR
Side Note: Omaha, you are in the thoughts and prayers of of Husker fans here in Missouri.
doombob Dec 06 07
I called 9 wins before we even picked Bo as our coach. Let's hope that we can have a Mizzou or KU type run next year. Really, I don't care if we only win 7 as long as we aren't on the receiving end of any blowouts. Callahan could have won at least 7 of these games next year.
Darren Dec 06 07
There was a time in college football when you could "pencil in" which games were likely wins and losses. I think this past season - both nationaly and for NU - put an end to that habit.
NU could win 10 or 11 games. Or...they could win 5. And that's the case for just about everybody. Just ask Miami, or Alabama, or Kansas.
Take 'em one at a time and win as many as you can. Count when you are done.
bnahusker Dec 06 07
Is Watson confirmed yet?
WOW Dec 06 07
doombob said "I called 9 wins before we even picked Bo as our coach."
and I responded to taking the under on that with dinner at Misty's on the line.
That offer still stands if you're up for it.
"Nebraska wins > 9 and I buy,
BTW I also said I see losses on:
20 Sept Virginia Tech (now 27th)
4 Oct Missouri
11 Oct Texas Tech
1 Nov Oklahoma
8 Nov Kansas
28 Nov Colorado
JR
WOW Dec 06 07
My post above got cut off.
Maybe the use of characters caused it.
This is what I meant to say.
"Nebraska wins more than 9 and I buy, less than 9 and you buy."
Then I got to looking and that would be wrong to treat it as an over-under when you called 9 not more than 9.
So, the amended offer is;
"Nebraska wins 9 or more and I buy, less than 9 and you buy."
JR
James Moore Dec 06 07
Darren,
REALLY favorable. Like 2005, this early 5 game stretch at home can get these guys comfortable, confident, and build up some momentum going into the Virginia Tech game. We'll beat Virginia Tech. Glennon is a solid QB and Taylor is a playmaker but with Pelini out there suddendly I feel very, very, very confident about this game. Glennon can be rattled, Coach Pelini is a master at disguising blitzes, and at times Virginia Tech's offensive line does not handle pressure well (especially disguised packages). Nobody in the ACC is as good as Bo when it comes to this, or even throws the same looks he does. It will be a very, very, very, different look for them. I don't think that their WR's will be able to easily separate from our DB's. Blue, Thenarse & Asante COULD be the cornerstones for a good secondary. I love Thenarse and Blue was thrown to the fire and did well. . .
Texas Tech and Oklahoma were very young teams this year. They are going to be tough for everyone who crosses their path and should be preseason top-10. Missouri should be the preseason favorite in the North (Note in my scenario we'll go into the Missouri game on the heels of a big win against Virginia Tech the week before so if you can beat Tech, then you can certainly beat Missouri). After that I honestly believe we should win the rest, hands down. Only Venerables at Oklahoma is as clever with disguising blitzes as Coach Pelini so I believe that we'll beat Kansas and possibly Missouri too. Missouri as a sneak up team (no expectations and slept on until the end) was dangerous BUT it is much different to play with a bulls eye on your back from the beginning of the season and everyone coming after you, week after week. Not sure how Missouri will be able to handle that. . .
Watson stays? Fantastic news. This offense should crank out some huge numbers. Can't wait to see "I-right 34 blast" & "I-left 35 blast" again because they will complement ANY zone-stretch we might run. Throw some belly reads out of the occasional spread look, a senior playmaker QB, potentially the best offensive line in the North, young WR's who won't have to learn a 8-lb playbook, depth at IB (Lucky, Wilson, Glenn, Helu & Castille), and there is REASONABLE cause for 9 wins. . .
These guys will do it because of the intensity of spring ball/fall camps. Only the most intense, hungry, and fire-breathing players will make the field. Wait until you hear the stories about how hard the hitting was in the spring/fall camps. Practice with game intensity and you will be prepared for game conditions. . .
Forever Red! Dec 06 07
What do you think the points will be on that South Dakota State game in 2010? I might bet a Misty's dinner on that one.
Grant Dec 07 07
NU is going to need that extra week for Va. Tech. That freshman QB is extremely gifted and will be even better as a sophomore. We all know mobile QB's have absolutely killed the Blackshirts in the past...even when Bo was here in 2003. They'll need a big time Blackshirt performance for that match up.
Beav Dec 10 07
Best case scenerio...the Huskers will be lucky to finish with a 6-6 season,7-5 with some luck!
Be patient!!
Beav Dec 10 07
Huskers will be lucky to finish 6-6...