Why the Huskers Will Beat the Sooners
20 comments so far
October 31, 2008 by
Call me a homer all you want, but I think that Nebraska has a chance to win this game (anything more than 0% is a chance). I've always said that I have trouble separating my innate fandom from my analysis when it comes to the Huskers. I look at everything through Scarlet-colored glasses (preferable some kind of aviators). So this week, I won't even try. Nebraska has what it takes to beat the Sooners, and I'm going to tell you why.
Sam Bradford is not a mobile quarterback.
Our team has notorious issues with a QB who can escape the clutches of our defensive line. As one of my esteemed colleagues mentioned, we know exactly where Bradford is going to be: smack dab in the middle of the tackle box. If we put the hurt on him early enough in the game (like the first couple of offensive plays), we get in his head and force him to make an errant throw or hold onto the ball a moment too long.
The Huskers are a road team.
We may have just a small sample set of road games to look at, but the Huskers have played some pretty inspired football on the road, doing whatever it takes to win. They never panicked when in some tenuous situations and in fact stepped up when facing unfavorable field position, a driving team, or a losing score with time winding down.
Nebraska will play with emotion (but not too much).
This far into the season, we should finally have that balance between playing fired up and controlling what we do on the field. We shouldn't see Glenn out of position or Suh hitting the QB too late. What we will see is a team pumped by Pelini's enthusiasm of coaching against someone he used to work for.
Nate Swift or Niles Paul will return a kick for a touchdown.
These two guys have been doing a great job with returns this year, and I think with the pressure of a big game, one of them will step up. I have no statistical proof to point towards this, just a gut feeling of hope.
Pelini is game-planning specifically for OU.
After Bo made the mistake of thinking you can just resort to scheming your way out of a game against Missouri, he's made great adjustments. He and his staff have been putting together almost a different plan every week in order to prepare for the team they are against. In attempts to exploit their opponent weaknesses, we have seen a number of new formations and packages.
Pelini has made controlling the clock important again.
In one of my favorite stats, Bo has made a concerted effort to control the ball and hence the Time of Possession battle. To me, there is still a place in football for controlling the tempo of the game. I know many coaches want a touchdown as quickly as they can get it, but let's hope that Bo has brought this type of game back into style.
Stoops has had his share of bad officiating.
This game intangible will not necessarily point the officiating in our favor so much as it will just negate the negativity towards us. I felt bad for Bob Stoops in quite a few games that have been stolen from him in the past. Let's hope that officials don't determine the outcome of any game every. It's never one play that wins you the game, but one bad play (or call) can lose it.
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schob24 Oct 31 08
Great article!
If we can get 150+ yds from our running attack, we will be in great shape.
GBR!!!
kent Oct 31 08
You are a homer.
Kent Oct 31 08
Nice article and can't wait for the game tomorrow. I'm just glad that you guys fired Callahan. He was a total idiot and was your John Blake. Hopefully Bo will get you guys going again and we can restore the order and meet for the Big 12 Championship every year.
Boomer Sooner!
Nick Oct 31 08
let me get this straight. you're going to hit bradford early and often to force him to hold on to the ball a moment too long? makes sense. excellent analysis.
ou812 Oct 31 08
OU - 42 NU - 10. OU/NU rivalry is a has been. Let's talk about the CU-A&M game. Prediction: CU 28, A&M 17. Go Buffs!
schob24 Oct 31 08
Let's talk about the CU-NU game. That should be a cake walk. NU - 35 CU - 7. Go Big Red!!
darren Oct 31 08
I feel you, Tom. In today's college football world, anybody can beat anybody else.
That said...OU averages 48 points per game. 48!OU doesn't make a habit of losing home games, to say the least. And, NU has yet to really play error-free football. This is one tall task.
I want (really, really want) all of the things you are calling for here to happen. It's just very hard to imagine that they all will. Heck, I'd settle for half of them. Even that would get NU in to a winnable four-quarter ball game.
GO BIG RED!
Bob Oct 31 08
Keep on dreaming! It's not going to happen!
Dorinda Oct 31 08
Well, it's clear you are on drugs or merely mentally ill. Your observations hinge on NU playing mistake-free football. Not likely. Plus, I'm not sure which OU or which Bradford you've been watching, but I haven't seen an immobile Bradford in the games I've attended. I'm a season ticket holder.
The only way NU has a prayer of winning is to capitalize on OU's weak special teams and kicking game. Good luck on this. OU will roll up at least 50 by halftime.
Meanwhile I'm praying Tech beats the crap outta' Texas and OSU runs the table. I'll have to wait until next year to possible see my Cowboys in the Big 12 Championship game. Gundy will be 42 but he'll still be a man.
OU7times Oct 31 08
Bradford has been labled "immobile" for some strange reason. He can roll out and pass on the run with the best of them.
Now, an option QB he is not. I would think that OU's game plan will feature some rolling out if NU shows pressure early.
I would love to see a tight end reverse pass (#18 Gresham) early on to upstage any Nebraska trick plays.
OU7times Oct 31 08
Example: Paul Thomson was a roll out QB against Nebraska in the 2006 Big 12 Campionship game (ouch!), and look what he did. A beautiful 99 yard touchdown drive.
Of course, he was throwing against Grixby virtually every down.
WOW Oct 31 08
Dorinda,
Please refrain from cashing 'reality checks' for the folks here.
They live on the fantasy wealth of 'payday loans' and pay stubs from the past.
Being brought into reality too soon could result in sickness not unlike the bends which careless divers can get.
JR
BTW many here about still think they're going bowling.
Maybe at Hollywood Bowl here in Lincoln.
Clay Nov 01 08
I like your enthusiasm and wishful thinking. NU is improving, but you won't go into Norman and win where Stoops is 57-2 and has not lost since 2005, with a team that is still rebuilding. Not to mention OU will be the best overall and balanced offense NU has faced this season. But hey, I like to see that NU is improving, has the right coach, and hopefully will rekindle the best rivalry around.
tom Nov 01 08
I am not out of touch with reality or on drugs as some of you seem to think. It's clear that not many of you read the other articles on this site or you would have noticed that I clearly picked Oklahoma to win in my weekly predictions. It is a difficult exercise for fans of a team to disengage themselves from their zealotry and attempt to face reality. I try to do that every week when predicting the Big 12 football scores, and have not been over the top. In this article, I drank some kool aid right before thinking this up. I wanted the full positivity that come from being a die hard Husker fan to show through, that is totally disregarding your teams weaknesses, or somehow turning them into strengths. I seriously doubt that the Huskers will come close to winning this game. We are a year away from being competitive with the elite teams in the South, but then again, nobody thought we would take Texas Tech to overtime.
Mickster Nov 01 08
Though I do like what Pelini is doing for the Husker Nation, I do see them being a year or two away from being ultra competitive. I just don't think they have the athletes (yet) necessary to keep up with the potent OU offense. Even in their only loss, Bradford outplayed McCoy in a loss. He was hit in that game by Orakpo and other d-line from TX. He has proven he can throw on the run and rather accurately. I see OU 49 NU 21.
Boomer Sooner
Mizzou Tiger Nov 01 08
It won't happen.........you thought Mizzou spanked you.....wait till the wagon's run over the Corncobs....
OU-59-NU-14
Denly Nov 01 08
I had dream last night and Nebraska beat Oklahoma 34 to 0.
GO SKERS
kent Nov 02 08
nice work homer.
tom Nov 04 08
Thanks kent.
El Gato Nov 09 08
That paid off...