Nebraska Opens as a Two Touchdown Favorite Over Baylor
9 comments so far
October 26, 2009 by
It's interesting to see Nebraska listed as a two-touchdown favorite on the road over Baylor, considering that that would require the Huskers to score at least two touchdowns. NU leads Baylor in about every major statistical category except one - turnover margin. And that's all because of Saturday's eight turnover debacle. The last time Nebraska turned it over so many times (that anyone would recall) was against Oklahoma in 1990. That was Tom Osborne's last loss to the Sooners and it wasn't pretty. OU won 45-10.
It seems pretty clear that if the Huskers can manage to avoid turnovers, they should be a considerable favorite over a team that Iowa State beat by two touchdowns. That may not be easy as the Bears have forced eight fumbles and picked off eight passes in just seven games. Baylor's also turned the ball over just as often. Beating the Bears in Waco can also prevent the Huskers from ending another streak that dates back to the glory days - over 50 years without a loss to Baylor.
Beyond the turnovers, NU will still need to come prepared. Despite the rough start to the season that Baylor has had, they still have rushed for nearly five yards per carry and passed for seven yards per attempt. They can be explosive at times as they have ten players that have made a catch or run for of at least 33 yards. Their defense doesn't seem like anything special, but statistically it's not all that different from Iowa State's. They've got a pretty decent front seven.
If the Huskers can turn things around and win this game by two scores (as a psychologically healthy NU team would), then perhaps the team can look to get back into the division race. Kansas State faces the Sooners, KU faces Texas Tech, and Missouri faces off with Colorado. Iowa State faces a resurgent Texas A&M team. If things fall right, Nebraska could again be tied atop the Big 12 North standings. Hardly a lock, given what we've seen in the last few weeks but certainly possible.
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James Moore Oct 26 09
I'd dog us until we prove we can score some points. The way it's been lately I'm not sure if this group is capable of scoring in the Red Light District in Amsterdam. . .
If anything I just want to see these penalties and turnovers stop. There's just no excuse for having 8 possessions end in turnovers. None whatsoever. These guys must have a hard time looking the defense in the eye during practice knowing that they are not helping anyone at all. . .
Get back to fundamentals. Get back to assignments and build from there. 11 people carrying out 11 assignments to make one play work. Start from there and build. . .
GO BIG RED!!!
Adam R. Oct 26 09
Nebraska will beat Baylor, and possibly even by a few touchdowns. This, however, is only because Baylor (without their original starting QB) is PATHETIC. Iowa State is PATHETIC too - but at least Nebraska moved the ball up and down the field plenty of times on them.
If NU manages to give up another 8 turnovers, then they might lose. Apart from that, they'll pull out a win. However, it's the rest of the season they need to worry about. If they can't get an offense that is at least servicable, they might be lucky to pick up another win or two. That would put them at 7-5 at best. I can't see anything better than that for them , and I'm being relatively optimistic.
Win # 5 will come against the Baylor Girl Scouts. Win # 6 is harder to find - but might come v. KU or K-State... maybe all the way to Colorado.
5-7 isn't even out of the question. Pretty sad for a team with such a solid defense.
Maybe Bo Pelini should start acting like a head coach, instead of a co-head coach/defensive coordinator. Watson needs some direction on streamlining/simplifying the offense - and a little new blood here and there wouldn't hurt anything either.
YA BOY Oct 26 09
I say move bo pelini to d coordinator and bring in a head coach who can manage the whole team not just oneside of the ball
AustinHusker Oct 26 09
I am about ready to stop reading this blog and others. Not for the articles or lack of content but I cant believe the posts. Who are these guys. Probably haven't played football since Jr High. Get a new head coach, are you insane? Two years ago people were praising the Lord that we could keep Watson because he was the second coming. 1 and a half years later he doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground. 8 TOs pathetic, Yes new coach give me a fricken break.
GBR
Matt Oct 26 09
Haha fire the coach thats a good one. What are we going to do get rid of Bo Pelini and hire Bill Callahan or maybe Dan Hawkins because he might be looking for a job soon. Not only do some of the people that have posted on this blog not only know nothing about football but also probably never finished high school. Come on "oneside" is two words one side. If you have nothing good to say you could at least use correct english. I personally don't totally blame the coaches at some point the players have to execute and make plays. I hope the coaches make them run for every stupid mental mistake they made on saturday.
Bill in Iowa Oct 26 09
I have a few ideas, but I think the best one is to have Pelini and Watson go over and knock on Dr. Tom's door and get a counseling session. The offense is having a psychological freak out and who better to diagnose the solution than Dr. Tom?
Spaceman Spiff Oct 26 09
I personally would be thrilled to see the offense score two touchdowns.
James Moore Oct 27 09
Seriously, we all wanted Coach Pelini and we still should. We ALL got who we wanted, and we have legitimate reason to be happy with what we've done so far (yes last 2 weeks included, but please remember a co-Big 12 North title, a 9-4 record, and a Gator Bowl win in year one). We've come a long ways and yes we have a long ways to go. We don't have to build a new stadium or new facilities and at a time when the economy is down we have a good bit of money in our budget as well. We've got a program and a big name brand to sell. We've got to wait for a lot of the Callahan recruits to work their way through. A lot of the mental mistakes are coming from those guys. Player and fundamental development will probably plague those guys for the remainder of their careers, at least on the offensive side. We've got to wait until Coach Pelini has 85 of HIS guys on the roster, then we'll really know what we have. Yeah I'll go nuts if we keep turning the ball over and the hurricane of yellow flags continue, but honestly we are much better off than we were in December 2007. If Dr. Tom Osborne has confidence in Coach Pelini then we should too. He knows more about football than all of us. . .
Mr. Bill in Iowa, bang on the dot sir. There is not a better consultant a football coach can have at a time like this. What a luxury for us to have. . .
Spaceman, what IF we actually put together a REAL 11/12 play 80 yard drive? Could you imagine that? Lol, but turnovers, crackhead mental errors or not, God I love this team no matter what. I'm sure we all do too. . .
GO BIG RED!!!
Scott Oct 27 09
Hey Adam,
Where was your complaining last year? Oh wait, winning cures everything.
The offense moved the ball. They fumbled. It isn't rocket science but to some bloggers on here it appears to be. Cody Green isn't the answer. Tom Osborne isn't the answer either. The coaches and players that are playing are the ones that have to figure this out. I have faith they'll get it done. It may not be this year or next year for that matter but they'll get it done. These things take time. Maybe Green will be ready next year. This year isn't his time. I promise you if he goes in he'll have more turnovers than Zac Lee. I PROMISE you.
Do you realize that with one less fumble on Saturday, there is a good chance we would have won that game? Just saying. But the bottom line is we got beat. We could finish 7-5, 6-6, 5-7, and possibly even 9-3. Who knows? I sure don't. Right now I'm more of a pessimist than an optimist and I'm thinking 6-6 or 7-5.
I need these guys to come out and prove me wrong.