2011 Nebraska Football Predictions with Schedule and Preview
Nebraska makes the move to the Big 10 this year after finishing up their final season in the Big 12 by going 10-4 and earning a birth in the Holiday Bowl where they lost to Washington, 19-7. This year they return at least 6 starters on both sides of the ball iNCluding QB Taylor Martinez.
This is a good defensive team that has been criticized on the offensive side of the ball, yet still an offense that produced 31 points per Game while giving up 17 on defense. The defense ranked 11th in the nation in total defense while the offense was a respectable 44th.
Nebraska is currently favored to win the new legends division in the Big 10 and in fact is favored to win the entire Big 10 at odds of less than 2-1 at most online sportsbooks. That’s a price and an opinion we don’t agree with. For starters, look back to last season, specifically the losses. To Texas AM, Washington, a Texas team down a notch and then Oklahoma as well as close Games against Oklahoma State and Iowa State. It was a good year but not a great one and certainly not a dominating one by any measure.
It’s never easy to make a Conference switch. There’s a big differeNCe in the style of play in the Big 10 when compared to the Big 12. The Big 10 is more run oriented and the Nebraska defense ranked just 63rd against the run last year. Head coach Bo Pelini has revamped the coaching staff bringing in 4 new coaches and will also run a new no huddle offense.
The Cornhuskers will have a target on their backs all year long. Call it a welcome to the Big 10 party and the Schedule looks to be tougher than their final one in the Big 12. Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan and Iowa are all waiting in the wings, chompin at the bit to welcome their new rivals. On the plus side, they get Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa at home.
again, this team lost to most of the good teams they faced last year and wasn’t able to put all that much distaNCe between themselves and some average teams. There’s no reason to believe they are going to come into the Big 10 and walk right through these teams. We’ll take more of a wait and see approach from a betting standpoint. The Cornhuskers should be 4-0 when they head into Wisconsin for their first Big 10 Game and that’s when the fun will start. They should win a minimum of 7 Games and could win as many as 9.
2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Schedule
9-3-11 CHATTANOOGA
9-10-11 FRESNO STATE
9-17-11 WASHIGTON
9-24-11 at Wyoming
10-1-11 at Wisconsin
10-8-11 OHIO STATE
10-22-11 at Minnesota
10-29-11 Michigan STATE
11-5-11 NORTHWESTERN
11-12-11 at Penn State
11-19-11 at Michigan
11-25-11 IOWA (Fri.)