[personal] RE: [Husker] USC-Nebraska odds

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker Fans,

SRL>   1). Barely beaten a feeble KSU squad
SRL>   2). Beaten a CU squad which has -by the looks of it now- imploded.

Yeah, now, but at the time they were North champs! I know the North
was down last year, but that's still a quality opponent at the time.
You can't rate them based on the 'following' implosion.

SRL>   3). Beaten Michigan- maybe the most overrated team in the Top 20 of both polls.

There were / are a lot of people who don't agree with that statement,
that's clearly your own opinion.

SRL>   4). Beaten LA Tech- a team which isn't exactly a 1-A powerhouse
SRL>   5). Beaten Nicholls State- enough said.

Obviously our opponents have not been very good thus far, duh.  The
reason for the optimism from myself and I think several others on this
list is because we look WAY better against our early opponents than
last year.

We looked pathetic (at least offensively) in all three 'preseason'
games.  Maine 25 - 7, Wake Forest 31 - 3, Pittsburgh 7 - 6.  Our
defense carried us through those 3 games, without a doubt.  I believe
the defense had actually outscored the offense through those 3 games,
but I'm not sure of that.

So far this year, we've blown out both opponents and have had 2nd and
3rd stringers in for mop-up duty for the 4th quarter (and probably
should have in the 3rd quarter last game). That's something we haven't
seen much of in 5 or 6 years, regardless of the opponent! I don't
think we saw anyone but Dailey the first year until TT drilled us and
Beau Davis came in and complete about 50 straight passes to the 'Men
in Black'.

I'm not saying we're going to win, but I think we have a chance for 5
reasons:

1) This team has a fire to it.  They play hard every game, even when
they know it's going to be a blowout.

2) The offense is 2,000,000 times better than last year.  The blocking
is better, passing is more accurate and smoother, etc. etc.  Taylor is
night-and-day better than 2005.

3) USC, although LOADED with talent, is very young and as vulnerable
as they've been in 4 or 5 years.  I don't think it's fair (or smart)
to lump this team in with the 46 out of 48 teams.

4) **Important** Odds ARE NOT based on what Vegas thinks they will do.
Odds are based on what Vegas thinks it needs to do to break even on
wins and losses. In other words, if a billion is bet on NU and a
billion is bet on USC, Vegas is VERY happy. and they just take the
'fee'.

5) My MAGICAL CRIMSON RED GOGGLES SAY WE'RE GOING TO WIN!!  (LOL)

-- 
Go Skers,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net