[Husker] Gator Bowl thoughts?

[Andrew Smith]

Here's my earlier reply (which for some reason never made it to the 
List) to Steve Reichenbach's analysis (which suggested that Clemson is 
not as weak as Nebraska fans think).

It may be national perception that the ACC is week, but such a 
perception is wrong.  According to Sagarin (as accurate and objective as 
any computer poll I know), the ACC is actually the strongest conference 
this year (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc08.htm).  Yes, the 
Big12 has more top teams than the ACC, but we're talking the entire 
conference.  While the Big12 has 5 teams with losing records, the ACC 
has only 2.

Perhaps Clemson is seen as weak, but I doubt the nation views Nebraska 
much better.  And comparing them objectively (using Sagarin), Clemson is 
the 4th best team in a better conference while Nebraska is the 6th best 
team in its conference; Clemson played a tougher schedule, has beaten a 
top-30 team while Nebraska hasn't; and as Steve points out, Sagarin 
favors Clemson.

I believe Nebraska will need to play a good game - certainly better than 
they did against Colorado - to beat Clemson.

Andy