[Husker] Breakdown (was cupcake games / schedule)

[Skylar Dodds]

Yeah, VaTech's QB is aweful mobile and it's going to be tough to play that,
although with the speed we've seen out of Cody Glenn and Eric Hagg, I'm not
as worried as years past.  But the positive side is, the scouting report
says he's not a very accurate thrower.  He's was 9/14 for just 48 yards
(long of 10) in his only start vs Georgia Tech.  He did have 15 carries for
87 yards and a TD tho (23 long).  I think we win this one in a close one.

Misery is a mystery to me (wordplay intentional).  There's no doubt we're
going to have to bring our A++ game for that one.  I think we're pretty
significantly better than the defenses they've faced so far and I think
we're capable of putting up 40+ on their soft defense (the main reason they
WILL NOT contend for a NC this year).  Maclin is a stud and rumor has it
he's still pissed off that Callahan told him he couldn't come here, so that
could be bad.  I said going into the year that we had a 35% chance of
winning that game, I'm actually taking it down a notch to 25%.  Mostly
because I didn't realize how good of a RB Washington is.  I thought losing
Temple would hurt them worse than it has.

My 'prognosticated' breakdown of the rest of the schedule:

09/27 Virginia Tech - Win 

10/04 Missouri - Loss

10/11 @ Texas Tech - Loss, but close.  We just don't play well in Lubbock,
ever.

10/18 @ Iowa State - Win, they're still ISU

10/25 Baylor - Win, they're still Baylor

11/01 @ Oklahoma - Blowout loss.  Sorry, they're the real deal this year.  I
would guess something to the tune of 48-20. 

11/08 Kansas - Toss up.  They're still pretty good, but they really miss
Jordy Nelson among others.  I'd say 40% chance of winning since it's in
Lincoln.

11/15 @ Kansas St. - Win.  This program is inches from a total plummet and I
think they're going to give up on their season by this time like they did
last year.  That and I hope Freeman never wins a game vs NU.

11/28 Colorado - Win.  I'd have a really tough time with this one if it
wasn't in Lincoln.  I think they're improved and moving in a much better
direction than KSU.

That gives me 8-4 or 9-3 (KU win) and I think that's about right.  I
wouldn't be devastated with 7-5 either if we lose 2 of 3 to CU, VT or KU,
but I just don't think that's going to happen.  I really like how me matchup
against all 3 of those teams.

--
Skylar

-----Original Message-----
From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
Nick Chevance
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 11:20 AM
To: William E. Laughlin
Cc: Husker Digest
Subject: Re: [Husker] cupcake games / schedule

On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 10:39 AM, William E. Laughlin

Now, does that improve our chances against VaTech?  You bet it does.
The mobility of their QB scares the pants off me, but you can't coach
speed, so the Pelini brothers will have to come up with different ways
to combat that.  Take away his other tools.  He's not likely to be
able to beat us with speed alone if we limit him and his improvising.
I expect to see several adjustments as the game goes on.

Does that improve our chances against Missouri?  To beat them, we'll
have to play way better than we have so far.  But I don't see us
giving up 62 or 59.  If we give up 42, I suspect we can put up at
least 35 on them.  That's an improvement over last year.  And I, for
one, would feel a certain amount of satisfaction with that.

If we continue to show that style of play, and style of coaching,
throughout the rest of the year, I too would be plenty happy with a
7-5 record, but I'm not so certain that 8 wins isn't doable.