The Bone Yard

It depends on what our defense will be like. Which one is going to step out. If like last year, probably 9-4 again, if like 2 years ago, the sky is the limit.

In general I feel like we're being over looked. A lot of well deserved hype surrounding the state of Michigan this year, but I don't think there is a clear cut leader for the division crown yet. MSU, UM, and NU are all pretty even right now in my book. Whoever wins the tough road games is who will be in Indy this year imo.

We lost to UM for several reasons. We were having an off day overall; it was a tough environment, bad punts, fumbled punt-return, UM faked a FG early in the 3rd which killed any momentum of ours. It just snowballed out of control. Not to mention dual-threat QB's are like kryptonite to our defensive system(see Wisconsin and NW games as well, and tOSU before Miller was injured).... We handled MSU(and Iowa) so well because of the offense they run, and the game was in Lincoln.

I'm more scared of MSU on the road than I am of UM at home. And that might be the difference in the division-champ this year.

I think Nebraska as we stand right now is an 8-4 type squad. There is enough talent on the roster to just as easily be a 10-2 team also. I don't think anyone in the country would be able to completely shut down the Husker offense if all the main parts as we know them now are healthy. I think Nebraska will be able to score enough points to win games, but the defense could really be anywhere from not good at all... to well above average. I feel good about it only because Pelini is a defensive guru and he has a proven track record of finding success on D.

So... I tend to drink plenty of red koolaid and believe this years Nebraska squad will surpass almost everyones expectations as they stand today.

I believe that NU finds a way to win 9 or 10 games this fall, mostly due to what I project to be a top 10 scoring offense(nationally and YES I am serious) and a slightly above average defense that will take some chances and end up causing quite a few turnovers when opponents are forced into a scoring race with the Husker offense.

yes

No.

Nebraska could win it and will compete for the division championship. But both Michigan and Michigan State finished ahead of Nebraska last year and both have as much or more returning this year. Outside of being a Nebraska fan, there's not much reason to have Nebraska in front of them.

For what it's worth -- Andrew Maxwell is a junior. Starting full time will be different though, no doubt.

As for your prediction -- Absolutely 100% agree. We caught them at a great time last year, after they'd been beaten down. This year? It's even worse for them, as they don't get their Bye until after us. Beyond that, their offense just plays into what we do well. No DT QB? Beautiful. Maxwell, per the MSU posters, is much more mobile than KC was -- But still not a DT kind of guy.

You're darn right we are, but I don't mind it because being picked in the preseason doesn't win games. It's merely for pub and ego boosting.

MSU will be good defensively but the just lose a lot offensively. Cousins, Cunningham, Martin, Nichol, Linthicum are lost. They do return a Bell and a SR laden O-line though.

Do you think it's a closer game, or do you think we lose?

We need to find a way to get the ball to our playmakers. Turner reed I can't believe we still haven't gotten better at getting the ball tO reed. Coaches need to learn.

NU finished last season with a thud, got blown out in conference play a couple if times, lost to Northwestern at home & will likely not be ranked in the top 15 preseason. What is there to hype up with a similar team coming back this year? Yeah they should be better but not dominant week in & week out.

We are a dangerous team that will contend for the division however not close to an elite team I am afraid. Hopefully Bo has recruited/developed the Dline & LBers who are athletic enough to contain a dual threat this year.