It's that time to look ahead to the 2014 season! After a season of incessant on- and off-the-field drama, I think everyone's ready for no-muss, no-fuss W's. And I think 2014 has the potential to deliver.
The 2014 schedule has 6 automatic W's. Sorry to Florida Atlantic, McNeese St, and Fresno St, but Nebraska has never lost to a non-P5 team in the Pelini years. And sorry to Illinois and Purdue, but neither of you put up much of a fight last year, even while we were breaking in a young defense and a new QB. And finally, sorry to Rutgers, but we win. Because Rutgers.
So already, Nebraska starts off no worse than 6-3 to kick off the 2014 season. But I think our home field advantage will prove the difference vs Miami, and I think we have a talent edge vs Northwestern, so I'm going to give us the W. Plus, Northwestern might have the toughest schedule in the B1G, and we're the 4th game in a stretch that includes @ Penn St, vs Wisconsin, and @ Minnesota.
I really, really think we start 8-1, with full control of our division destiny.
Wisconsin and Minnesota are the only two conference opponents that bring back enough of their playmakers to have similar or more success next season than they did this season.
-Our Minnesota game was a match up in which we had 3 Olinemen down, 2 hampered WRs in JT & KB, an injured TMart (which is as worthless as.......oh sorry, too soon), and a young defense that was just getting there feet up under them.
-Wisconsin loses some talent in the trenches but they aren't starring at a bare cupboard. Also, returning a hell of a RB. Truthfully, on paper, I don't see a conference loss to anyone other than Wisconsin.
-Iowa loses the the strength of their team in those 3 LBs, They will struggle to win 6 games again this year.
-Northwestern loses Kain Colter and other weapons.
-Purdue is Purdue and they come to Lincoln.
-Illinois is Illinois and they come to Lincoln.
-Rutgers are too little, good luck to them staying above .500 this season.
-Michigan St, even with their best team since NU joining the league, needed us to give them 5 extra opportunities to secure a win. We literally out played them in every area of the game, but you can't expect to beat anyone with the turnover battle being 5-0 in the other teams favor.
-We have two easy gimmies in McNeese & FAU (which was suppose to be a Pelini vs Pelini battle).
-Fresno St. has decent speed to attempt to keep the young guys honest and on their toes but we wear them down
-Miami will be a fun game to watch. Two storied programs trying to get back to their glory years. Miami most times look best at the beginning of year. So we shall see how that plays out.
Alternate Unis should be for either the Miami game or Wisconsin.