A Palatable Prediction
Already on newstands you can pick up 2012 college football preview magazines. While it wouldn't be a bad way to spend Father's day, some of us just couldn't wait that long. There are a number of choices available, but Athlon has became a favorite because of the way it presents a nice digestible one-page snapshot of each team that crams a lot of good information in. Athlon projects each team's performance over the course of the season and finishes with its bowl predictions. Last year, they correctly forecast Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. This year, they have NU headed to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Oklahoma. It may not be the Rose Bowl, but that's an outcome most Husker fans could get excited about.
The whole slate of bowls they predict is intriguing. Michigan would face off with Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Who wouldn't want to watch that game? Then Alabama takes on Texas in the Sugar Bowl, which could actually make some of us root for Nick Saban. The national championship game would feature USC against LSU. That could be a good one. Then the Orange Bowl would be stuck with Florida State and Louisville. Even in June, that one doesn't sound very appealing.
The mechanics of the prediction certainly make sense. Nebraska goes 10-2 (6-2 in the Big Ten) and Michigan goes 11-1 (7-1), to set up the Rose Bowl appearance. They don't spell out where the wins and losses come, but you could guess that NU loses at home to Michigan and on the road against Ohio State while the lone loss for Michigan comes in Columbus. OSU drops a game on the road at either Michigan State, Penn State, or Wisconsin. They aren't in competition with Nebraska or Michigan in the postseason as part of their penalty for the year.
For some fans, sitting out another conference game might be a tough pill to swallow, as might losing to Michigan at home. It's hard to ignore what a rare and special athlete Denard Robinson has been though. The good news is that he's a senior, so October will be the last time Nebraska has to contend with him (as an added bonus OSU's Braxton Miller comes off of the regular season schedule in 2013). The consolation prize of breaking the BCS bowl drought and getting to face off with a historic rival in Oklahoma is a nothing to sneeze at. Who wouldn't want a ticket to that game? The rankings by Athlon would tell you that the Sooners would take the victory. But it's not like Athlon gets everything right.
6/11/2012
An appearance in the Fiesta against Oklahoma sounds fantastic. An appearance in the Rose Bowl sounds a whole lot better.
Oldham,SD
6/12/2012
I’ll take 10 - 2, no problem!
6/12/2012
First of all - I am back visiting NE and it is great to see people everywhere walking around with Husker gear on, in mid-June! There truly is no place like Nebraska!
What a great prediction - I have thought all summer that our Huskers may not be quite good enough on both sides of the ball to win the B1G. However, the thought of a BCS bowl against OK would be fantastic! Athlon has been my go-to mid summer football mag for years and they have been as accurate as can be expected, so here’s to hoping they are again this year. Now I am off to buy some Husker gear!
6/12/2012
I sure would like to go into Ohio States back yard and whip em again. Should be a good game really. I just got to wondering how long it will take Urban Meyer to get OSU back to where they were…being a dominate force in the conference. It won’t be long because he doesn’t have that far to go. It won’t be this year, and maybe not next, but after that look out. I can’t really get a read on how much difference Urban will have this soon though. They will be better than they were last season, you can pretty much count on that. Can’t say the same about MSU or even Michigan for that matter. What scares me is quite a few National Championships lately have been won by coaches early in their career. Could Urban be next?
If we don’t win the conference and still get to play in a BCS bowl for the first time in a long time, I will consider the season a huge success…especially if the team doesn’t kill themselves all over the place again. If they play a respectable game all season and you can tell they are taking full advantage of the talent level we have, AND get to go to a BCS bowl, I’ll be happy. Win it and I’ll be a hog in hogs heaven. Beating Oklahoma like that might be better than a trip to the Rose Bowl come to think of it!
6/12/2012
Well, do remember that we were only a 3 point home loss to Northwestern away from playing for the conference title in our first year. Now, I grant you that the interceptions in Wisconsin and the fumbles in Michigan were regretable, but to say that we are not going to be a better team this year than we were last year is a bit off, in my opinion. We have alot of returning starters. We have 1 year of B1G ball behind us, and those we lost to now have to come play us at our house. (MSU the only exception).
MSU is a good football team. They have been holding their own in the conference lately. However we are 6 - 0 against them all time and well, let just say my expectations are a bit higher than what has been reflected here. Besides, who’s to say we can’t play OK for the Natty?
6/12/2012
Pardon me, that should read (Northwestern the only exception).
Wakita, Oklahoma
6/13/2012
I would like to see that matchup for sure.
I will be taking all bets on that game.
6/13/2012
Johnny_Nebraska - Hate to break it to you but we weren’t just a 3 point loss to NW from the CCG. We lost the tie breaker to Michigan and MSU had one conference loss to our three. Even if we had beat NW we still wouldn’t have played due to the Michigan loss.