Oddsmakers Questionable on Huskers in Early Lines
The Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada has released its early lines for top college football matchups of the 2012 season. The Huskers are listed in 5 of 16 high profile Big Ten conference and non conference games. As the season begins and wears on, lines always will shift and change each week. For now, the Huskers are not heavily favored in any conference game, but are considered close in their underdog games.
Nebraska's biggest spread is against UCLA where they are a 6 and a half point favorite to win. Phil Steele called the Husker non conference slate one of the softer ones in the conference. Nebraska may be in good shape heading into conference play if they are heavily favored in the first four games.
In the conference home opener, Nebraska looks to be a favorite by the standard field goal against Wisconsin. The Badgers do not generally perform well in this situation, as they have lost the first conference road game 6 out of the last 7 years. A prime time game at Memorial Stadium is not going to lessen the pressure on Wisconsin either.
The Huskers are underdogs in the rest of the important games listed. For Nebraska's trip to Columbus, the Buckeyes are favored by 2 points. As was the case last year in new venues, the Huskers may be overwhelmed by the quality of opponent, experiences, and crowds. It would be a surprise if Ohio State was not favored, even in the wake of the sanctions the program received last year.
Nebraska is then a home dog against Michigan by 2. This one is also unsurprising. It may be a game billed as Martinez versus Robinson, but a team effort is what led to the blowout last year. The Huskers should look to be competitive at home this fall, regardless of the opponent. This may end up being the closest home game of the year for Nebraska, and has significant division implications.
Michigan State is a home favorite against the Huskers by 5. This game is probably the biggest question mark for Husker fans. Hitting the road after playing a tough Wolverines squad could lead to a let down. The Spartans are poised to take advantage and this game may end up deciding which team would take a trip to the conference championship game.
Sources:
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/story.cfm/story/1280732
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2012/June12/DBJune12.html
6/14/2012
I’m more optimistic about the MSU game, at least from a scheduling factor. The Spartans will be coming off road games at Michigan and Wisconsin, with no bye until after they play us.
6/14/2012
I’m not too worried about M State. They lost a lot of folks and and breaking in a new QB…lots of question marks there and they are coming off a tuff part of their schedule. We played them awesome last year and won easily, while they beat almost everybody else. i don’t know if they beat Michigan last year though. Wisconsin lost a lot too…especially their offensive coordinator and their offensive line coach. Thats huge. And are breaking in a new QB as well. They won’t have a season like the last 2, nor will M State. I think we win those games, the tuffest may just be Ohio State but we can loose that game and still be OK. It’ll be a close one. The Michigan game is more important. That’ll be close too. How nice it would be to beat Michigan! Should be a good season! Payback time!
6/14/2012
Nobody but the degenerate gamblers pays attention to these things, right? (wink)
6/14/2012
This may be a year for the Huskers that everyone, including most fans underestimate this team. It’s hard to see them as unders against teams that have had so much change in the last year. On the other hand, the Huskers are looking pretty stable by comparison.
Let’s just hope this team does not underestimate themselves. If Bo & Co. can keep this team healthy, it may very well be the best we’ve seem in quite awhile. Again, only if this team hits on all cylinders when it counts, and does not beat itself, as was the case a couple of times last year.
Is it August yet? Is it August yet? Is it August yet?!? GBR!!
6/15/2012
I couldn’t agree more with JerseyHusker. I know we’ve got a lot of unproven areas where there was lots of youth on the squad, but I believe these guys are going to put it together and produce some great football. Lots of upperclassmen on this team. Lots of talent and potential coming up too. Like he said…if they can just keep from shooting themselves in the foot they’ll be alright.
Oldham,SD
6/15/2012
I think our offense is going to kick ass & take names. I keep hearing that Tmart’s unreal gap speed is back and with SRex, Bell, Turner, Cotton, Reed, etc we’re loaded to the gills with skill players. Throw in that this will be the 1st year since forever where we’ll have talent and some depth on the Oline and….....well, it’s going to be fun.
Bo unleashes Caveman and the blackshirts take a couple of steps forward. It will be enough with our offense.
NU wins the Big10 (beating the Cheeseheads twice)!
6/15/2012
bshirt…where have you heard that Taylors gap speed is back? I’d like to read that. I’ve just read about his throwing mechanics and footwork improvements.
If this team could ever gel and play up to it’s potential and not shoot themselves in the foot so much, yes, they could win the division and then the conference tittle. Then who knows?
Question is, can they get it all together? They’ve got the talent. it’s all coaching from here, but from what I’ve heard about what they’ve been doing since the bowl loss, it’s pretty impressive. Players getting together for regular meetings, position tests, off the wall military exercises in a swimming pool with fatigues on (even if you cant swim), drills where it forces someone to step up and be leaders. Innovative stuff. That’s what I like to see.
Oh, and beating the cheeseheads twice…Priceless!
Lincoln, NE
6/15/2012
Re: stability and JeresyHusker
I like Red Kool-Aid as much as the next guy, but I don’t see this staff as overly stable. Granted, we have had good stability through the first three years of Bo, and his proven loyalty to his staff is likely to produce longer term stability. However, this year is the first year as DC for JP, with new coaches on the DLine and Secondary and second year for LB’s. This is only the second year for OC along with wide receivers and Oline - Garrison. Much of the change on the defensive side may be mitigated with Bo putting more focus there and possibly less outside distractions. Also, I’m hopeful for continued improvement on offense and like coach Beck in the longer term. But I don’t see us as the model of stability.
Oldham,SD
6/15/2012
PE;
Well, it’s mostly by a couple old buddies of mine that still live in Lincoln. But no real “proof” I can give you at all. Of course, I fully trust my compadres’ and similar stuff keeps coming out of the bag one way or another.
Here’s one…..
http://my.journalstar.com/post/Husker_Extra_Group/Husker_Extra/blog/a_day_at_football_school.html
Hard to take much of anything by watching 100-plus guys run wind sprints. I did notice Taylor Martinez was finishing first in many of the line sprints. That might be expected because of his speed, but it did catch my attention that he was going full bore during a June conditioning drill.,
There’s some others on Rivals free board. If I find them I’ll shoot it to you.
6/15/2012
Cool, that would be great. Thanks. I loved that article. They are innovating and that’s what I like to see. They’re doing things and are on the move. Everything is getting better. Fusing together as it were. Nebraska for a long time was the leader in weight training. The revolutionized it. Most schools have caught up now. There was a time when they were way ahead of just about everybody with our facilities. Now lots of teams have great facilities. Now other teams are starting to get ahead of us on a few things so it’s about time we come with something new that has never been seen before. Like that training program they have been out selling that’s supposed to be awesome. We need to innovate and lead the country again in something. I like all these special workouts and drills that are designed to bring out leadership and build team chemistry. It’s good! Because when you think about it, when we have shot ourselves in the foot, it just didn’t look like everybody was on the same page.
Tadedge, I just don’t see it that way. I’m preferring to look on the bright side and see what’s possible, instead of looking at things as a reason for it holding us back. I look at 2 years now with everything in place (like no new conferences - those kinds of distractions) as a good thing, you see it as not enough experience. That is fair, and everything you said about the lengths of time all coaches have been here is true. To stat this year, our OC and DC have a combined 1 year experience at their jobs. Not the best scenario. But does it tell the whole story? No. It all depends on how you look at it I guess. I’d rather be saying “see I knew it” when they do good, as opposed to “see i knew it” when things collapse. Like the old song says…accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.
We will be better than last year just because they are older and they’ve done it a lot more now through sheer repitition, and there are no distractions. They’ve learned the new system by now and are perfecting it in all it’s subtle nuances. It’s still not perfect, but there is consistancy in things in general, more team chemistry, more focus on the mastering their failures, etc. It all bodes well for the future (a phrase I like a lot when looking at the Cornhuskers). However good this season is though, I do think the next year after this will be even better. Half full or half empty?
I also think these guys have a chip on the shoulder too for last year ending the way it did. They’re better than that and they know it. I have a feeling they’re gonna show it.
6/15/2012
Tadege, try putting some sugar in your Kool-Aid. It’s tastes much better that way.
I agree Bos staff has not been the model for stability, but the team itself is red shirt deep and has more field time than most of the conference. The scheme on D hasn’t changed a lick and the offense will be the same as the prior year for the first time in way too long. Add to that the team unity, and I think it makes for a tasty mix. Now if they can avoid another “Northwestern moment” and keep the momentum ending penalties down…
Oldham,SD
6/15/2012
PE;
Very good! I couldn’t possibly agree more that we really, really need a new unique edge with something. Bingo.
I think Bo is coming along just fine and is getting more relaxed & aware of where our biggest needs are. It took TO nine years to win a conference title. I think a little patience is in order.
Just recently we’ve recruited two WRs who very well may have hands of glue. Oh boy, that’s simply excellent and precisely what the doctor ordered. WRs who can actually catch the ball is a HUGE, huge asset. So nice to see that’s being addressed. Bo gets it.
Loading up on the big uglies the last several years is another desperately needed task that had to be done. Bo gets it.
While many posters here pine for a Z. Taylor/Z. Lee conventional pocket passer who’s runs are measured with a sun dial, a fully healthy Tmart is going to wow them into reconsidering this year I bet. “Especially” if the Oline & WRs can take a step forward.
Having Beck in his 2nd year doesn’t hurt either. Bo back to working almost exclusively with the defense is money too.
Yepper, the glass is half full.
GBR!!