Nebraska

This is what I feel like this week trying to get this preview out.  Tough to get back on this horse.

A bye week usually is filled with lots of optimism and enjoyment relishing our most recent win. Until Purdue, we were 10-0 going into a bye week.  Coincidentally, we were 10-0 coming out of bye weeks, so nothing to dread on the horizon.  You have to go back to 2008 for the last time we lost going into a week off when we lost to Penn State 6-13 in the Shoe. Urban's success managing both ends of the bye week made us forget about Tressel's dreadful record (6-1 going into one, but 3-4 coming out).

Yes, sitting on this loss (although foreseen by me) has sapped me of my energy.

But then Frank Sinatra snapped me out of it.  He's right you know. And, there's still a lot to play for (trying to sound optimistic here): beating Michigan, B1G title, and even the National Championship.  So here we go:

Nebraska.  Coached by former Husker QB and UCF coaching darling, Scott Frost. Well, Stan, not much so far. With the return of their Prodigal Son, the Huskers were expected to start 3-0, then slog through a brutal B1G schedule, and get to a bowl. Well, a thunderstorm canceled their opener versus Akron. Then Colorado and Troy upset the Cornhuskers at home. Losses at Michigan, v. Purdue, at Wisconsin and at Northwestern soon followed and Frost started out 0-6.  However, he has started the slow turnaround as Nebraska beat Minnesota and bye week replacement Bethune-Cookman to get to 2-6.

Despite returning 8 starters on Defense, the Cornhuskers haven't been so good. Put it this way - they only allowed 9 points to FCS Bethune-Cookman and their points against average is still at 33.3/game. They cannot stop either the pass or the run effectively.  But, if you are a fan of Big Red and want to find a bright side, the points against is improving the last 6 games from 56, 42, 41, 34, 28, to 9. 

Offensively, they have no issues. Freshman QB Adrian Martinez (2) (no relation to former Husker QB Taylor Martinez) can run and throw.  Maybe think of Tate McSorley, but younger and in red.  Despite Colorado's No. 44 trying to end his career, he's back and fully healthy.  He can present problems.

Senior RB Devine Ozigbo (22) is 6th in the B1G in rushing, averaging just under 100/game. Nebraska has 2 quality WRs in Senior Stanley Morgan, Jr. (8) and Sophomore J.D. Spielman (10).  Morgan is NOT the son of the WR for the New England Patriots during the 1980s, but Spielman IS the son of Vikings GM Rick Spielman, which means is he is the nephew of Buckeye LB great Chris Spielman. The two wideouts have combined for 97 receptions, 1,324 yards and 12 TDs in 8 games. Yeesh.

Nebraska has offensive firepower and defensive liabilities. They also have one more thing - an inability to stop committing penalties.  Believe it or not, the Cornhuskers have committed more penalties for more yards than the Buckeyes have this season.  Look here.  

And, honestly, you don't mess with Ohio State and Urban Meyer after a loss.  The Buckeyes have won their last 5 in a row after a regular season loss by an average of 35 ppg.  Ask Sparty what it was like to play OSU after the Iowa game last year.  Urban is also 18-2 at Ohio State with a week to prepare and 48-4 in his career.  The Buckeyes are 4-0 v. Nebraska in the Shoe and the Cornhuskers haven't beaten a ranked team on the road since PSU in 2011.  All signs point to the Buckeyes opening a can a whoop ass on Nebraska.  Vegas has the line at Ohio State by 18, which seems ridiculously low, and an over/under of 72.5, which seems ridiculously high . . . and yet,

There's something gnawing at me. Kind of like a rat in a metal bucket trying to escape a flame. (Warning: Link may not be suitable for all viewers. Proceed with caution).  Maybe this Ohio State team is not as good as past teams.  Maybe the coaches cannot fix what ails this squad.  There has been a large shadow over the program this season and it returned not only with the Purdue loss, but also the rumors of Meyer leaving, and the facts about his headaches & health.  Maybe Nebraska has hit rock bottom and is trending up, while Ohio State peaked v. PSU and is still heading down.  Things just seem off - for example - oh, I don't know, having a "Black Out" during a Noon kickoff instead of at 8:00 p.m.

Remember Vegas' insanely high over/under of 72.5?  Pay attention to that. Just for comparison, in our 8 previous games our 2 highest over/under lines were 69.5 and 67.  Vegas knows we will score against the Huskers, and Vegas is pretty darn sure Nebraska will score against us.  This has the makings of a track meet and an uncomfortable one at that. 

Schaef says:  Ohio State 44, Nebraska 37.  Take the Huskers and the points and, I can't believe I'm saying this, bet the over.

Bonus: At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, I hope we feel much better than Bruce Springsteen