Week 4 Reflections

     Howdy College Football fans, and welcome to the Week 4 Reflection post. I've been so reluctant to write this post for a variety of reasons, but nonetheless, I must give my thoughts and opinions. I'm sure you all have plenty as well, but we'll dive into the Huskers' heartbreaking loss to Michigan State.

     It seemed nearly impossible for the Huskers to find a new way to lose a football game, but where there's a will, there's a way. All I felt was pure pain as the Huskers fell 23-20 in overtime to Sparty despite one of the best defensive performances I've ever seen from the Blackshirts, let alone any football team. This post breaks down my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD sections of the game, but I'm sure most of you can guess what I'm going to say. Without further ado, here is my analysis of the game.

GOOD: The Blackshirts. They get to own place in this category for the incredible performance they put on Saturday. Michigan State came in with one of the statistically best offensive attacks in the nation and were completely stifled by the Huskers. The busted coverage on the Flea Flicker is really the only successful scoring the Spartans had on offense, otherwise the Huskers held them to just a couple of field goals. In the second half, the Blackshirts were absolutely amazing. Michigan State ran 15 plays in the second half for a grand total of 14 yards. With five straight 3 & outs the Husker offense had plenty of opportunity to put up points and walk out of East Lansing with a solid victory. The Blackshirts plugged up the run game, holding Kenneth Walker III to just 61 yards and 71 yards for the team as a whole. They racked up 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss as well. Giving up just 14 yards in an entire half and 13 points overall should always win you a ball game and I tip my cap to Chinander and the defensive squad. One of the best performances I've seen.

EXPECTED: Adrian Martinez is the only dangerous factor on offense, even with poor play calling. Despite the poor decision to force the slant route in overtime, Martinez once again proved he is the only true source of offensive production on this team. After a very scary start by being knocked out of the game with a big hit on the third play, Martinez returned and gave the Spartan defense headaches as he rushed for 72 yards and 2 TDs. He threw the ball fairly well and a few into some tight windows. He's had a very impressive season thus far and has helped Nebraska have a chance at winning all of these games. Imagine what he could do if the receivers got separation or the offensive line blocked for him. As for the play calling issue, there were numerous head scratchers from the game. The redzone play calls are always too conservative in my opinion as the slow-developing handoff out of shotgun to the pile in the middle of the line will not get you many points. Neither will throwing a swing pass to Brody Belt in the flats with 3 defenders around him. The true worst play call I picked up on from Saturday was the Option Fake TE Screen pass to the short side of the field where Nebraska had 1 blocking receiver on the edge to take on 4 Michigan State defenders. All the Spartan defenders flowed that direction due to the Option Fake handoff in that direction, and easily ran by the 1 blocker (who didn't even touch anyone) to blow up the play for a loss. I'm not sure what planet anyone thinks that will work, but it seems Scott Frost wants to run those plays until they break free. Good luck with that one. One last expected note is that Sparty hits hard. Their defense was also quite tough, but they brought the lumber when they hit the ball carrier.

BAD: We all know what this category is all about, SPECIAL TEAMS and the O-LINE! We'll start with the boys up front, they once again did nothing in terms of protection. Immediately on the first play of the game Martinez was sacked as the interior line dissolved way too quickly. The Spartans finished with 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss against the Husker O-line and to be honest, I thought Rahmir Johnson gave better pass protection from his running back spot. He picked up blitzes better than any of the linemen. Until they open up the run game and give 2AM just a little bit of protection, this offense will continue to miss the mark. Now we move onto my favorite problem to talk about with this team, the Special Teams unit. The Husker Special teams has lost all three games this season, and from the simplest of mistakes to fix. With Michigan State, most of the blame will go to the punt return late in the 4th quarter that tied the game at 20 because Daniel Cerni kicked the ball to the wrong side of the field. However, the bigger issue is Nebraska's punt returns, or lack thereof to be more specific. Michigan State punted 6 times on Saturday, 5 of those in the second half, and Nebraska returned 1 for -1 yard. Samori Toure let 5 kicks bounce, including the one before the drive that ended in Michigan State's punt return for a TD. That punt hit at the 41 yard line and rolled to be downed at the 21. Nebraska lost 20 yards of field position there and instead of starting out near midfield, they started back with a full field in front of them. These hidden yards are causing far more issues than the poor coverage themselves as it puts the already struggling offense in a bigger hole. I cannot fathom, let alone believe that there is not a single player on that Husker roster that couldn't be sent back to wave their hand and fair catch every punt. I'm not even worried about a return, just wave your hand immediately when the ball is kicked and catch the ball. I imagine a Special Teams Coach would have the same suggestions as I do, but apparently those aren't necessary for a Division I football team. Pathetic.

     Last statement on this game is that Frost needs to at least fight for the last chance field goal. You have time and two timeouts, there's no reason not to go for it. Personally I think that shows a lack of fight from the team and there's nothing worse than playing not to lose. It's BIG 10 Football, you have to play to win if you want to win.

Quick Hit Thoughts from around College Football:

- Notre Dame romped Wisconsin as Graham Mertz turned the ball over 5 times, including 2 picks taken back to the house. The Badgers have struggled on offense all year long, but this was an especially rough performance. Notre Dame continues their unblemished season as Brian Kelley becomes the winningest coach in Irish history.

- I alluded to the idea of a big upset from the Hogs, but just didn't have the guts to pull the trigger. Arkansas went all out then and racked up nearly 350 yards on the Aggie defense as they won it in Jerry World 20-10. Look out for these Hogs!

- True Big XII defense came in the form of Texas Tech on Saturday as the Longhorns routed the Red Raiders 70-35.

- The Cowboys knocked off the pesky Power Cats in Stillwater and are starting to figure out their offense.

- SMU had too much offense for the Horned Frogs as they won the Iron Skillet. Following the victory the Mustangs attempted to plant their flag in the TCU midfield turf, which led to a bit of a scuffle between the two teams.

- Another upset I didn't have the guts to fully predict was that of NC State over Clemson. The Wolfpack missed a game winning field goal at the end of regulation, but were still able to come out with a victory over the Tigers in overtime. Dabo and crew have lost two regular season games for the first time since 2014.

- Despite having the crowd call for the backup QB, Spencer Rattler and the Sooners survive a visit from the Mountaineers with a last second field goal to win 16-13.

- Another Big XII matchup featured the Bears and the Cyclones who could not quite complete the comeback and have now fallen to 2-2 on the season. Bears Sic 'em 31-29.

- Michigan holds off Rutgers as BIG 10 play starts for most of the conference.

- Staying with the BIG 10, the Golden Gophers were upset by Bowling Green.

- Auburn came back in the 4th to beat Georgia State at home.

- LSU held off a late comeback by the Pirate and beat Mississippi State 28-25.

- Despite a 17 point 4th quarter and forcing overtime, Mizzou was not able to knock of Boston College at home. The Eagles won in overtime and that should wrap up all my SEC Tigers.

- A quick I TOLD YOU SO on my UTSA upset prediction!

Thanks for reading all my post-game reflections and be sure to watch for a special post along with my predictions this weekend. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 4 Predictions

      Hello Football Fans, welcome to Week 4 of the College Football season! We've got some great matchups this weekend and could see some upsets, so let's dive into my predictions. I did fairly well last week and even got some of my upsets to hit. Let's see how my predictions go this week, enjoy!

Week 3 Record: 12 - 5

Overall Record: 36 - 17

#12 Notre Dame vs. #18 Wisconsin

     The Irish and the Badgers are set to meet in Chicago at Soldier Field. We haven't seen much of Wisconsin since they lost to Penn State in the opening week, but it seems as though they're ready to make a statement for their 2021 season. The Irish have had a few close calls early in the season, but are starting to hit their stride. Irish QB Jack Coan has a revenge game opportunity as he takes on his former team, and Graham Mertz has a lot to prove to the Badger faithful in a duel with his predecessor. This could become a slow and low-scoring game, which is exactly what Wisconsin would want. However, I think Jack Coan has a big day and shows Wisconsin exactly what they're missing without him. Notre Dame wins with a solid performance from Coan 24-14.

LSU at Mississippi State

     An SEC West battle that really doesn't mean anything in the long run, but is interesting nonetheless. Ed Orgeron's Tigers have struggled since winning it all in 2019, but have gotten a couple of confidence boosting victories since losing their opening game to UCLA. Their defense will be tested in this one as the Bulldogs boast one of the nation's top passing attacks with Mike Leach at the helm. MSU QB Will Rogers has 1,083 yards with 8 TDs and just 1 pick so far this season. LSU gave up 260 and 3 TDs to UCLA in the opener, so we'll see how this one goes. This could easily turn into a barn burner as I don't think either team plays defense very well. I would love to see the Bulldogs run wild this one, but this feel like a game Mike Leach should win but won't. LSU wins on the road 36-28.

Texas Tech at Texas

     The Red Raiders and Longhorns are set to meet in Austin for one of the classic Texas rivalries. This one should definitely be a shootout with two offenses that love putting up points. TTU averages 40 per game while the Longhorns average 39. The two QBs should have a fun duel, but the key to this game is Longhorn running back Bijan Robinson. The sophomore stud has accounted for 6 TDs so far on the season and can really break things open with the ball in his hands. If Texas can open some lanes for him, they should be able to run away with this. Longhorns beat the Red Raiders at home 37-28.

Rutgers at #19 Michigan

     This game went to overtime a year ago, and with Michigan's newly vamped offense, everyone is thinking that couldn't possibly happen again. Neither team has had much competition so far in 2021, so this will be a good test of who is legit. Ex-Husker Noah Vedral leads the Scarlet Knights and has had an impressive season thus far, throwing for more than 600 yards with 4 TDs this season. Michigan has focused their offense on the ground game with the two-headed rushing monster of Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins. Look for the backs to have a big game and test Rutgers defense. I would love to see the upset, but I'm not quite sure Rutgers will make it happen. Wolverines win it 34-20.

#7 Texas A&M vs. #16 Arkansas

     The Aggies are really struggling on offense, averaging just 28.3 points per game, but their defense gives up just 5.7 points per game. Arkansas has been running wild under second-year head coach Sam Pittman, averaging 41 points per game and racking up a lot of big plays each game. This game will be played in the Cowboys stadium in Arlington and is always a hard fought game with this rivalry. Texas A&M is looking for their 10th straight victory over the hogs today as well. This would be a very interesting upset, but I think the Aggies are looking to show they can handle their own business in the West. Texas A&M wins 24 17.

#24 UCLA at Stanford

     The Bruins got caught by Fresno State last week and dropped their first game of 2021. They still have everything in front of them for the PAC-12 South though, and travel to the Farm this week to take on Stanford. The Trees love causing upsets though, and have already beat one team from LA this season, subsequently getting their coach fired. That won't happen with a victory here, but I would expect both QBs to throw the ball well. Tanner McKee for Stanford has looked solid early in the season and has a chance to feast as the Bruins give up an average of 342 pass yards per game. On the flip side, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been stellar as well, but isn't the most accurate. Lucky for him, he's got a talented running back in Zach Charbonnet who is averaging 10.5 yards per carry. He was completely bottled up against Fresno State, squeaking out just 19 yards, but if UCLA can get him going early they have a good chance to win. Stanford gives up an average of 210 rush yards per game, so that could be the difference maker in this one. I like UCLA to bounce back here and get a much needed conference win to start their run for the PAC-12 South crown. Bruins 34, Trees 24.

#25 Kansas State at Oklahoma State

     A battle of unbeaten Big XII teams takes place in Stillwater as the Power Cats roll in with their fancy new ranking to take on the Cowboys. With how these teams are playing on defense, I would expect a low-scoring, close game. Oklahoma State has a very balanced offense, but has not put up the gaudy numbers they once did. K-State has only thrown the ball 48 times the entire season, but that doesn't matter much when they average 225 yards per game on the ground. Deuce Vaughn has 371 yards and 5 TDs, so he'll be a focal point of the offense today. Both teams have stout run defenses, so we'll see who can find the breaks in the defense. I like Kansas State in this one, they're playing very good football this year. Wildcats 23, Cowboys 21.

West Virginia at #4 Oklahoma

     A potential shootout in Norman is brewing as the Mountaineers come to town. WVU and OU typically have some high-flying offenses that rack up a lot of points, but both teams have sputtered a bit against tougher opponents last week. The QB battle will be key to watch here as they both can pick apart defenses almost at will. Defensively the corners and safeties will be tested early and often, but the run game is the key to victory. Neither team gives up much on the ground, so whoever can establish a run early, they can win this game. Kennedy Brooks is the feature back for the Sooners, and I think he'll have a big night. Boomer Sooner as they win it 40-28.

Nebraska at #20 Michigan State

     My Huskers travel to East Lansing to take on Sparty in an always classic BIG 10 matchup. In all honesty, the Big Red & Big Green games are some of my favorites in the BIG 10. Michigan State has dominated this season, stifling opposing offense and running over, around and through everyone as they're averaging 263 yards per game on the ground. Their offense is very balanced and could easily bust this game wide open. Payton Thorne has thrown the ball very well, accounting for 726 yards and 9 TDs. He'll have to deal with an experienced Blackshirt defense who just held one of the nation's best offenses to 23 points last week. Victory for Nebraska lies within the defense. Turnovers are crucial in this game as Sparty's defense won't let the Huskers move the ball too much on the ground. Nebraska still doesn't provide Martinez much support in the run game, so he'll need to make plays on his own and very smart throws. Michigan State's defense already has 5 takeaways on the year, so ball security will be key. The Huskers have a boost of confidence, and the passing game is looking good with Martinez hitting a variety of his weapons. The O-line needs to protect so the Huskers can fully develop their passing game and move Martinez out of the pocket with the ball. Special teams just needs to not screw up too much in this game and I think the Blackshirts can make something happen. This is a bit of a pick with my heart, but I've got a good feeling. Huskers win it on the road 23-21. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

Missouri at Boston College - The Tigers travel to Chestnut Hill to take on the quietly undefeated Golden Eagles. The Eagles will start redshirt Senior QB Dennis Grosel in place of the injured Phil Jurkovec, but I think they will have enough defense to fend off the Tigers. Boston College wins a good one at home 31-28.

SMU at TCU - The Mustangs and Horned Frogs meet for the 100th time in battle for the Iron Skillet. Tanner Mordecai already has 16 passing TDs on the season, but will be up against a much tougher defense than in previous games. TCU is led by a very under the radar running back named Zach Evans. Horned Frogs take back the Skillet 36-31.

San Jose State at Western Michigan - The Spartans travel to the state of Michigan to take on the Broncos who are coming off a major upset and shootout victory over Pitt last week. Defense will be hard to find in this game, and that favors the home team. Broncos win 34-28.

#9 Clemson at NC State - The Wolfpack host the Tigers and have a perfect chance to upset them. Clemson has really struggled to find their footing on offense this year, and NC State has a tough defense. I'm not sure they can get around the Tigers defense though, but this one will be close. Tigers survive 27-21.

#14 Iowa State at Baylor - The Bears have put up quite a few points this season, but not against much competition. Look for Iowa State to make a Big XII statement. Cyclones 38, Bears 24.

UTSA at Memphis - Memphis has been winning a lot of close games, but UTSA has a tougher defense than what the Tigers have seen so far. I like the upset here with the Roadrunners on the road! UTSA wins 31-24.

Tennessee at #11 Florida - The Gators are looking for their 5th straight over the boys from Rocky Top and and I don't see much fight in this one. Emory Jones is starting to hit his stride at QB and this is a great way to get ready for Georgia later this season. Gators chomp them 42-21.

Oregon State at USC - The Beavers travel to LA to take on a rejuvenated Trojan squad coming off a big win at Wazzu last week. Don't discount the defense of the Beavers, but I think Jaxon Dart has this team at a new level. Fight On as the Trojans win 35-20.

Boise State at Utah State - Boise State has not looked good this season and have lost a couple of really close games. This one could turn into a shoot out quick, but the Broncos are finally going to make my prediction come true. Boise State 34, Utah State 31.

Thanks for reading my Gameday Predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Week 3 Reflections

      Hello Football fans, I hope you're all having a great week! The Huskers were close last week, but couldn't quite seal the deal as they fell to their old rival Oklahoma 23-16. It was certainly a much tighter game than the experts (including myself) predicted, and it's frustrating to know victory was within reach. This post will break down my thoughts on the game as well as the other highlights from around college football this past weekend.

     Nebraska and Oklahoma renewed their rivalry for the first time in over a decade as the Huskers traveled to Norman on Saturday. Despite attempts to cancel this game from the Head Coach (still not impressed by that), the Husker faithful came out in full support of their team. I'll be the first to admit I didn't have high hopes for anything close, so the fact that this game ended in a 1 score game with Nebraska ultimately outplaying the Sooners is pretty fantastic. However, a loss is still a loss and while there's a bit of a confidence boost following this game, moral victories don't count for much against your rival on national television. I've got my breakdown of the GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below, covering all aspects of the Huskers' 23-16 loss to the Sooners.

GOOD: Adrian Martinez and the Blackshirts. I gave Martinez some props last week, but I'm ready to shower him with more after his performance in Norman. He once again has shown why he is QB1 and how the offense truly runs through him. This is a double-edged sword, but for the good category we'll focus on his ability to extend plays, run the ball effectively and make smart throws and accurate throws. His development took a while (and still has more to go), but he's playing his best football right now and it's starting to seep into the rest of the offense. The receivers had a good day, running crisp routes and getting open. Martinez threw the ball on time and was able to keep the defense guessing with his ability to tuck it and run. He will continue to be the primary factor in Nebraska's ability to win games this season if he can stay healthy. On the other side of the ball, the Blackshirts held their own against a team that typically has one of the best offensive attacks in the nation. Oklahoma certainly didn't look like it on Saturday, but that's in big part because of how well the Husker Defense played. While they couldn't quite bring Rattler to the ground, the front line kept pressure on him and contained the run game fairly well. The coverage was good and apart from some missed tackles they didn't let many big plays happen. This unit continues to be solid for Nebraska and keeps them in games. I'm sure it's frustrating for them to do their job well and watch the rest of their teammates botch it away, but if they continue to hold teams to around 20 points per game then it gives Nebraska a shot to win every game.

EXPECTED: Adrian Martinez being the only source of offense and lack of run game creativity. The other half of that double-edge sword I mentioned earlier is that Martinez is truly the primary source of offense for the Huskers. Tied into the lack of creativity in the run game, this offense wouldn't function in any way, shape or form without 2AM making plays. Losing Gabe Ervin Jr. for the year isn't ideal, but none of the Husker running backs have made much of an impact on the season thus far. It seems as though there's a new starter every week and none of them are within striking distance of overtaking Martinez as the lead rusher. I'm waiting for someone to step up and take the lead role, but there just doesn't seem to be much aggression when carrying the ball. Unfortunately they are limited by a horrible offensive line, but the running play calls (other than the QB Draw and QB Power) are not designed well at all. The zone handoffs where the line slides down and the backs have to pick a hole that opens up never results in anything and most of the time the backs are being met behind the line of scrimmage. Martinez can not be everything in this offense and needs the backs to step up and make some plays to spread the defense and take some pressure off his shoulders.

BAD: You all know what I'm going to say here, Special Teams and the Offensive Line. I really think I should just rename this category to Special Teams permanently with how unbelievably terrible they are. One week I hope they may end up in my EXPECTED category, but they always seem to surprise us with something even more stupid than the week before. This week the Special Teams unit gave up 8 points, which would've decided the game in Nebraska's favor. Culp has missed 5 field goals in the last two weeks and to top it off Oklahoma was able to block a PAT and run it back for two points of their own. I was happy to see Cam Taylor-Britt not returning punts, but there's still no blocking or any evidence of a return set up. I suppose there's baby steps involved with that, but this unit is costing the Huskers victories and it will continue to be an issue throughout the season. I don't see much of a light at the end of this tunnel. Looking over to the offensive line, they have also proven to be the achilles heel of this squad. The unit had 4 penalties by 4 different offensive linemen on the opening drive, giving an already underwhelming offense even more to overcome. Adrian is often running for his life and was sacked 5 times on Saturday with 10 total Tackles for Loss for the Sooners. The Huskers rank 117th in the nation with 11 sacks allowed through 4 games and there would be plenty more if Martinez wasn't able to save himself and make a positive play out of it so often. This unit needs to improve if the offense is going to score above 25-30 points. The BIG 10 defenses will not hold back and the Husker O-line won't hold up with their current rate of play.

     This game had a few steps forward, but without an effective run game or protection for Martinez, this offense will cripple quickly against tougher defensive units. Nebraska can start winning some of these close games, but fixing special teams and owning the line of scrimmage are two necessary factors to make that happen. They've got a tough challenge with a physical Michigan State team up next.

Quick Hit Topics from around CFB:

- Florida staged a big comeback at home against Bama, but couldn't quite punch in a 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime and fell 31-29. This does show they can keep pace in the SEC better than expected with the new talent they're breaking in on offense.

- Clemson escaped the Yellow Jackets without being stung for an upset, but the Tigers' offense is really having issues in 2021. This will need to be fixed quickly as they head deeper into ACC play.

- The Bearcats had to claw their way back against the Hoosiers, but dominated the second half on their way to a 38-24 road victory. Indiana has really struggled to find the magic from last season and Michal Penix Jr. continues to struggle. They will need to fix things quick heading into BIG 10 Conference play.

- Penn State returned with the whiteout and fended off the Tigers of Auburn to a 28-20 victory. Sean Clifford had just 4 incompletions and Jahan Dotson continues to be an issue for opposing defenses. The Nittany Lions have a tough defense and can certainly challenge for the BIG 10 East Crown. Auburn needs to find some ways to open up their offense if they want to keep pace in the SEC this season.

- The Irish put together a solid performance against the Boilermakers, they've got a tough one coming against another BIG 10 foe with Wisconsin at Soldier Field this week.

- UCLA did me dirty and fell victim to the pesky Bulldogs of Fresno State. They still have a shot at winning the PAC-12 South, but this shows some holes in their defense. Fresno State has a good set up to run the table the rest of the way as they get both Nevada and Boise State at home.

- West Virginia won the Black Diamond Trophy for the first time since 2004 after beating rival Virginia Tech 27-21.

- Coastal Carolina survives Buffalo 28-25 as the Chanticleers keep their regular-season win streak alive with 16 straight.

- The Cougars' defense forced 4 Sun Devil turnovers on their way to a 27-17 victory. BYU also continues to stay hot!

- The Tar Heels found some offense as they racked up 59 on Virginia to bounce back into the ACC Coastal race.

-  Sparty routed Miami in South Beach, exploding for 21 in the 4th quarter.

- Despite nearly 400 yards of passing and 6 TDs from Kenny Pickett, the Pitt Panthers were upset late by Western Michigan 44-41 at home.

- Minnesota shut out Colorado in their own stadium and looked very good with Potts running the ball in place of Mohamed Ibrahim.

- K-State put up 21 in the final frame to knock off my dark horse G5 pick in the Wolfpack from Nevada. Carson Strong is still slinging it well, but needs help from the defense if this team is going to make the jump. Watch out for the Wildcats in the Big XII, they get OU and ISU at home.

- SMU walked off with a 33-yard Hail Mary from Tanner Mordecai to stay unbeaten as they beat Louisiana Tech 39-37.

- USC's first game without Clay Helton resulted in a 45-14 victory where Freshman QB Jaxson Dart threw for nearly 400 yards and 4 TDs.

- The PAC-12 struggled against the Mountain West as the Aztecs of SDSU upset Utah.

- Oklahoma State squeaked one out on the Smurf Turf as they beat the Broncos 21-20.

Thanks for reading my Week 3 Reflections and get ready for predictions later this week. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 3 Predictions

      Good morning College Football fans! I hope you're ready for a big slate of game predictions because Week 3 is LOADED with big games. This post will focus on all the key games this weekend, and break down what the Huskers need to do in order to upset Oklahoma in the renewed rivalry. Don't get your hopes too high Husker fans, but anything can happen on a wild college football Saturday!

Week 2 Record: 7 - 4

Overall Record: 24 - 12

#8 Cincy at Indiana

     The Bearcats travel to Bloomington for an interesting matchup. The Hoosiers fell flat in the season opener against Iowa, but have a great opportunity to make a statement with a win at home over a top 10 team. Michael Penix Jr. has not thrown the ball well, completing just barely over 50 percent of his passes and has 3 picks on the season thus far. Cincy has yet to be tested this season, but their defense is always tough to move the ball against. Desmond Ridder and Jerome Ford have that offense humming, so we'll see if the Hoosier defense can wake up and keep this one close. I was very big on Indiana early in the year, but Cincy is hard to go against. I like the Bearcats on the road 27-23.

#15 Virginia Tech at West Virginia (Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy)

     The other historic rivalry being renewed on Saturday is the battle for the Black Diamond Trophy between the Hokies and the Mountaineers. West Virginia leads the series all time, but Virginia Tech has held the trophy since 2004, winning the last three meetings. The Hokies are coming off of a big upset against North Carolina, and are now ranked #15 in the country. West Virginia lost their opener in another rivalry game with Maryland, and really want to get that Black Diamond Trophy. They're going to be up against a very tough defense as the Hokies give up just an average of 350 yards per game. I think the Black Diamond Trophy is going to stay in Blacksburg, VA for a while longer. Virginia Tech wins it 24-14.

Michigan State at #24 Miami

     Sparty has looked really good so far this season, but now they travel to South Beach for a showdown with the Canes. Miami is in need of a higher profile win to make up for the beat down from Bama and the close victory against Appalachian State. D'Eriq King and the Hurricane offense have not been very productive, averaging just 19 points per game and 320 yards. Michigan State has been rolling on offense however, averaging 550+ yards per game. Kenneth Walker III has been a beast at running back, averaging 10.7 yards per carry and he's already racked up 5 TDs this season. The Canes have been holding the run game in check, but I like Sparty to win a big one on the road. Michigan State 34, Miami 21.

Minnesota at Colorado

     The BIG 10 and PAC-12 clash again as the Golden Gophers travel to Boulder to take on the Buffs. Colorado nearly knocked off Texas A&M last week, but gave up a late touchdown and lost the game 10-7. They showed some tremendous toughness though, holding the Aggies to under 100 yards rushing and recording 5 tackles for loss. Minnesota is steading the boat after Mohamed Ibrahim got injured in the opening week against Ohio State. Treyson Potts has stepped into the RB roll and done quite well thus far. Tanner Morgan has yet to throw a pick,  so hopefully they can keep that trend as the Gophers win a big one on the road 31-20.

Nevada at K-State

     Easily one of the sneakiest games on the schedule, you won't want to forget checking into this game. Now the surface says it's just K-State and a non-conference opponent, but this game features one of dthe best players in the nation. Wolfpack QB Carson Strong is already turning some heads and could quickly become one of the top pics in the draft. He's thrown for nearly 700 yards in two games this season and already has 6 TDs to his 2021 resume. Manhattan, KS is always a tricky place to play however, and the Wildcats do have a very solid defense. This will be put to the test early and often with Nevada tossing the ball around. The Wolfpack are my dark horse team, so I'm sticking with them. Carson Strong is going to light this one up an Nevada wins it on the road 28-24.

Purdue at #12 Notre Dame

     The Boilermakers are looking to finish the job when they travel to South Bend, IN looking to upset Notre Dame. Florida State and Toledo have given the Irish just about everything, but now Purdue takes their shot. Their air raid is led by Junior QB Jack Plummer, who is completing nearly 74 percent of his passes with over 550 yards, 6 TDs and 0 interceptions. He'll have a tougher task against the Irish's defense, but they've been giving up nearly 400 yards per game on defense. Offensively Notre Dame has really struggled to run the ball, and that trend could continue as the Boilermakers have been quite stout in that department. Jack Coan has helped keep this offense moving though, and they always seem to edge these games out. Irish win this fight 38-31.

#1 Alabama at #11 Florida

     The SEC Championship rematch is set and the Gators are looking to avenge their 52-46 loss from last December against the Tide. It'll be nice for Florida to have the home turf in this game, but that's about all that's going to be nice for them. The Crimson Tide are practically on stoppable on offense, and the Gators still have a lot of rebuilding on that side of the ball before they can keep pace with the likes of Bama. Emory Jones is still getting used to the QB1 spot in Gainesville, and this will be the first real test of the season. Bryce Young has had no issues throwing to all the talent in Tuscaloosa, racking up nearly 600 yards and 7 TDs through the air in two games. The Bama run game is still developing, but I like the Tide to Roll in the Swamp 45-21.

#22 Auburn at #10 Penn State

     The White Out crowd returns to Penn State as the Nittany Lions host an SEC foe in the Tigers of Auburn. I'm going to warn everyone, this could be a very similar game to the Week 1 Wisconsin-Penn State matchup, a defensive battle. Both teams are traditionally stout on that side of the ball, and this year is no exception. Auburn has yet to be challenged this season, but Penn State has given up a total of 23 points in two games and will be looking to slow down the Tiger offense. Auburn's defense has already racked up 9 sacks this season, so Sean Clifford will need to get the ball out of his hands quickly. This is a tricky prediction has Auburn hasn't played anyone relevant yet, and they're traveling into one of the most hostile environments in all of college football. This would be a major win for both teams, but I'm taking the Nittany Lions at home, you just can't go against them in a white out! Nittany Lions 26, Auburn 24.

#19 Arizona State at #23 BYU

     The Cougars are coming off a big upset against rival Utah and are looking to knock off another PAC-12 Opponent. Jaren Hall has jumped in at QB and done very well, throwing 5 TDs so far this season without a pick. The defense is playing well, and should give the Sun Devils their first real test of 2021. ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels has a great chance to lead his team to the PAC-12 championship, but they need to see how their offense stacks up against some more talented opponents. They've played well on defense this far, but traveling to Provo is not easy. I like to Cougars at home to win this one 30-20. 

Fresno State at #13 UCLA

     The Bruins are my new pick to win the PAC-12 South. Chip Kelley's squad is playing very well this season, I'm all phases. They had an early bye week last Saturday, but host another tough opponent with the Bulldogs from Fresno. They play teams close and nearly knocked off Oregon in the opening week. The Bruins can't overlook this game and need to be sharp. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the offense could put on a show, and I expect to see one. Bruins 31, Bulldogs 21. 

Nebraska at #3 Oklahoma

     The 50th anniversary of the Game of the Century is here as my beloved Huskers travel down Norman to spark up one of the best rivalries in all of college football. Unfortunately, I don't anticipate this game going very well for my Huskers, but here's what they need to do to win... EXECUTE ON OFFENSE! Oklahoma's defense is very vulnerable and will give Nebraska plenty of chances for points. However, with the lack of blocking and creative playcalling, I fear the Huskers will make the Sooner defense look like All-Americans. Adrian Martinez is playing well this season, but he needs help from his run game and needs to throw the ball quicker. Defensively the Huskers have been solid, but OU is another monster. Spencer Rattler has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and the high-tempo will make it difficult for the Huskers to rotate backers and linemen. The blackshirts need to get pressure on him in order to help their secondary. Last but not least, special teams cannot be an issue. The Huskers have given up too many points, turnovers and field position because of special teams and that will cripple any chances of beating Oklahoma. My prediction for this game isn't great and I'm not sure if Nebraska will even be in the same area code when it comes to the scoreboard staying close. Oklahoma 55, Nebraska 21.

Quick Hit Predictions:

USC at Washington State - The Tojans no longer have Clay Helton running the show, so they'll be out to prove something big here. Wazzu is still rebuilding and can move the ball, but don't play well on defense. I like USC to win 36-24 on the road. 

Northwestern at Duke - Both teams fell flat on opening weekend and are looking to right the ship. They demolished D-II opponents last week, so there's a lot to find out. I'll stick with my BIG 10 squad in the Wildcats as Pat Fitzgerald is too good of a coach to let his team slip in this one. Northwestern 28, Duke 20. 

South Carolina at #2 Georgia - This one should be well taken care of, but the Gamecocks are always a good opponent for a trap game. They're playing Beamer ball with some sneaky special teams and could cause headaches for Georgia early on. The Bulldogs defense will rise up though and hopefully Georgia can figure out their offense. They win it at home between the hedges 34-14. 

Utah at San Diego State - The Utes lost to the Cougars last week and now have to travel to San Diego for a showdown with the Aztecs. Charlie Brewer will need to be sharp in this game as SDSU has a very stingy defense. I like the home team on the upset here. San Diego State beats Utah 23-17. 

Virginia at #21 North Carolina - The Tar Heels fell fast in the ranks after their loss to Virginia Tech, and now they take on the other Virginia team. The Cavaliers have dominated opponents, including a 42-14 beat down on Illinois last week. UNC will look to bounce back and need better play from their offensive line to allow Sam Howell to make plays. I think they'll get it done and win at home 37-28.

Oklahoma State at Boise State - An interesting late night game sets up as the Pokes travel to Boise to take on the Broncos. The Cowboys haven't looked great this year, really struggling to put up points. Defensively, they will have a tough time with this Bronco offense. Boise is always tough to beat on the Smurf Turf, so I'm taking them at home. Broncos buck off the Cowboys 41-23. 

Thanks for reading my Gameday Predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Reflections

     Good evening football fans! I hope you're all enjoying the week thus far and ready to reflect back on the weekend of football we just saw. Despite the lack of big games on the slate, we saw some upsets and have a number of teams looking very intriguing early on in the season. This post will cover the Husker victory against Buffalo at home and the rest of the major happenings around CFB, enjoy!

     The Huskers stifled Buffalo on a hot day in Lincoln for a 28-3 victory. This was a very slow moving game, especially since running the ball wasn't much of an option for either team. Penalties were abundant for both teams in this one, and there was a very inconsistent play on all sides of the ball. This was a better looking game for the Huskers, but there are still some glaring issues of concern, so we'll see what improvements are made. Here are my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD of last week's game.

GOOD: Big plays and the Blackshirts. The Husker offense struggled to put up points apart from their big plays in this game, but when they hit, the big plays looked great! Some of them (like Adrian Martinez's 71 yard run out of a near sack) came off broken plays, but the long passes were very well drawn up. The receivers got over the top of the defense and both Martinez and Smothers hit them in stride. This won't be the case every game, but it's always nice to see some fireworks when we can. On the defensive side of the ball, very few big plays were allowed. The pass rush has dwindled since the opening game against the Illini, but 6 tackles for loss were still recorded. Luke Reimer had a fabulous game with 16 total tackles, 7 of them solo and the interception down to the one yard line. The Blackshirts will be tested in Norman this weekend, but hopefully they walk in with some confidence after two solid performances at home against lower competition.

EXPECTED: Adrian Martinez and the lack of a run game. I highlighted how difficult the inside run game (and overall run game) would be in this matchup, and it showed. Outside of Adrian's 71 yard scamper, the Huskers averaged 3.7 yards per carry as a team and totaled 149 rushing yards. The trio of backs with Gabe Ervin Jr., Sevion Morrison and Markese Stepp have been very pedestrian so far this season, and most of that blame goes to the offensive line. The Huskers continue to miss blocks up front and cannot create holes for these backs to get through. There are far more imposing defensive lines ahead for the Huskers, and this problem never goes away easy. Luckily we have an Adrian Martinez. Now I certainly have been one to criticize the 4th year starter, but I will give him his marks this season, he's not (much) of the issue. It's clear that no one else in that QB room comes close to his abilities, and this offense would be a lot worse off without him. He's continued to run the ball well and makes some great plays in touch scenarios. I will still grumble at the amount of time he takes to hold the ball on pass plays, but he has yet to throw an interception this year and is starting to hit his receivers with better passes. Hopefully he can stay healthy and keep making big plays because I'm not sure who else will on this offense.

BAD: Do I even need to say it? SPECIAL TEAMS! This week we'll focus on the horrendous kicking of FORMER ALL-BIG 10 Kicker, Connor Culp. Now, full credit to this man for owning it and talking to the media after missing 3 field goals from 32, 42 and 34 yards respectively. However, there is no reason he should be trotted out there for another field goal attempt this season unless every other kicker is hurt. I've heard rumors of injuries for Culp, but at this point he's in his own head. These are not kicks a 6th year college football player should miss. Freshman Kicker Brendan Franke has booted 12 of his 16 kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks, I don't think it's unwise to at least try him at a field goal attempt. The entire special teams unit has never shown improvement under Frost and is unlikely to this season. My last note on this is that Cam Taylor-Britt should never go back for a punt again. He had his shot and there needs to be a changing of the guard.

     Overall this was a good, confidence-building win for the Huskers. We'll see if it does much for them as they travel to take on the Sooners this weekend, but nonetheless it was a strong performance, especially defensively. The offense still struggles to put complete drives together and special teams isn't worth the words to type. Hopefully there are some building blocks here, but no matter what just appreciate Adrian, he's possibly the only true offense the Huskers have right now.

Quick Hit Topics from around CFB:

- Texas is not back, and it's wonderful. The future SEC bottom dwellers thought they'd show a quick preview of what's to come after they part ways with the Big XII, but ended up getting ROUTED by Pig Sooie as the Razorbacks (who've won just 4 conference games in the last 4 years) crushed them 40-21. Welcome to the SEC Longhorns.

- The Ducks upset Ohio State in the Horseshoe with a fantastic performance on the road. Even without their top two defensive players, Oregon was able to hold off the Buckeye's just enough to get the 35-28 victory. C.J. Stroud played very well, throwing for 484 and 3 TDs, but his late pick (and the lack of a supporting run game) led to the Ducks victory. Oregon also ripped Ohio State's defense for some big plays, so look for that to be an area of focus quickly for Ryan Day and his team.

- Colorado gave Texas A&M all they could handle in the 10-7 victory for the Aggies up in Boulder. Neither team could get much going on offense, but A&M was able to score late in the fourth to steal the victory away from the Buffaloes.

- USC's Kicker was ejected for targeting & Clay Helton was fired following the loss to Stanford at home. The Cardinal are always upset minded when facing the Trojans, and they showed it with a 42-28 romp.

- Iowa & Iowa State battled for the Cy-Hawk Trophy and the Cyclones fell short yet again. In the first ever battle as top 10 teams, Iowa dominated the line of scrimmage, putting a lot of pressure on Brock Purdy who threw 3 interceptions and was benched. I don't believe Iowa is the #5 best team in the nation, but they are playing good football right now.

- BYU upset #21 Utah at home in Provo to win the Holy War for the first time in 10 meetings between the schools. The Cougars are out to prove last year's run wasn't a fluke and Jaren Hall has been a worthy replacement of Zach Wilson thus far.

- Michigan has an impressive rushing attack with Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins. They will be a force in the BIG 10 East if they can run the ball this well all season.

- The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame had to come back and then fend off Toledo in order to secure their 32-29 victory over the Rockets. The biggest highlight from this game came when Jack Coan dislocated his finger, had it popped back in and then ran back in the game to throw the game-winning touchdown.

- Last but not least, we have the wonderful saga of Florida State. After taking the Irish to overtime and nearly knocking off a top #10 team in their season opener, the Seminoles lost to Jacksonville State on a last second Hail Mary pass where the receiver easily could've been tackled, but wasn't. Those poor fans in Tallahassee felt that one DEEP.

Thanks for reading my reflections post and get ready for GAMEDAY in Norman this week Husker Fans. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Predictions

      Good morning and happy GAMEDAY Football fans! We're into Week 2 of College Football and while there aren't as many big games this weekend, we've still got some fun matchups to watch. I've got all your predictions here and will break down the keys to victory for the Huskers as they take on the Bulls from Buffalo today. There is likely to be a number of special celebrations around the nation today as we honor the 20 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Should be a very special day and there's no better way than to celebrate with football, enjoy!

Week 1 Record: 14 - 7

Overall Record: 17 - 8

#12 Oregon at #3 Ohio State

     Week 2 opens up with a big non-conference matchup between BIG 10 and PAC 12 Powerhouses with Ohio State hosting Oregon. Both teams survived a bit of a scare in Week 1, but the stakes are much higher for anyone looking to get to the playoffs. Oregon comes into the game a bit hobbled as their star player, DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, sprained his ankle in the win against Fresno State. Thibodeaux is projected to be one of the top draft picks and even make a run for the Heisman, so not having his pass rushing presence could be detrimental to the upset-minded Ducks. He's currently questionable for the game. What's not questionable is the talent of the Buckeye receivers. This is easily one of the best receiving corps in the nation, so even if Stroud is still going through some growing pains at QB, he has plenty of help to lean on. The Buckeye defense struggled to stop the run against the Gophers in Week 1, so this could be a high scoring affair. I'll take Ohio State at home though, Buckeyes beat the Ducks 45-24.

#5 Texas A&M at Colorado

     The Aggies travel to Boulder to face an old Big XII foe in the Buffaloes. Colorado's best shot in this game is to get their ground game going in a hurry. A&M can put up points quickly, but are still rebuilding the pieces to their offense. Defensively the Aggies could be one of the best in the nation this year. They struggled in their first outing against the run, so if the Buffs can create some holes they could keep this one close. I think the Aggies will start to flex their muscles before they head into conference play though. Texas A&M 38, Colorado 21.

#10 Iowa at #9 Iowa State (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)

     The Battle for the Cy-Hawk is more heated than ever as both teams are ranked in the top 10. The Cyclones are looking to make a run in the Big XII and possibly push for a spot in the CFB Playoffs. Iowa is looking to do the same in the BIG 10 West, and after a strong showing against Indiana in Week 1, they look like they could be tough to beat this season. Iowa rarely makes mistakes, and has a stout defense that defends the pass well. Matt Campbell will need a really good game plan to move the ball and put points up on a team that ranked 8th in total defense last season. Both teams will rely heavily on their ground game with RBs Tyler Goodsen and Breece Hall going head to head for their respective squads. ISU definitely has the edge in QB play with Brock Purdy Looking ready to make some elite throws. This is always a tough fought game, but the Cyclones seem to always make a crucial mistake or two. Iowa loves to capitalize on those, and although my heart wants the Cyclones, my head says stick with the Hawkeyes. This one should be a very fun game to watch. Iowa 27, Iowa State 24.

#15 Texas at Arkansas

     The Longhorns handled a tricky game with the Ragin' Cajuns at home, but now travel to Arkansas to take on their future SEC foe. The Razorbacks have looked better in the first year under Sam Pitman, but theres still a long way to go before they're causing any upsets. The defense is young in the secondary, but they will challenge the Texas run game. Plus hearing that Woo Pig Sooie cheer all day can really get in your head. Texas needs to ground it out with Bijan Robinson again as Hudson Card gets used to the QB1 spot. I'll take the Longhorns with a 30-21 victory.

Washington at Michigan

     It's not often you get a night game at the Big House, but when we do the Wolverines have the spotlight. Washington comes to town for another interesting BIG 10 vs. PAC 12 matchup. The Huskies stumbled big time in their season opener, falling to Montana 13-7. The offense has fallen off quite a bit since the Jake Browning-Myles Gaskin days, but that was a tough performance to watch for Husky fans. Dylan Morris threw 3 picks, matching his total from the covid season in 2020. Michigan is breaking in a lot of new talent, including a young QB of their own in Cade MacNamara. He's got plenty of weapons to his disposal on offense, but the Huskies do still have a stout defense. This could be a tricky game for Michigan, and Jim Harbaugh has a habit of losing games he shouldn't. I'd like to see the Wolverines stand out a bit in this one, as I don't think Washington is quite up to snuff. That season opener could be a fluke for the Huskies, but I like the Wolverines to get it done at home. Michigan wins it under the lights 31-20.

#21 Utah at BYU (Battle for the Beehive Boot)

     The Holy War is renewed as the Cougars and the Utes meet for the first time since 2019, looking to extend their win streak in this rivalry to 10 games. Charlie Brewer looked good in red as he threw for 233 yards, 2 TDs and 1 pick in his first game as a Ute. He'll look to take advantage of a BYU secondary that gave up nearly 350 yards through the air in the opening week against Arizona. The Cougars are breaking in a new QB to replace the #2 Overall Draft Pick, Zach Wilson. Sophomore Jaren Hall has the reigns and threw the ball fairly well in the first game. He'll be facing a much tougher defense with Utah though, as Kyle Whittingham's crew usually doesn't give up many points. I think BYU has a few too many holes to replace from last season to keep up with Utah. This one is always a battle, but I'll take the Utes with a 34-28 victory over BYU.

Stanford at #14 USC

     Traditionally this is always one of the feature games in the PAC 12 Conference. The Cardinal travel to the Coliseum to take on the Trojans after falling flat in Manhattan, Kansas against the Wildcats last week. USC had a strong performance against a tricky San Jose State, but Stanford is always a different challenge. David Shaw usually has his team primed for an upset, but this one favors USC well. Kedon Slovis is out to prove he's an elite QB in the PAC 12 and has a lot of weapons to help him. Stanford really struggled to get their ground game going last week, and the Trojans gave up just 68 yards on the ground. I like USC to make a statement in this game, 36-14.

Buffalo at Nebraska

     The Huskers host the Bulls of Buffalo for their second non-conference game, and this one carries a bit more weight than Fordham last week. The Rams were a good confidence boost, but Buffalo is not an easy team to host. The Bulls have a new head coach, but a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Quian Williams is a difficult wideout to cover, and with a veteran QB at the helm, the Husker secondary will be tested again. The Blackshirts have a great opportunity to make a statement in this game, but creating pressure with a pass rush will be key. That was missing a lot last week against Fordham. Defensively for the Bulls, they pose a big threat to the Huskers at the line of scrimmage. Their D-line is big and love to plug up running lanes. This will force Nebraska to try and get the ball to the edges, which has not been very successful under Scott Frost. The O-line needs to give Adrian Martinez protection today and open up some rushing lanes. If Nebraska can get a few turnovers with a short field, that will help tremendously so the offense doesn't have to put together a long drive against this tough front of Buffalo. Hopefully the execution continues to improve and the Huskers can win this one at home 33-21.

Quick Hit Predictions from around CFB:

- Missouri at Kentucky: An SEC East Battle that probably won't mean much at the end of the year, but could still be a fun game to watch in the mix today. Based on last week with these teams, this should be a high scoring affair. Ex-Penn State QB Will Levis is settling in nicely to the Wildcats' system, so I'll take them over the Tigers 41-35.

- Pitt at Tennessee: Kenny Pickett is somehow still the QB at Pitt, and throwing the ball all over the place. Josh Heupel now runs the show for the Vols as Head Coach, and has a lot of young talent to build up. Both teams looked good in the opening games against weaker opponents, but I'll go with the experience. Pitt 31, Tennessee 24.

- Cal at TCU: The Golden Bears still can't get their offense going and Chase Garbers has not been able to improve much at QB. The Horned Frogs are looking to rebuild back, but Max Duggan should get things done at home. TCU 34, Cal 17.

Thank you for reading all my Gameday Predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 1 Reflections

      Hey Football readers, I hope you all are having a great week! This post is a bit delayed from the holiday weekend, but we had a fantastic weekend of opening football with some close games, big blowouts and even a few upsets! This post will recap everything from the first weekend of a full CFB schedule and give my breakdown of the Huskers' victory over Fordham. Feel free to drop any questions and comments on other teams you'd like my reflections on and enjoy!

     The Huskers put together a much needed 52-7 victory against the Rams of Fordham. Now this was certainly a game Nebraska needed to dominate in order to gain some credit among the fanbase once again, and they were up to the task. Husker fans saw a much more competent offense than on the road at Illinois, and were even able to watch some backups get playing time as the Huskers dominated both sides of the ball. There were some blunders here and there, but luckily the Huskers played like a Power 5 school should when in a non-conference game like this. I'll break down all my key findings of the game with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - Adrian Martinez and offensive execution. It's not the execution Brian Kelley talked about during his post-game press conference for Notre Dame, but the Husker offense played very well on Saturday, racking up 52 points and over 600 total yards of offense. This performance should give a much needed confidence boost to the offense as they prepare for tougher competition. Just the reps of well executed plays and spreading the ball around the field was good to see. I really enjoyed Adrian in the passing game and while there are still some scary moments, he's throwing well so far this season. his ability to throw a good pass is directly related to his protection however, so that will be a key factor to watch moving forward. Samori Toure had a great game and is starting to show why his name was so hyped up during fall camp. My favorite part of Saturday was the offensive play calls to get Tight-End Austin Allen the ball. He's a great athlete and should be looked to more often in this offense. It was great to see some of the backups and get everyone some playing time. The Husker offense will need to use this game as a boost heading into Buffalo to keep the offense humming and executing at a high level. I do want to give a GOOD shout-out to Fordham Linebacker Ryan Greenhagen who ended the game with 31 total tackles. Absolutely INSANE!

EXPECTED - Predictable play-calls and strong defense. While the offense did play very well, the play calls are still extremely predictable. The run game is very simple and unimaginative and you can see the swing passes coming from a mile away. The option mixes were a nice touch, but still not run the best with a lack of perimeter blocking. I've highlighted this issue before, but if I can sit in the stands and call the plays out then I'm sure the defense has a good idea of what's going on. The execution on the simple plays is one thing, but this offense needs to get a bit more creative if the Huskers want to break out in the BIG 10. There were a couple of plays that were run multiple times throughout the game I picked up on as well. One of them was a quick shot-gun pass where Toure was stacked in the slot behind Austin Allen and another receiver out wide to them on Adrian's left side. The far wideout (Martin or Manning) would run the corner off with a deep route while Allen cut underneath with an out route toward the sideline. Toure would do a short hitch into the middle of the field behind Allen and have a quick 5-7 yard bubble around him for an easy pass. A good route combo, but very easy to pick up and cut under for an interception if the defense watches the game like I do. Something to be cautious of moving forward. On the other side of the ball, the Huskers held the Rams to just 1 TD. I was skeptical this would be the case early in the game as Fordham was moving the ball up and down the field quite easily with how soft the Huskers were playing in their zone. The Blackshirts were clearly told not to get beat over the top with Fordham's passing attack, but probably could've played a little tighter coverage with the quick passes the Rams were taking advantage of early in the game. A couple of key interceptions helped stop some big drives and the second half the Blackshirts flexed their muscles. Strong performance to hopefully give them some confidence as well.

BAD - Cam Taylor-Britt trying to return punts. That's it, that's the bad. The senior captain once again tried to field an ill-advised punt and muffed it off of the bounce into the hands of a Fordham defender before going out of bounds. I'm not sure how he still has the punt return job (although Brody Belt didn't do too much better back there), and I'm not sure how much longer the Huskers can survive having him back there. I find it very difficult to believe there's no one else on the roster who know's how to field a punt and make some decent return out of it, but the special teams woes continue for the Huskers. At least they didn't miss any PATs this week!

Quick-hit Notes from around College Football:

- Virginia Tech locked down UNC with a dominant performance on defense. They could make a push for the Coastal Division this year if they find a bit more firepower on offense.

- Miami did not stand a chance against Alabama (just as I predicted) and I doubt many teams will. The Tide are going to roll through a majority of their schedule in 2021.

- Minnesota put up a good fight, but Ohio State is too talented and will outlast most teams in the BIG 10. The Buckeyes do look vulnerable on defense, but as long as Stroud can play pitch and catch with any of those receivers, they're going to put up a lot of points.

- Boise State and UCF was a phenomenal game and both teams will be very strong in their respective conferences.

- Big win for Charlotte as they knock off Duke in their first ever Power 5 victory.

- Mel Tucker has the Michigan State offense running tough. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 264 yards and 4 TDs against a rebuilding Northwestern defense, but Sparty could be a sneaky team.

- My home-state Jackrabbits went into Colorado State and demolished the Rams 42-23.

- Tulane made OU work for it, maybe the Huskers have a chance after all!

- Georgia's defense was extremely impressive, but so was Clemson's. I imagine we'll see both at the top of the rankings when the end of the season rolls around.

- Oregon had to pull one out late against Fresno State and star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux left the game with an ankle sprain. Neither of those bode well for their game this week in the Horseshoe.

- Iowa looked very impressive against "INDINIA", especially on defense. The Hawks have a good path to the BIG 10 Championship if they keep up that kind of play.

- My first I TOLD YOU SO moment of the weekend was UCLA upsetting #16 LSU in Pasadena. I really think the Bruins could win the PAC-12 this year.

- My second I TOLD YOU SO was Nevada beating Cal on the road. This may not seem like a big game, but watch the Wolfpack this season, they're going to be good.

- Texas had a strong start to the Sarkisian era, we'll see how the season goes in Big XII play.

- Notre Dame had a scare down in Tallahassee and we had one of the greatest comeback stories of College Football with McKenzie Milton returning to the field after recovering from a terrible leg injury nearly 3 years ago. He helped the Seminoles battle back and take the Irish into overtime. FSU has a terrific ground game and could certainly cause some upsets in the ACC.

- Last but not least we had a couple of fun upsets with Montana over Washington and UTSA over Illinois.

Thank you for reading my reflections post and get ready for the game predictions coming on Saturday morning. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 1 Predictions

      Good evening football friends and welcome into the first full week of the 2021 College Football Season! I had to bump my prediction post up a couple of days because there are some high profile games starting tonight and running all weekend through Monday, so you know it's going to be a good time. This post will have my predictions for all the key games to watch this weekend. If there are any other games you'd like my thoughts on just leave a comment and let me know. Enjoy!

Week 0 Record: 3 - 1

Overall Record: 3 - 1

Boise State at UCF

     A unique non-conference matchup between a couple of top tier Group of 5 teams kicks off our predictions for Week 1 as the Broncos of Boise travel to the opposite corner of the country to take on the Golden Knights of UCF in Orlando. Both schools have new head coaches coming into this season with Andy Avalos for the Broncos and Gus Malzahn for the Knights. Experienced QBs lead both offenses which are used to putting up points. UCF has a lot to replace from their departures at the running back position, but Dillion Gabriel will be slinging it all over the field yet again with a talented group of wideouts. UCF struggled on defense last year however, and Boise State often takes advantage of teams that struggle. The Broncos signal caller, Hank Bachmeier, is in his third season as well and has a troublesome duo at RB to help him out. George Holani looks to stay healthy after just 19 carries a year ago due to injuries, and he's complimented by Andrew Van Buren, a 240 lbs. bruiser who had 8 TDs last fall. Both teams want to start this new era with a win, and this could turn into a shootout quick. Boise State's best chance is to control the clock with the ground game, but if the wheels come off and this becomes a high-scoring affair, I've got the Knights pulling out the victory at home. Dillion Gabriel and the air raid from UCF will be a bit too much to stop and they win it 43-38 over the Broncos. This should be a fun one to watch!

#4 Ohio State at Minnesota

     The BIG 10 has a variety of interesting conference games to open up the season this year, and sending the Buckeyes to Minneapolis is certainly one of them. The Gophers struggled with Covid and injuries last season, but before that they went 10-2 just barely missing out on a BIG 10 Title Game appearance. Facing Ohio State who has won the last 4 BIG 10 Titles will certainly be a challenge however. Ryan Day must replace Heisman finalist and first round draft pick Justin Fields at QB, but the Buckeyes are never short of talent. They have one of the best receiver corps in the nation, led by Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Both had over 700 yards in the shortened season last year. Another player to watch is Sophomore wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Gophers defense was one of the worst in the nation last year in all major categories. PJ Fleck is hoping the depth and experience of this year's squad will fix some of those issues. Offensively, the Gophers will likely pound the rock with star RB Mohamed Ibrahim. Tanner Morgan will look to improve upon his 57.9 percent completion rating from a year ago, but most of this offense will run through Ibrahim. The Buckeyes have too much talent and depth to lose this game, but on the road with a new QB is never easy. Despite the tough atmosphere, I say the Buckeyes do fine in this one and win it 34-17.

#10 North Carolina at Virginia Tech

     The Heels head to Blacksburg for what could be one of the biggest battles in the ACC this season. Sam Howell returns at QB for UNC, along with all five offensive linemen from last year. He did lose nearly all of his weapons, especially with Michael Carter and Javonte Williams from the RB spots. However, this kid is still a Baller and UNC isn't barren for talent, especially at wideout. They'll be up against a program typically known as DBU, but the Hokies have struggled as of late, ranking 107th in pass defense a year ago. They will need to slow down UNC to give their offense a chance in this one. The Hokies have struggled to find identity on offense the last couple seasons, and with their star RB and QB gone, they need to find new playmakers to help this offense put up points. It's always difficult to play a night game in Lane Stadium and come out victorious if you're the road team, but I think UNC holds off an early push from the Hokies and puts this game away late. UNC 31, Virginia Tech 20.

Michigan State at Northwestern

     The Spartans look to open up 2021 with a win as they travel to the reigning BIG 10 West Division Champs. The Wildcats are looking to finish the season with their first BIG 10 Championship after falling short last year and back in 2018 against the Buckeyes. They've lost some key playmakers on defense, but Pat Fitzgerald always knows how to get the most out of that unit. He'll be breaking in a new Defensive Coordinator along with 7 new starters on a unit that was the top scoring defense in the land a year ago. Sparty needs to replace Rocky Lombardi at QB after he transferred to Northern Illinois, but they have experienced receivers and have won the last two meetings against Northwestern. This is a tricky game to predict, but I'll go with the home team and Pat Fitzgerald. The offense for the Wildcats has plenty of holes, but Hunter Johnson is primed for a break out year. The former five star recruit has yet to live up to the hype and needs a big season to help boost the cats. This one will be a fight, but I like Northwestern to edge this one at home 20-14.

#19 Penn State at #12 Wisconsin

     One of the feature BIG 10 matchups of the weekend takes place in Camp Randall as the Nittany Lions and Badgers look to bounce back from disappointing 2020 campaigns. Penn State started 0-5 last year, the worst in program history. Sean Clifford is now with his third offensive coordinator in as many years, but should have some healthy weapons to distribute the ball to. The Badgers often have one of the toughest defenses in the country, and that is likely to continue in 2021. Wisconsin needs to find a bit more of a pass rush, but their experienced secondary should give the boys up front extra time to cause pressure. On offense, the Badgers are looking for their next feature running back. While that search continues, they'll rely on Sophomore Graham Mertz and an experienced group of wideouts. The Penn State defense isn't easy to move the ball on however, so don't expect many points in this one. A rugged, tough and grind-it-out kind of game, and you can't ask for anything better to open the season in with the BIG 10. Penn State still has a lot of question marks on offense, and the Badgers always play well when in front of the crowd at Camp Randall. On Wisconsin as they win this one 28-13.

Stanford vs Kansas State

     An intriguing PAC-12/Big XII crossover game takes place in Arlington as the Cardinal take on the Wildcats. Stanford did well in 2020 after a bad showing in 2019, and are starting to rebuild the offense to what it used to be in recent years. An experienced offensive line will help Austin Jones break out at the running back position, but questions at the QB position will make this game tricky for Stanford. K-State returns Skylar Thompson at QB and a dynamic playmaker in Deuce Vaughn alongside him. They can cause headaches for any team, but Stanford's defense is experienced. K-State doesn't have as much strength on that side of the ball, so turnovers and offensive mistakes will likely determine this game. The Wildcats always play very well at home, but I think Stanford is looking to challenge in the PAC-12 this season. The Trees win it 30-20.

#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami

     The Tide still have Nick Saban, but that's about it when it comes to returners. Talent is never in short stock in Tuscaloosa, but this year will have a lot of new faces, including new offensive coordinator, Bill O'Brien. He'll be breaking in a new QB with former #2 prospect, Bryce Young. He'll be up against an improving Miami defense that struggled against the run last season. Bama tends to spread the ball out more nowadays, and I'm sure they'll have plenty of opportunities to in this one. Miami will need to take advantage of the inexperience on Bama's offense if they want to have a shot in this one. The big question is if Miami can move the ball on offense and keep pace. D'Eriq King is returning from a torn ACL, but he's the key to the 'Canes' offensive attack. He's got talented weapons around him to use, but this offense will only be successful against the Tide if King has a big night. While I do think he's talented, there's no way Miami has improved enough to surpass the Tide. Bama rolls 38-17.

#17 Indiana at #18 Iowa

     One of the more under-appreciated games of the weekend could be one of the best. The Hoosiers surprised everyone (except me) last season when they finished 2nd in the BIG 10 East, losing to the Buckeyes by just 7. Star QB Michael Penix Jr. is returning from injury, and has 16 other starters coming back with him. Indiana will look to air it out with a talented group of receivers against an inexperienced Iowa secondary. The Hawkeyes are a tough and disciplined team though, and never easy to beat at home. Spencer Petras is back at QB, but Tyler Goodnsen at RB will be the focal point of the offense. The Hawkeyes make very few mistakes which makes them tough to beat, but Indiana's defense is great at causing turnovers, forcing 25 a year ago. Indiana is my dark horse team to win the BIG 10, and I think they knock off Iowa on the road for major conference victory. Hoosiers 23, Hawkeyes 20.

#23 Louisiana at #21 Texas

     Steve Sarkisian is in charge in Austin now, but has a major trap game to start off his tenure. Louisiana is one of the top teams in the Sun Belt, looking for a major win to start their 2021 campaign for the Group of 5 New Year's Six Bowl Bid. The Ragin' Cajuns were unable to play their conference championship game last season against Coastal Carolina, and many have forgotten the 10-1 record they posted, including a season opening victory against the Cyclones of Iowa State. The UL offense has a lot of weapons, but the Texas defense will look to cause havoc in the backfield with their defensive line. On offense, Texas will look to get the ball in the hands of Sophomore Bijan Robinson. It will be very interesting to see how much the Texas offense resembles what Sarkisian ran at Bama last year. This could be a closer game than the Longhorns want, but I think they'll come out on top. Texas 34, Louisiana 24.

#5 Georgia vs #3 Clemson

     The Bulldogs and the Tigers highlight Week 1 with one of the biggest matchups of the season. Georgia has a lot of hype to make a run at the National Championship this year, and with so much returning experience it's certainly possible. JT Daniels leads a revamped offense, but a lot of their skill players are questionable from various injuries. Daniels will be tested early and often as Clemson returns arguably the best defensive line in all of college football. The Tigers were dominated by Ohio State in the Playoffs last year, so I would expect Dabo's defense to come out and make a statement early. Offensively, the Tigers have to replace #1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence and star RB Travis Etienne. Luckily they have DJ Uiagalelei, and he played very well last season when Lawrence was out for Covid. Clemson is never short of talent on that side of the ball, but Georgia's defense is the strength of their team and should be much better than last year's unit. This should be a good one to watch, but I like Clemson to pull away. This team is going to be nearly impossible to beat in 2021. Tigers win a big one 38-24.

#16 LSU at UCLA

     If you're looking for another upset opportunity of a ranked team this weekend, look no further than Pasadena on Saturday night. UCLA ran wild against Hawai'i during Week 0, racking up 44 points. LSU dropped off from their Championship run in 2019, finishing last year with a 5-5 record. The offense still lacks identity, but returns a lot of pieces from last season, including 4/5 offensive linemen. UCLA's defense is experienced and will be tough to move the ball on. Defensively for LSU, they will have to deal with a fast-paced Chip Kelly offense. Dorian Thompson-Robinson isn't the best passer, but if UCLA can continue their dominance on the ground from last week, LSU will have issues. I think UCLA is a team to watch this year, and I'm not quite convinced LSU has fixed their issues. Bruins complete the upset with a 30-24 victory at home.

Fordham at Nebraska

     After a disappointing performance at Illinois last weekend, the Huskers come back to Lincoln and host little-known Fordham for a much anticipated season opener with a full crowd once again in Memorial Stadium. The Rams shouldn't bring too much of a challenge to the Huskers on Saturday, but you never want to assume anything with Nebraska any more. Fordham QB Tim DeMorat has a big arm and threw for 1,049 yards in just three games this past spring as he claimed the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Year award. The newfound pass rush of the Blackshirts will be crucial in this game to put pressure on DeMorat. Offensively, Nebraska needs to step up their game and quickly. This will be a great opportunity for Adrian Martinez to improve upon his passing and for Nebraska to open up the playbook some more. This defense should not cause many issues, but the Huskers often cause more of those on their own. Opening up run lanes, taking care of the ball and just better execution overall should be the primary focus for the offense. Special Teams can't get much worse after watching last week, so hopefully we see something good there. Nebraska will win this game, but needs to look good while doing it. The 40-point spread is too steep for my liking, but I'll take my Huskers 41-21. I'll let you decide on if Nebraska scores 41 because of two field goals or one missed extra point.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Nevada at Cal - This is one of my hidden gem games of the weekend. Cal is looking to challenge in the PAC-12 this season with an experienced QB in Chase Garbers. The Golden Bears only return 4 starters on defense however, and they have to deal with one of my players to watch this season, Nevada QB Carson Strong. This kid is going to be an NFL talent, but before that he's going to light up the College Football stat sheets this season with a deadly duo at receiver and an experienced defense. Nevada wins a fun one in the season's first installment of PAC-12 After Dark. Wolfpack 36, Golden Bears 21.

BYU at Arizona - The Cougars have to replace first round draft pick Zach Wilson at QB while the Wildcats break in a new head coach in Jedd Fisch. Arizona is also trying to snap a 12-game losing streak while BYU is looking to continue upon their success from a stellar season a year ago, finishing 11-1 and ranked #11 in the nation. Could be a slow start, but I expect the Cougars to have a big day in this one. Cougars win this one 40-22.

San Jose State at #15 USC - The Trojans are favorites in the PAC-12 South, and could easily be looking ahead to next week when Stanford travels to LA. However, the Spartans of San Jose State are not a team that should be overlooked as they went undefeated and won the Mountain West last season. They certainly pose a threat, but USC has too much talent to let this one slip by, Trojans win 38-21.

Florida Atlantic at #13 Florida - The Owls travel to the swamp and with Miami transfer N'Kosi Perry at QB, they'll be looking for an upset. They have a much more experienced team than the Gators, but talent will ultimately decide this one. Depth will start to show and this will look like a tune up game for the Gators. Florida 42, Florida Atlantic 14.

Oregon State at Purdue - The Beavers and the Boilermakers have an interesting PAC-12/BIG 10 matchup to open up the 2021 season. Both teams have the ability to put up points, but stopping opponents has been an issue. The Beavers have improved the last few years and are looking to get bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. Purdue has been bowling more recently, but have had back-to-back losing seasons and a lot of talent to replace this year. I like them at home though, and Brohm should have this team ready to play. Purdue 33, Oregon State 28.

Texas Tech at Houston - Both teams fell short of bowl eligibility last season, but had a number of close losses they are looking to turn into wins this fall. This one will likely be an air raid between two gunslingers with a lot of weapons. Houston's Clayton Tune ranked 4th in passing for the American Conference last year, but the Red Raiders and Head Coach Matt Wells may have hit the jackpot with Oregon transfer Tyler Shough at QB. I like the Red Raiders to win this shootout down south. TTU 48, Houston 33.

West Virginia at Maryland - Another BIG 10 team hosting a Power 5 opponent at home. The Terps host the Mountaineers and this one could also light up the scoreboard. The QB battle will be fun to watch, but whichever team is able to establish a ground game will likely win this one. Maryland struggled to do that last year and the Mountaineers improved drastically from 2019. West Virginia wins 36-28.

#9 Notre Dame at Florida State - Two storied programs meet in Tallahassee as the Seminoles look to upset a top 10 team with the Irish coming to town. Former UCF star QB McKenzie Milton is likely going to take the starting job for FSU, but Jordan Travis played well last year and will likely get some time as well. Notre Dame will have ex-Badger Jack Coan starting, but they have plenty of other talent around him and an experienced defense that should get the job done. Irish win 38-20.

Louisville vs Ole Miss - The last game of the weekend takes place on Monday evening and features the Cardinals of and Rebels. Both teams have a lot of talent to replace after many playmakers from a year ago have moved on to play on Sundays. In a game with inexperienced teams, turnovers usually play a big factor. Neither team did well with turnovers last year, but Ole Miss was slightly better, so they get the nod. Landshark Tony and the Rebels win 34-27.

Thank you all for reading my Gameday Predictions and enjoy Week 1 of College Football! There are a lot of great games to watch throughout the season, so be sure to subscribe and share with your friends and family who love all things football. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando