Week 4 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 4 Football fans! Out of respect for myself and all other Husker fans, we're just going to move past the Oklahoma game last week and just say everything was BAD for my analysis. There's not much I can find in that game to talk about, so we will just move into Week 4 where we have a lot of great matchups and the Huskers can't hurt me because they're on BYE. I've got predictions on all the big games for this week, so read on and enjoy your College Football Saturday!

Week 3 Record: 9 - 6

Overall Record: 31 - 21

Maryland at #4 Michigan

     Michigan hosts Maryland for their first BIG 10 game and arguably first challenge of the season. The Terps offense can put up points, but Michigan's defense is likely to stifle that pretty quickly. I wouldn't expect this one to stay close for long. Wolverines 42, Terps 21.

#5 Clemson at #21 Wake Forest

     The Tigers have their first major test of the season as they go on the road to take on a very sneaky Wake Forest team. The Demon Deacons had a scare last week nearly losing to Liberty, but have a big chance to make a statement. Sam Hartman will likely impress, but I like Clemson to get themselves back in the top teams conversations. Tigers 35, Demon Deacons 30.

#17 Baylor at Iowa State

     A tricky road test for the Bears as they travel to Ames to take on the undefeated Cyclones. Iowa State will be up against a tough defense with the Bears and will need to get a ground game established quick. Baylor needs QB Blake Shapen to be accurate as ISU will be looking to force turnovers. These Big XII shootouts are tough to pick but I'll take the Bears close on the road. Baylor wins 28-24.

Minnesota at Michigan State

     Sparty was shellshocked out in Seattle last week and needs a big recovery game. However, the Gophers have very quietly dominated (very bad) opponents so far this season, but will have a big first test with BIG 10 foe Michigan State. Star WR Chris Autman-Bell is the X factor in this one, especially as Sparty gave up nearly 400 yards through the air last week. I'm anxious to see if Minnesota is just looking good on paper or in real life, so I'll take the upset here. Gophers 27-21.

#15 Oregon at Washington State

     The Ducks take their high-powered offense on the road to Pullman as the 3-0 Cougars await. Wazzu's big statement so far this year was a road win against Wisconsin, but the Ducks are riding high after their big win over BYU. I think Bo Nix has a big day and Oregon wins this one 38-21.

#10 Arkansas vs #23 Texas A&M

     A classic Southern rivalry takes place in AT&T Stadium as the Hogs take on the Aggies. Texas A&M had a good win against Miami to bounce back a bit after the loss to App State, but Arkansas' offense is a much bigger challenge. The Hogs' defense has struggled though and they've had to battle the last couple weeks, especially against Missouri State last week. The Aggies are still piecing together that offense, and I had Arkansas as my darkhorse, so I'll stick with the Hogs. Woo Pig Sooie as they win 31-28.

#20 Florida at #11 Tennessee

     The Gators travel to Rocky Top to take on the rival Volunteers in a SEC showdown. Fun fact of the day, Gator QB Anthony Richardson has yet to throw a TD pass this season. The Vols have Hendon Hooker who has 15 straight games with a TD pass and leads one of the top offenses in the nation. They run fast and will keep defenses on their heels. This game will be decided by turnovers and right now the Vols are looking like the team to make it happen. Big day up on Rocky Top as the Vols win 36-31.

#7 USC at Oregon State

     BIG upset watch for this game in Corvallis. The Trojans have looked great thus far, but strange things happen late at night when you play Oregon State. The Beavers love to keep games close and WR Tre'Shaun Harrison has caused a number of issues for opposing secondaries. This will be a big challenge for Lincoln Riley, but I think his offense will be up to the challenge. Good game late night in the PAC-12 as USC survives Corvallis with a 31-24 victory.

Quick Hit Predictions

TCU at SMU - Bounce back for the Mustangs, 38-28.

Duke at Kansas - Undefeated Basketball Blue Bloods do battle in football and I'm all in with the Jayhawks. Rock Chalk 35-28.

#22 Texas at Texas Tech - The Red Raiders are in desperate need of a bounce back win. Rival Texas comes to town for a classic Big XII shootout. Too many turnovers gives the victory to the Longhorns though. Hook 'Em as Texas wins 33-24.

Notre Dame at North Carolina - The Irish need to find some offense and need to find it quick. UNC is averaging over 50 points per game on offense but have a difficult time slowing down opposing teams. That's a lot of points to cut though, I've got UNC winning 35-28.

Indiana at Cincy - The Hoosiers have flirted with an L for far too long. Bearcats win 34-21.

Arizona at Cal - Golden Bears at home 36-24.

James Madison at App State - Be careful Mountaineers, James Madison with a surprise 33-21.

Iowa at Rutgers - If you don't like offense, this will be a great dumpster fire for you to watch. This feels like a dumb Iowa victory. Hawkeyes on the road because of a dumb play 17-13.

Wisconsin at #3 Ohio State - Buckeyes BIG 45-21.

K-State at #7 Oklahoma - Boomer Sooner 42-17.

Stanford at Washington - The Huskies are on the CFB map after last week's big win over Sparty. They continue their upward trend with a 38-21.

Thanks for reading my gameday predictions and enjoy all the college football today.

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 3 Predictions

      Good morning football readers! I apologize for the late post but to be completely honest, I'm on a bachelor party weekend and it's going a little too well. Nonetheless, I wanted to make sure you got all my thoughts and opinions on all the big games this weekend. Hope y'all enjoy your College Football Saturday, and I hope I get my voice back soon to cheer on the Huskers.

Week 2 Record: 8 - 8

Overall Record: 22 - 15

#22 Penn State at Auburn

     The Nittany Lions travel down south to take on War Eagle. The Tigers will rely heavily on star RB Tank Bigsby to run the rock. He's the focal point of Auburn's offense, so Penn State will need to tackle well. Offensively, look for Sean Clifford to keep slinging it and test that Auburn defense. He will need to be complimented by Nick Singleton. Penn State's new RB is a star in the making, already racking up 210 yards on just 20 carries. The road atmosphere will be tough, but I don't think Auburn has enough firepower to keep pace. Penn State 28, Auburn 21.

UTSA at #21 Texas

     The Longhorns fell to Bama last week by 1 point at home, and lost their star QB Quinn Ewers in the process. Backup QB Hudson Card also injured his ankle in the game, and has been limited all week. There is a lot of recover just outside the injuries from a loss like last week's, and now they have to host a very dangerous UTSA Roadrunner squad. Look for this one to be close, and if it's close for too long UTSA will take it. The Texas defense looked legit last week though, so I'll give them the nod. Longhorns 33, Roadrunners 24.

#11 Michigan State at Washington

     Sparty takes it on the road to the PNW with a game against the Huskies. Having visited that campus over the summer, I know the UW faithful will be rowdy and ready for this one. Ex-Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. is now with the Huskies and has plenty of experience taking down BIG 10 foes. Both units have yet to be tested so this will show a lot about each team. Sparty's defense is not one to let up though, so look for lots of pressure on Penix Jr. I have always been a big fan of him, especially during his time as a Hoosier. I have a really difficult time picking this game, but I'll take the Spartans due to Mel Tucker's experience. Big test for new HC Kalen DeBoer, but Sparty edges this one out 27-24.

Texas Tech at #16 NC State

     The Red Raiders travel to the East Coast to take on the Wolfpack. Watch out for a shootout in this one, we have two gunslinging QBs in Devin Leary (NC State) and Donovan Smith (TTU). Leary is a veteran and has nearly 450 yards with 5 TDs and just 1 pick so far this season. Smith is a dangerous dual-threat QB that NC State doesn't often see much of in the ACC. This one has sneaky upset written all over it, but I'm not sure TTU is quite to the level of back-to-back upsets in consecutive weeks. Wolfpack hold off the Red Raiders at home, but this one is close. NC STate 38, TTU 35.

#12 BYU at #25 Oregon

     The Cougars had a big win at home over Baylor last week, but now get on the road to Eugene to take on the Ducks. Oregon has a chance to make a new statement with a victory over BYU, but that won't be very easy. This will be a spicy QB battle once again as Jalen Hall and Bo Nix lead their respective offenses. It's tough to get a read on Oregon's defense, but I'm guessing they'll step it up in this one. I think BYU has something special going on though, so I'm taking to Cougars. BYU wins on the road 31-28.

#13 Miami at #24 Texas A&M

     Texas A&M not only lost $1.5 Million to Appalachian State, but also College Gameday after their loss to the Mountaineers. The Aggies dropped 18 spots in the rankings after last week, and now have to recover against a very motivated Hurricanes squad. Both offenses are still trying to find their rhythm with these teams, but defense will be the focus of tonight. Expect a battle in the trenches and lots of pressure on the QBs. Jimbo Fisher needs a big win quick to erase the App State memory, and Miami needs a big win to establish the Mario Cristobal culture. This is a tough one, but I'll look to the Aggies to bounce back. Another good one in College Station! Texas A&M 35, Miami 31.

Troy at Appalachian State

     When you take $1.5 Million and College Gameday from a Top 10 Team, you get your own game analysis in my predictions! The Mountaineers could easily be 2-0 but lost a shoot out to UNC 63-61 in the opening week. Regardless, they have a high-powered offense with playmakers all across the field. Ex-Clemson QB Chase Brice leads the charge with nearly 500 yards and 7 TDs through the air. He's got a lot of talented receivers to throw to, and watch out for the ground game with Camerun Peoples. This is a team about to flex their muscles. Mountaineers win 42-21.

#6 Oklahoma at Nebraska

     There's not much to say other than this is a big chance for the Huskers to make a statement. New head coach, historic rivalry, and a top 10 team visiting Lincoln all point in the direction of a perfect upset. The Husker offense has proven to be able to put up points, but OU is run by one of the best defensive minds in College Football. They have yet to be tested this year, so this will be a good matchup for the spread attack of the Huskers. On defense, the Blackshirts have been taken away, and until some tackles are made, I don't think they will be given back. As usual, Oklahoma has a lot of speed, so the Huskers will need to wrap up and tackle well. QB pressure on Dillon Gabriel will be crucial for victory. This game has a lot of emtotions wrapped up in it for Husker fans, and I'm excited to see the game management done by Micky Joseph. Huskers will have some fire in this one, but unfortunately the Sooners will be a little too tough to stop. Boomer Sooner as OU wins this one 41-28.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Fresno Stat at #7 USC - Quick home stint against the Bulldogs between PAC-12 Road games to Stanford and Oregon State? Upset watch on this one for sure. I think the Trojans pull it out, but Lincoln Riley better make sure his team isn't asleep. USC 34, Fresno State 24.

Purdue at Syracuse - The Orange and Boilermakers meet up for what is likely to be a gunslinging shootout. Both teams feature QBs that love to air it out. I'll say BoilerUp in this one, and it will be a fun game to watch if you're looking for an interesting one. Purdue 38, Syracuse 35.

Cal at Notre Dame - Marcus Freeman has yet to get his first win as ND's head coach. They host Cal from the PAC-12 in this one who are led by ex-Purdue QB Jack Plummer. Watch out for the air raid over the top of the Irish. They need a win soon to get things back on track. Notre Dame holds them off 30-21.

Tulane at K-State - The Green Wave could catch the Wildcats peeking ahead to Oklahoma in this one, so upset watch is on high alert in Manhattan. Deuce Vaughn running the ball complimented by Adrian Martinez on the ground is the best way to go as K-State can rely on their defense again. I think the Power Cats handle it though and beat the spread. 35-17 K-State.

Kansas at Houston - The Cougars have had back to back OT games and now host a sneaky good KU offense. Rock Chalk on the road as they upset Houston 38-34.

Mississippi State at LSU - Mike Leach is looking to spoil Brian Kelley's first SEC game with an unmatched air raid attack. This just feels like a Bulldog upset. Mississippi State wins a stunner 31-27.

SMU at Maryland - Watch out for the Ponies on the road. Maryland has a big road trip to Michigan next week and could easily be sleeping on SMU. Not a wise choice and QB Tanner Mordecai will make them pay. SMU upsets the Terps on the road 36-31.

Thanks for reading my predictions and big shout out to the Appalachian State Chancellor for giving 3 students a year of tuition for the best College Gameday signs. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 and Scott Frost Reflections

      There is certainly a lot to reflect on from this past weekend for Husker fans and many others throughout college football. Obviously the big news is the firing of Husker Head Coach Scott Frost. I'll give you all my thoughts on that along with a full break down of Saturday's loss to Georgia Southern. There was plenty of chaos this past Saturday, so read on and let's get caught up before heading into week 4 of the college football season.

     A 45-42 loss at home against Georgia Southern proved to be that final straw to break the camels back. The Huskers had no answer on defense for the Eagle's passing attack, even when simple adjustments would've likely changed the game. Offensive production was good, but once again, poor game management led the Eagles to having the ball last with time. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD break down for you.

GOOD - Husker offense & Brian Buschini. I do tip my cap to the Husker offense in this one. While not facing a very formidable opponent, Nebraska was able to move the ball consistently throughout the game and racked up 575 yards. That, combined with 42 points, usually wins you the game... usually. Buschini was also a bright spot, punting 4 times with a long of 65 and average of 50.5. He did a fabulous job of flipping the field, forcing Georgia Southern to drive the length of the field all game long. Hopefully he won't be used too much moving forward as Thompson gets into more rhythm with his wideouts and Anthony Grant continues to run the rock hard. Solid performance by the offensive unit. O-line still struggling with protection though.

EXPECTED - Dumb mistakes. This is a common theme with Husker games over the last few years, but particularly in the form of penalties, this game had a lot of dumb mistakes. The Huskers racked up 10 penalties, accounting for 77 total yards. Georgia Southern only had 3 for 15 yards. There were false starts, holdings, pass interference, and the dumbest of them all was an offsides, BY A CORNER BACK! The Huskers have been plagued by penalty issues for years, but they seem to become more and more boneheaded each game. This needs to be cleaned up immediately. Other dumb mistakes come from coaching. No adjustments on defense, throwing the ball to the endzone with 3 minutes left in the game versus bleeding the clock. Game management is absolutely key.

BAD - There's a lot of words I could use to describe the defense in this game, but we'll stick with bad for simplicity. The "blackshirts" gave up 642 (409 Passing) and 45 points to the Sun Belt reps, Georgia Southern Eagles. There were no adjustments made to counter the quick, underneath passing game. There were no signs that anyone on the defense knew how to make an open field tackle. There was no pressure on the QB. There was just nothing with this defense. The GSU game play was simple, Nebraska is going to play 12 yards off the ball with outside shade (closer to the sideline) in the secondary, so we'll just run crossing routes and slants over the middle. Easy pitch and catch for Kyle Vantrease, who nearly doubled his passing total of 224 yards from last year when he played against the Huskers as a member of Buffalo. The solution was simple, press up the secondary and force the receivers to beat you over the top. It was clear that Vantresase could not throw a very accurate deep ball, so make him beat you down field where your safeties can help in coverage and force more picks. This was horrendous coaching despite being a very simple fix to a fairly basic offensive attack.

     Overall it was almost sickening to watch. By the middle of the third quarter you knew the last team to touch the ball would win the game, and you also knew Nebraska would not have the ball last. I tip my cap to Clay Helton and Georgia Southern. They went after it and took full advantage of the loose and lackadaisical defense the Huskers put up. I actually enjoyed the Eagle's offense so much I took some of their plays and implemented them into my offense with the 8th graders I coach. Sometimes the Husker defense shows me exactly how to game plan for 8th grade football. Oh well, onto Oklahoma.

     The shocking announcement on Sunday morning was that Scott Frost had been fired from his head coaching position at Nebraska. I was actually in the middle of coaching my 8th graders to a 21-0 victory, so naturally I've got all my materials ready to apply for the job. My career goals aside though, this firing led me to two tracks of mind. The first track is simply a reflection of the past 4 and 1/4 seasons for Husker Football. I was incredibly excited when Scott Frost was hired at the end of 2017, and could not have ever imagined an end to his tenure like this. After a 16-31 record as Head Coach of the Huskers, the boosters and Athletic Department finally had enough. I still cannot understand how he managed to fail this job in such a horrific fashion. Frost was given every resource imaginable, brought in some talented players and even some talented coaches, had full control of everything that touched Husker Football, had the entire Husker Fanbase drooling over him, yet he still could not deliver. I don't begin to claim understanding on the pressure that falls upon the shoulders of those who don the title of Head Football Coach at Nebraska, but with so much potential it's sad to see the opportunity squandered.

      The second track of mind goes to the wastefulness of the Athletic Department. Not necessarily the extra $7.5 million they're paying Frost to leave 3 weeks early, but more so the waste of the season. I'm excited to see what Mickey Joseph brings to the table, and certainly wish him all the best. However, if you fire Frost in the offseason, like any other program would, you now give your new coach an opportunity to start their culture build and set a baseline with year 1 of their tenure. The Athletic Department was looking to make a statement on Sunday by letting Frost go, but you spent the offseason restructuring his contract so you don't have to pay as much come October 2nd. Again, I know money's not an issue in these situations, but you now wasted the time you spent changing the contract, you waste the $7.5 million and worst of all, you delay the Husker Football program's ability to grow and move on by another year minimum. This is a great power move for Trev Alberts as he'll be able to pick his coach and then stick around to oversee them for a while. Certainly an interesting series of events and more to come as the coaching search begins. I'll have a post soon about who my top candidates are and why.

Other Highlights in College Football:

- Alabama narrowly defeats Texas 20-19 on the road in Austin. The Longhorns' defense was very impressive, but I think the bigger story is how Bama finds offense outside of Bryce Young.

- 3 Top 10 Teams fell on Saturday as Texas A&M lost to Appalachian State at home, Marshall beat Notre Dame in front of Touchdown Jesus, and the Baylor Bears fell to the BYU Cougars on the road in overtime.

- Kentucky went into the Swamp and smashed the Gators with a 26-16 victory. Watch out for this team in the SEC.

- Another SEC dark horse is Arkansas. The Hogs let South Carolina back in the game for a bit, but turned it on wild with a 23 point fourth quarter, sealing the 44-30 win.

- Tennessee pulled a big upset on the road at Pitt in overtime.

- Washington State surprised everyone by knocking off the Badgers in Camp Randle. Maybe there's still hope for the Huskers in the BIG 10 this year.

- Iowa State FINALLY beat Iowa as the Hawkeyes scored their first and only TD of the season thus far. No matter what happens on my CFB Saturdays with the Huskers, when Iowa and Texas lose it's still a good day.

- Kansas State has a very tough defense to watch out for and ex-Husker QB Adrian Martinez played well in rainy conditions versus Mizzou.

- Duke and UNC escape with close victories. Unfortunately the Blue Devils got theirs over Northwestern in Evanston, so that doesn't help the Huskers.

- Lots of close games down to the wire and overtime this past weekend. Watch out for teams like Oregon State, Kansas and Texas Tech for sneaky upsets this year.

- Star QB Sam Hartman returned for Wake Forest this week after dealing with blood clots. It was great to see him back on the field as he threw for 300 yards and 4 TDs to help lead the Demon Deacons to a 45-25 victory.

Thanks for reading my reflections post and watch for my Week 3 Predictions coming soon. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Predictions + Husker Game 2 Reflections

      Well, it's that time of the week where I have to talk about the Husker game as I lead into the Week 2 Predictions. Luckily this one will be fairly short and sweet as I was unable to watch the game live down in Cartagena, Colombia. The vacation was well worth missing the game, especially the first half, but I promise I did my homework and have a strong analysis leading into this week. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD for you along with all the Week 2 Games to keep your eyes on. This is a big post with lots of information, so sit back, read on and enjoy!

GOOD - Anthony Grant as RB1. Grant has quickly established himself as the lead ball carrier for the Huskers and I'm very much enjoying his running style. Despite a very lackluster offensive line, Grant is able to break off large chunks by powering through tackles and racking up a staggering 6.2 yards per carry, most of them after contact. He needs to be a focal point of this offense moving into conference play. He could be a really special talent for this team, but he needs more room to operate. Too many hit at or behind the line of scrimmage are going to take a toll.

EXPECTED - Struggling offensive line play. This is not a great thing to expect, but it's clear this unit is going to struggle each and every week with something. This unit gave up 3 sacks to North Dakota last week and there are far more formidable pass rushes ahead on the schedule. The o line will need to step up each week and provide better protection and rushing lanes.

BAD - Lack of tenacity from the Huskers. From everyone I've talked to who was either at the game or watching it on TV, there was a common theme about the team: they were flat. There doesn't seem to be a tenacity or killer instinct (yet) in this unit, and in my opinion that has been missing for years. Every good football team has that extra level of tenacity. When there's a big play needed or when you have the momentum and need one more play to essentially pull the plug on the opponent, they dig deep and bring it out. Nebraska has been lacking in this area. I'm sure there's a variety of factors that contribute to this, but in modern day college football you need to bring the extra edge in order to win. Let's hope they pick it up soon, because myself and the rest of Husker Nation has been waiting for a while.

Overall, the Huskers looked strong in the 4th quarter and were able to close out the game with some big plays and make the scoreboard look a lot better than the 17-17 tie sitting in the middle of the third. We'd all love to see the Huskers bring it all together for a dominating performance, but it's just not quite there yet. There were some bright spots in this one and more to build on. Let's just hope they get this airplane flying before BIG 10 Conference games come around.

Week 1 Record: 10 - 6

Overall Record: 14 - 7

#1 Alabama at Texas

     The Tide roll into Austin as the Longhorns await their opportunity to put a major stamp on the Steve Sarkisian era. Neither team had much of an issue with their week 1 cupcakes, so this will be a good challenge for both squads. Texas RB Bijan Robinson will be the focal point on offense for the Longhorns. He'll be up against one of the best defensive units in the nation. Bama QB Bryce Young will look to pick apart the Texas defense. These two players are the focal points of this game. Robinson will do his best to keep Texas in it, but I think Bama's defense will be too much for him and the Tide will roll 44-17.

#24 Tennessee at #17 Pitt

     One of the few ranked vs ranked matchups we have this weekend has the Volunteers traveling to Pitt to take on the Panthers. This should be a really fun game to watch, especially at the QB spot. Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) and Kedon Slovis (Pittsburgh) are two transfer portal prospects that are doing quite well in their new homes. Not sure how this will play out, but I'll take the home team 33-24.

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

     The Cylones travel to Iowa City for the annual Cy-Hawk Rivalry in hopes of snapping Iowa's 6 game streak they have in this series. Based off of last week however, they wont need much more than a couple of offensive series. The Hawkeyes had a dismal performance last week against the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State, scoring just 7 total points. This is the perfect opportunity for ISU to finally pull a big win one against their instate rival. They've been so close in so many attempts, and Iowa usually wins most of their games by waiting waiting for their opponents to mess something up. I don't think that will happen today and the Cyclones finally get revenge on the Hawkeyes. The Cy-Hawk trophy goes Ames this time with a 23-10 victory

#20 Kentucky at #12 Florida

     The Wildcats have to travel to the  Swamp in this one as the Gators look to keep their momentum from their big win over the Utes lsat week. Gator QB Anthony Richardson is the real deal and will certainly be a handful to deal with in this one. Kentucky lost a lot of talent from last year's squad, but does have Will Levis slinging it from the pocket and I appreciate the efforts to keep the hype around the new players. Florida comes in with a loaded roster of talent and there will be a lot of NFL Scouts at this game. I like the Gators to keep this one out of arms reach of the Wildcats, but turnovers are going to be a big part of this game. Look for both teams to have some, and the big ones will cost the game. Gators 32, Wildcats 21.

#10 USC at Stanford

     A time old classic in the PAC 12 will meet as conference opponents for one of the last times. As USC is going to move onto the BIG 10 in 2024 along with UCLA, we only have a couple opportunities left to watch Stanford spoil yet another USC season. The Fightin' Trees are often an achilles heel for the Trojans. This game will be played up at "The Farm" in Stanford, and USC has not won there since 2014. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the PAC 12 and should be a good welcome to the conference for new Trojan Head Coach Lincoln Riley. David Shaw is a veteran with a team that's been down the last few years. Junior RB EJ Smith looks to be a focal point of this offense, but I think Caleb Williams and the Trojan offense will be a bit too much tonight. Fight On as USC win this one on the road in a battle 31-21.

#9 Baylor at #21 BYU

     Our last ranked vs ranked matchup of the weekend pits two future Big XII opponents together with Baylor and BYU. These church schools will be anything but on the field tonight as they meet in provo for a late kick. The Cougars' house is not an easy one to win in, and as a top 10 team Baylor has a big target to prove themselves placed squarely on their back. Sophomore QB Blake Shapen has the reigns now for Baylor and with one of the best offensive lines in the country he should have plenty of time in the pocket. BYU is led by Junior QB Jaren Hall who is looking to build on last year's campaign where he threw for over 2,500 yards with 20 TDs and just 5 picks. Both of these defenses are very stingy though and will hit you in the mouth quick. We'll see what offense can get going first and punch back, but keeping the QB clean is extremely important in this game. I'll say Sic 'Em as the Bears win a big one on the road 38-31.

Missouri at Kansas State

     Former Big XII foes meet up in Manhattan as Mizzou travels to take on K-State. Former Husker QB Adrian Martinez is at the helm of the Wildcats' offense and he'll be looking to improve from his first outing. Tigers QB, Sophomore Brady Cook had a strong debut last week with 201 yards along with a pick and a TD. We don't know much about either team from the opener, but I'm going to take Mizzou on the road. I think Martinez is a great player and person, but he's turnover prone and with a new offense it could bite him sooner than later. Tigers 34, Wildcats 27.

Georgia Southern at Nebraska

     The Huskers host the Eagles of Georgia Southern for a game under the lights at Memorial Stadium. I'm so excited to be back in the stadium for a game, and there's nothing better than a night game in Lincoln. This team should be fired up and they have a lot to prove. Husker fans are certainly grumbling after a slow start to the season. Georgia Southern is traditionally a run heavy team, but Senior QB Kyle Vantrease will look to use his arm a lot as they develop their run game. For the Huskers, tackling on defense is key and keeping routes underneath the safeties. Offensively, it all starts up front. The blocking needs to step up and open up more holes in the run game. Grant has been phenomenal, but he's doing most of the work himself. Last but not least, protect the QB! Thompson struggles significantly under pressure and isn't as mobile as Martinez was. He needs to stay clean to get his passes off. I'm looking to see if the lights bring out the tenacity we've been waiting for from the Huskers. Should be a good one tonight, Huskers 35, Eagles 20.

Quick Hit Predictions:

South Carolina at #16 Arkansas - QB Battle between Spencer Rattler & KJ Jefferson. Twitter said last week that KJ Jefferson has that HOG in him and I'd agree. Razorbacks win 31-17. Watch out for Arkansas this year.

Arizona State at #11 Oklahoma State - Points, points and more points in this one. The Sun Devils should be able to score in this one, but keeping pace with the Pokes is not easy. Cowboys 48, Sun Devils 24.

#25 Houston at Texas Tech - A future Big XII matchup takes place in Texas as Houston takes their #25 ranking into Lubbock. The Cougars pulled out a 3 OT win against UTSA last week and may still be a bit gassed. Lots of offense in this one but the Raiders win this shootout. TTU 48, Houston 43.

Washington State at #19 Wisconsin - Wazzu goes on the road to BIG 10 Country in Camp Randle. Not sure what to expect from either team this year, but you don't often win against the Badgers at home. On Wisconsin as they win 28-10.

Boston College at Virginia Tech - Both loss close games last week and are looking for a bounce back. VT has the edge at home, but I like Phil Jurkovec at QB for the Eagles. BC with the road upset 23-21.

Virgina at Illinois - A sneaky interesting ACC/BIG 10 showdown takes place in Champagne. The Illini were tested against Indiana and couldn't quite pull out the victory. UVA runs their offense all through QB Brennan Armstrong as he's also their primary run threat. Look for Illinois to bring the heat and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. BIG 10 wins this one as the Illini hold off the Cavaliers 30-24.

Oregon State at Fresno State - The Beavers have a tricky road game against the Bulldogs of Fresno State. Senior QB for the Bulldogs, Jake Haener is one to watch as he threw for over 4,000 yards with 33 TDs and just 9 picks last year. I like Oregon State a lot this year though, and I think they'll hold off in a fight. Beavers get a big one on the road 30-27.

Thanks for reading my Husker reflections and predictions for this week's games. I've added some photos of me repping my Husker gear down in Colombia. So now, let's sit back and enjoy Gameday. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 1 Predictions - Full Season Kickoff

      Welcome to the full season kickoff of College Football! The cold open last weekend did not go as planned for some, but the rest of the CFB world catches up today as the season gets into full swing with a 5 day slate of games. This post will highlight all the big games to watch this weekend along with a few sleepers. Most importantly it will break down the keys to victory and highlight the new storylines to watch throughout College Football this season. Sit back, read on and let's enjoy some football!

Week 0 Record: 4 - 1 (Thanks Nebraska)

Overall Record: 4 - 1

West Virginia at #17 Pitt (The Backyard Brawl)

     One of the most storied rivalries in college football is renewed as Pitt hosts West Virginia in the season opener tonight. The Panthers hold the all-time record in the series, but since switching conferences the two teams haven't met since 2011 and the Mountaineers hold a 3 game win streak in the series. Pat Narduzi has boosted the Pitt brand tremendously during his tenure, but must replace a Heisman Finalist in QB Kenny Pickett. His seemingly 12 years of eligibility are finally over and he's onto the league. USC Trojan transfer Kedon Slovis is QB1 now and painted a big target on his back at a pep rally earlier this week where he said "fu*k West Virginia" to fire up the crowd. This rivalry is about to be heated quickly, but I like the Panthers to come out on top in this one. Pitt 38, WVU 33.

Penn State at Purdue

     The Nittany Lions start their 2022 campaign on the road in West Lafayette to square off against a sneaky BIG 10 foe in the Boilermakers. Penn State started 2021 really hot, but fizzled quick when QB Sean Clifford went down. He's back, but the Purdue Boilermakers are no slouch, as they have a 6th-year QB of their own in Aiden O'Connell. These gunslingers are likely to air it out as both offenses finished 5th (Purdue) and 26th (Penn State) in passing offense last year. Jeff Brohm has an experienced defensive unit, especially up front and Penn State has 3 new starters on a shaky offensive line. I think Purdue has momentum and will pull an upset in this one. Purdue 26, Penn State 21.

Illinois at Indiana

     This BIG 10, Friday night matchup is a unique one. Illinois could quickly jump themselves into the West Division Crown conversation with an impressive win. Brett Beilma's unit has already shown significant improvement in year 2 by rolling Wyoming. Neither team is going to be very flashy, but I would expect some hard-nosed, grind it out football. The team with fewer mistakes wins this game, and both will feature a lot of transfer players. This brings experience along with it, but since the Illini have a game under their belt already, I think they'll be the sharper team. The Hoosiers will need to play a near flawless game, but I'm giving the Illini the edge. Illinois 27, Indiana 23.

#11 Oregon vs #3 Georgia

     Technically dubbed as a neutral site game for the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff, but with this game being played in Atlanta, I would expect the defending national champs to have a large contingency in attendance. Yes, many players were drafted off to the NFL, but the Bulldogs will be a force to be reckoned with yet again in 2022. The Ducks are breaking in a new head coach and have a lot of identity questions moving into 2022. However, ex-SEC star Bo Nix is likely to start at QB and he's talented enough to keep the Ducks hanging around for a while. Ultimately I think Georgia's defensive muscles will flex and the DAWGS win this one 34-17.

#23 Cincy at #19 Arkansas

     The Bearcats finally broke the seal and became the first Group of 5 team to earn a CFB Playoff bid. However, star QB Desmond Ridder is now an Atlanta Falcon and there are a number of other talented players they must replace in 2022. The Razorbacks quietly won 9 games last year after just 3 wins in Sam Pittman's first year as HC. He retains star QB KJ Jefferson and a lot of talent at wide out. The defense needs to generate more pass rush, but look for Arkansas to throw some big punches this year. I think they open with a statement win against a still very talented Cincy team. Razorbacks beat the Bearcats 34-21.

#7 Utah at Florida

     The old Urban Meyer teams square off in Gainesville as the Gators welcome their new head coach with a top 10 team. Billy Napier has a stacked roster to work with though, and if the Gators can get some chemistry cooking early, they will be a deadly team this year. QB Anthony Richardson is the focal point and his dual-threat abilities give every defensive coordinator headaches. The Utes are always a tough unit though and HC Kyle Whittingham believes this could be one of his best teams yet. Utah always seems to stumble on the road however, and this is quite the trip to start off the year with. Nonetheless, I think the Utes could be something big this year and a top 10 takedown for the first game as head coach is a lot to ask for. Utah gets a major victory on the road 33-28 over the Gators.

#5 Notre Dame at #2 Ohio State

     Speaking of new Head Coaches opening with a top 10 team, I turn my sights to Notre Dame at Ohio State. Unfortunately for Marcus Freeman, he won't have a home crowd to back him up. Opening your HC career in the Horseshoe against the #2 Buckeyes who are arguably the overall favorite to win it all this year is not ideal. The Irish will need to keep pressure early and often on CJ Stroud. If not he'll quickly get in rhythm with Jaxson Smith-Njigba and his many other NFL-caliber receivers. The Notre Dame secondary will be tested all game long, so any breakdowns and big plays will need to be kept to a minimum. Offensively the ground game is crucial in this one. Keeping the ball out of the hands of CJ Stroud and the Buckeyes is the best way to beat them. This should be a fun one to watch, but I think the Buckeyes are too much for a force to be stopped. Ohio State pulls away in this one, winning 42-24.

Florida State at LSU

     Two programs trying to claw out of the pit of despair due battle New Orleans in yet another "neutral site" game in one team's backyard. Regardless, this is an interesting matchup as there's plenty of talent across the board. LSU is now led by Brian Kelley after his somewhat unprofessional departure from Notre Dame. He may have been burned a few times by recruits on social media over the offseason, but the roster in Baton Rouge is loaded and ready to put up some points. Florida State has good experience at the QB position with Jordan Travis returning, and this group should take a step forward this year. This game could easily go either way, but being so close to home gives LSU a big advantage. We'll see if Brian Kelley has gotten them up to snuff quick. Tigers edge out the 'Noles 28-23.

#4 Clemson at Georgia Tech

     The Tigers had a "rough" year last season with a 10-3 record, but the usual CFB Playoff members are looking to bounce back in 2022. Dabo Swinney must replace both his offensive and defensive coordinators, but does return star QB DJ Uiagelelei along with one of the best defensive units in the nation. The Ramblin' Wreck is known for headaches from time to time, but I think the Tigers are out for blood this year and many folks are forgetting how good that program is. Clemson flexes their muscles big in the opener with a 45-17 victory.

North Dakota at Nebraska

     Not necessarily the most compelling game of the weekend, but after last weekend's collapse in Ireland I know Husker fans will be happy to see a win at home. This game isn't important in any sense (unless Frost somehow coaches his way to defeat in this one), but hopefully it will give the team a chance to work on the basics they missed last week. The big things I'll be looking for is how players will be used, especially in the run game (if there is one) and a pass rush on defense. Tackling will also need to be stressed in this game as it was horrendous across the pond. North Dakota is not an impressive team by any stretch, but games like this have made the Huskers struggle in the past. Not just the football team, but the entire state just needs a solid, 3 or 4 score victory with sound, fundamental football. Let's see it Huskers, GO BIG RED! Nebraska 45, North Dakota 20.

Quick Hit Predictions:

TCU at Colorado - Horned Frogs 33, Buffaloes 27.

#13 NC State at ECU - Wolfpack 30, Pirates 21.

Rutgers at Boston College - Scarlet Knights upset on the road, 28-24.

#24 Houston at UTSA - The Cinderella Roadrunners of 2021 could get a big statement win to start 2022. Let's go with it, 34-28. Meep Meep!

Arizona at San Diego State - Aztecs 35, Wildcats 21.

Boise State at Oregon State - Watch out for the Beavers this year. They win this one 34-30.

Thanks for reading my predictions and enjoy a full weekend of College Football!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Huskers in Ireland - Week 0 Reflection

     Alright Husker fans, I’ve avoided it for long enough… it’s time to reflect on Ireland. In another (seemingly impossible) tragic season opener, Scott Frost and crew have snatched yet another defeat from the powerfully clamped jaws of victory. The Huskers gave up not one, but two 11-point leads in this game to fall to the Wildcats 31-28. The Nebraska-Northwestern games are often close, and no one should ever count a Pat Fitzgerald team out until the very end, but the Huskers had multiple opportunities to put this one away. This post breaks down my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD from the game last week, enjoy!

 

 

GOOD – First half Casey Thompson and Anthony Grant. An extra nod goes out to the starting wideouts as they ran some great routes and were creating good separation all game. Starting with QB1, Thompson looked good out of the gate. Now I will put a small asterisk by the opening drive because it was a fully scripted set of plays, all with very high success rate percentages, however he was extremely accurate all throughout the first half. This did have to do with the lack of pressure he was feeling, but accuracy must start somewhere and if he can throw that well in a clean pocket, there’s a good base. From the initial look he has a talented group to throw to as well. Trey Palmer clearly has the speed and Isiah Garcia-Castanda is a very reliable pass catcher. Looking to the ground game, Anthony Grant emerged as the feature back with little competition as Gabe Irvin and Rahmir Johnson were held out of the game. The rumors and sources I’ve heard from say they got in a fight at a casino while in Ireland. Regardless, I thought Grant was an impressive runner, but didn’t get much of a chance to get going despite his 46-yard dash to the endzone early in the third quarter. I was surprised to find out he had 19 carries. The Huskers need to feed him the rock some more, he’s a good talent in the backfield.

 

 

EXPECTED – No rushing attack and the inevitable poor coaching decision and collapse of the team. This one is a bit negative and pointed, but it’s ridiculous at this point. This team still crumbles at any sign of diversity. Northwestern made some adjustments in the second half and dialed up the pressure on defense. The Husker O-line couldn’t hold them back and Casey really struggled to throw the ball. His throws were not on target and the Husker offense sputtered. There was no run game established, so nothing to fall back on and no way to keep the ball out of Northwestern’s hands. We all expected a lack of focus in the rushing attack, but that was almost like cutting it out cold turkey. You’re not going to win many games in the BIG 10 throwing the ball 42 times unless you’re Ohio State.

 

BAD – Tackling and the onside kick. The special teams blunder is obvious, but this one is especially bad in my book because for the first 4 seasons as the Husker Head Coach, Scott Frost refused to hire someone to oversee and coach this unit. Now, in his 5th season, he finally has a Special Teams Coordinator on staff, yet still this unit delivers back breaking plays for the wrong side at the wrong time. No, the onside kick is not the only play that lost the Huskers the game, but it is yet another bad blunder on special teams that heavily contributes to the loss. The other primary factor in this loss was the lack of tackling. I will admit, I expected the “Blackshirts” to have some first game jitters with so many new faces and not much chemistry. I was upset but understanding of the safety miscommunication on the deep ball TD in the first half. But the horrendous display of tackling, especially by the veterans, that’s unacceptable. This is Division 1 College Football; tackling is the most fundamental aspect of the game. You cannot arm tackle a BIG 10 running back (especially one following behind an experienced offensive line) and expect to bring him down. This issue needs to be addressed immediately.

 

Overall, it was a very frustrating game to watch because there were so many flashes of how talented this team is and how much they could truly accomplish. However, in the end, the poor decision making and game management lead to another heartbreaking Husker loss. Hopefully things pick up soon because this can’t possibly go on much longer.

 

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando