Music City Bowl
Nebraska vs. #21 Tennessee
Alex:
I saved this game write up for last because I wanted to see how difficult the Huskers could make it for me to pick them. It's safe to say they did a pretty good job because our best Wide Receiver Jordan Westerkamp is sidelined with an injury, our starting QB is out with an injury but may be used in an emergency situation, a couple of our linebackers and RBs will likely be playing through injuries and our best defensive player is suspended because he failed 1 of his 2 classes this past semester. -_- PATHETIC! Ugh, sometimes they make it so hard to be optimistic about games like this. Nonetheless, you all know who I'm going to pick, so let's just get to my key factors for victory.
Nebraska will be starting the Grand Island Gunslinger at QB, so in Ryker we trust. I give the man a lot of credit, because he played well against Maryland on senior day. However, Tennessee is not Maryland and the Vols defense has a much more intimidating front. Defensive End Derek Barnett will look to reek havoc on an offensive line that I have cringed at watching this season. The "Pipeline" will need to have their best game of the season to keep Fyfe upright and give him time to look down field. The Vols give up nearly 230 yards both through the air and on the ground per game on average, so the Husker offense will have opportunities. Early in the year, there was so much potential to have one of the better offensive attacks in the nation, but injuries and a poor lack of execution has brought the Huskers to their measly 26.8 points per game. The ground game will be a focus not only because Tennessee gives up so many yards, but also to take the pressure off of Fyfe and the passing game. Nebraska averages 178 yards per game on the ground, but they'll need more than that to win this one.
On defense, containing Josh Dobbs is priority number one. His scrambling ability and tendency to move the pocket will cause headaches for the Blackshirts. With Nate Gerry being suspended, Tennessee will likely try to attack Nebraska through the air a little more. Nebraska will need to keep the Vols in 3rd and long and make Dobbs beat them with his arm. The Blackshirts have forced 16 picks this season, and Dobbs has thrown 12 so far this year. Let's hope the Huskers actually show up and look prepared for this game unlike their game against Iowa.
I'll always take my Huskers, but this one will require a lot of help. Huskers win it 30-27!
Also, I would just like to mention that Nebraska is undefeated all time against Tennessee and destroyed Peyton Manning and the Vols in 1998 42-17.
Nate:
Oh boy, this
game… I know Alex has been peppering you with all the stats and a long write
up, so I think I’ll keep this short and sweet, just like most of my game write
ups. Anyone else has zero hype for this
game. I’m not talking about tempered expectations, I’m talking about a complete
lack of desire to even talk or watch the game. I mean that last bit a little
flippantly, because of course I’m going to watch the game, but as a fan I feel
like a deflated balloon, but instead of the air slowly going out of me, I feel
like someone stepped on me with a spiked heel and popped me. I guess I’m
avoiding talking about this game just by talking about how people are avoiding
talking about this game, but come on, just look at it.
Our starting
quarterback, Tommy Armstrong, is apparently done. We are out our best offensive
player Jordan Westerkamp after a non-contact knee injury sidelined him. Best defensive
player Nate Gerry is done after not actually attending classes much, or at all.
Alex might call me a raging pessimist, but I have serious doubts.
The worst part of
this whole thing is that the stats say that Tennessee should be a very beatable
team. They get absolutely gashed on the ground. But do you really think a Newby
and Bryant that aren’t going to be 100%, backed by an offensive line that has
been straight up bad for long stretches of time, can really get the job done? Tennessee
tends to give up time of possession, and doesn’t hold the ball long on their
drives. But can we really stop them? The same team that got murdered by Ohio
State and looked like we didn’t care against Iowa, really can stop them? Derek
Barnett will murder our poor offensive line, and even missing other play makers
on that side of the ball, Ryker Fyfe puts no fear into the hearts of the Vols.
I want to, I
really really really want to, but I just can’t homer this pick. I’ll justify it
two ways. In your heart of hearts, can you really pick Nebraska? You really
think they will win this game? And two, I know Alex is picking the Huskers, but
I have some ground I need to make up. Tennessee 30 Nebraska 17
Be ready for my reflection on this game next week after I return from vacation! GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Special Guest: Nate Muhlbach
Alex Fernando
No comments:
Post a Comment