Happy College Football Saturday! We finally reached the start of the 2024 season and won't be without football for the remainder of the year. This post has my predictions for the Week 0 games along with my oddly specific Husker Football Predictions. As we get rolling into the season I will have my weekly predictions and reflections, but if there are any questions or extra content you're looking for, please let me know and I'll do my best to include it. Through the regular season last year I had a prediction record of 186-61 which was good for 75.3% correct. Big jump from my 2022 percentage of 66.8%! Let's see if I can keep boosting those numbers this year. Read on and enjoy your first CFB Saturday of the season.
Oddly Specific Husker Football Predictions
1. UTEP loses by 3 scores at Nebraska but scores twice on big plays and is coached well in their first season with Scotty Walden.
Walden has a lot of hype around him and brings in some firepower from the transfer portal. Star wideout Trey Goodman and RB Jevon Jackson hope to bring a spark to an offense that averaged just 19.9 points per game last year. Those two will be fun (and somewhat frustrating) to watch in Memorial in a couple weeks, but I don't think this team is going bowling in year 1 of Walden. Flashes will be seen though, and they can certainly pull an upset or two in the conference. Husker defense has some new pieces and will get burned a couple of times before the day is done. However, I expect a big jump for the offense with a weaker opponent with a new coach. Good opening win for Nebraska.
2. Dylan Raiola Season Stats: 2,300+ Passing Yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs.
The 5-star Freshman has a lot of hype coming into 2024 and certainly has the talent to live up to it. I think he will play some very good football in his first season with the Huskers, but no records to be broken yet. Having helped recruit Dylan myself, I have full faith in what he brings to the table, and really hopes he proves me wrong by shattering these numbers. But this offense has a lot of players who haven't been on the field together and an offensive line that should take a step forward, but gave up 30 sacks last season. The Huskers are also well known over the last few years to be turnover prone, and defenses love to come after young QBs. A few (understandable) mistakes will be made but Raiola will have a very solid first season in Lincoln. For reference, this is 700 more passing yards, 4 more passing TDs and half the amount of interceptions compared to 2023. Can't wait to see how this offense looks with him running the show!
3. The running game picks up, over 2,400 yards this season.
The Huskers haven't rushed for 2,400+ yards as a team since 2019. A big jump forward from 100th ranked to 39th last season, but finished with 2,122 yards rushing. In order to assist the new freshman QB, Nebraska needs a boost from their rushing attack. Gabe Irving is back from injury, Rahmir Johnson is primed for a big year, Emmett Johnson got a lot of experience stepping in last season as a freshman and the Huskers add Dante Dowdell for depth. This provides a lot of options for the Huskers in the backfield, which will be an important measure of support for Raiola in his first season. I think there will be a heavier focus on the run game to provide an easier transition and setup big pass plays for Raiola in the play action game. The Husker run game racks up 2,400 yards this season.
4. Husker receiving corps has an 800+ yard receiver and a 400+ yard receiver.
Among a myriad of issues in 2023, one of the most glaring was the lack of talent in the receiver room. Husker wideouts (TEs included) only caught 1,511 yards worth of passes and no receiver was even close to 400 (Billy Kemp IV had 310 to lead the pack). After a strong rushing attack, the next best friend of a young QB is a reliable receiver to throw to. Wake Forest transfer Jahmal Banks looks to provide some leadership in that room as the Huskers also get Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda back from injury and Wyoming/Texas transfer Isaiah Neyor to give size on the outside. Banks will certainly be a big play/deep threat guy, but Neyor is my key player to watch with this offense. I think he's going to be a reliable target on third down with his 6'4, 220 lbs. frame. Husker fans would love to see Thomas Fidone live up to his recruitment hype as well, but regardless, this unit will be lightyears ahead of what we saw last season.
5. Blackshirts are the backbone. Huskers rank top 20 in total defense and scoring defense.
Despite all my predictions of offensive success, true success for the Huskers remains with the defense. This unit finished 2023 ranked 11th in total defense and 13th in scoring defense, giving up just 18.3 points per game on average. While there is experience, the Dline still lacks a true havoc man up front. Nash Hutmacher leads that unit in his final season as a Husker. Despite the lack of pass rush, coverage sacks are a very real possibility as the secondary returns the full starting unit from last season. Tommi Hill is a lock down corner and Isaac Gifford's lateral speed helps cover a lot of ground for any plays that break into the second level. The linebackers are still a bit unproven, but Tony White's first year in Lincoln has a lot to keep building on with so many pieces back.
6. Kicking frustrations continue, Huskers lose 2 games due to special teams.
As we know all too well, the Huskers' special teams unit is bound to hurt us one way or another at some point this season. Consistency has been the biggest bugaboo and it is likely to continue to be an issue in 2024. Tristian Alvano struggled again in the Spring Game and punting wasn't anything to shake a stick at either. I would love to see this unit improve overnight, but I think it will be another year before fans won't have to hold their breath when the ball is kicked. There's still a lot of growth to happen in year 2 with the Huskers, one of the pains will be special teams.
7. Huskers finish in the top half of the conference standings.
Okay, being 9th best or better doesn't necessarily sound like a major accomplishment, but Nebraska hasn't finished in the top half of the BIG 10 overall standings since they last went to a bowl game in 2016. Many years resulted in an 8th place to finish because of the variety of 1 score losses to conference foes. A couple of key wins over other teams in the middle mix like Rutgers, Iowa, USC or Wisconsin should be the difference in the Huskers staying in the top half or falling to the bottom half once again.
8. The Huskers struggle on the road yet again.
You have to go to back to my freshman year of college one full decade ago to find a season when the Huskers had a winning record on the road. Matt Rhule is doing all the right things in Lincoln and the crowds at Memorial will be rocking this fall. But traveling has been an extreme challenge for this team and close losses will continue to trend that piece of the schedule. Unfortunately I believe the Huskers lose at least 3 games on the road this year and have another season with out a winning record away from Lincoln.
9. Nebraska makes a bowl game with a 7-5 record!
It's been a long time coming, but I think the Huskers do make it back to the post season for the first time since 2016. There's still plenty for this team to grow into under the Rhule program, but the right steps are being taken and they're in the right direction. This team does need to win early though, because the back half of their schedule is much trickier. I think the Huskers go 7-5 and get to a bowl game!
Week 0 Predictions:
#10 Florida State vs Georgia Tech
Across the pond in Dublin is where the 2024 College Football Season kicks off as the Seminoles and the Ramblin' Wreck square off for an ACC season opener. FSU was left out of the CFB Playoff last year, despite an undefeated season. They've had to restock quite a bit as much of their roster went to the NFL or graduated after last season. They brought in ex-Clemson and Oregon State QB, DJ Uiagalelei to run the offense but will be looking for new playmakers around him as star wideout Keon Coleman was taken in the second round by the Bills. Defensive stars Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are now with my NFL favorite, the LA Rams, so GT has opportunities in their run game to gash. Haynes King is the star Yellow Jacket to watch as the ex-Aggie threw for a conference best 27 TDs last season to go along with 3,729 total yards he racked up. This will be a fantastic opener to the 2024 season and should be closer than most would expect on paper. I've got the Seminoles winning 30-21.
Montana State at New Mexico
It's not often I will outright pick a lower division school to win, but that's what I'm doing here. Montana State has consistently been a top program in not only the Big Sky Conference, but all of FCS. New Mexico gave up an average of 35.1 points per game last year, and while they did have a few decent wins, this team has a lot of rebuilding before they win and compete consistently. Bobcats 36-28.
SMU at Nevada
I had the prediction of SMU going to the first 12-team playoff and this is center stage to where it starts. With only 4 games on this Week 0 Saturday, the Ponies drew the prime time slot. Preston Stone and that dynamic offense will show everyone what they're capable of quite quickly by racking up points on Nevada. The Wolfpack are in a rebuild and won't have the firepower to keep pace in this one. SMU ranked 8th in scoring offense last year with 38.7 points per game and they will break that mark early this season as they win 45-21.
Delaware State at Hawaii
The Hornets missed their initial 10.5 hour flight to Honolulu, so they arrived a day later. Most of the time, that's manageable in college football... unless you're traveling to the furthest college football destination possible. Florida State and Georgia Tech had shorter flights to Dublin. The Rainbow Warriors are primed for a big jump forward and it starts with this win at home. Hawaii 37, Delaware State 14.
Thank you for reading my oddly specific Husker season predictions and Week 0 predictions. Sit back and enjoy your college football Saturday, we're finally able to. GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
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