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