Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Swing games will be pivotal


Nebraska can definitely consider itself contenders for the 2012 Big 10 championship based on talent but it’ll be how the Huskers respond in crucial games that will ultimately determine their fate.

That was not always the case in 2011. Nebraska had an impressive 24-3 win over eventual Big 10 Legends Division champ Michigan. The Huskers also showed enormous resolve winning 17-14 at Penn State in the wake of a scandal ridden week in Happy Valley. Nebraska also had a solid effort in a regular-season closing 20-7 win over Iowa. Yet for those three good wins there were ugly losses to Wisconsin (48-17) and Michigan (45-17). Then the Huskers followed up the aforementioned win over Michigan State with a disturbing 28-25 loss at home to Northwestern and lest we forget the season-ending 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina.

In the Bo Pelini era, the Huskers went from bad to good very quickly. Unfortunately, the elevator on the way to great has stopped at good. For Nebraska to take that step in becoming a great team, how it performs in the “swing games” will determinate that fate:

Vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 29

The Huskers’ Big 10 debut was a disaster in Madison last season but the good news for Nebraska is that it will gets its conference opener against the Badgers in Lincoln.

Luckily for Nebraska, quarterback Russell Wilson is gone but the Badgers still have running back Montee Ball, who hammered Nebraska for 151 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s meeting. Ball will be a Heisman Trophy candidate this season.

At Ohio State, Oct. 6

The Buckeyes will not be eligible for the Big 10 title game or a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions from the Jim Tressel era. However, this will be a tough road game for Nebraska and how the Huskers fare is likely to weigh heavy for AP voters.

Ohio State limped to a 6-7 season a year ago but the Huskers needed to rally from a 27-6 definit midway through the third quarter to rally for a 34-27 win.

The Buckeyes figure to be a much improved team under new head coach Urban Meyer.



following week, the Cornhuskers will have to face off against Coach Urban Meyer and his Ohio State Buckeyes on their turf.

Vs. Michigan, Oct. 27

This game is somewhat similar to the aforementioned game against Wisconsin in that last season Michigan hammered the Huskers in Ann Arbor but the good news is that the Wolverines come to Lincoln in 2012.

Michigan will likely enter the season as a Top 10 team in the preseason polls that may tab the favorite to win the Big 10 crown.

The bad news is that quarterback Denard Robinson, who accounted for four touchdowns in last year’s game, is still on the roster.

Win or lose, this could be a defining game for Nebraska.

At Michigan State, Nov. 3

Though the Huskers dominated last year’s meeting, they will head to East Lansing to face what figures to be a solid Michigan State club.


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