The Man of Steele has a good history with Husker predictions

The Man of Steele

His magazine has yet to hit the racks in stores but Phil Steele ranks the Nebraska football team at No. 22 in his preseason poll and the Huskers are his pick to represent the North division in the Big 12 title game.

Again, I seldom put stock into preseason polls because they are nothing more than conjecture but Steele has a very accurate recent history on predicting the Huskers season. In 2004, he forecasted a struggling season – the Huskers went 5-6. In 2005, Steele predicted improvement and the return to a bowl game – the Huskers went 8-4 including an Alamo Bowl win over Michigan. In 2006, Steele forecasted a Big 12 North title that Nebraska eventually won. In 2007, he was one of only a few not to predict a Big 12 North crown. Of course, little did he know that the Huskers would implode to a 5-7 finish.

In 2008, Steele listed the Huskers on his Most Improved list. Nebraska went 9-4 including a Gator Bowl win over Clemson. For 2009, he predicts a division title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl against California. Such a scenario would mean the Huskers reach the Big 12 title game before losing.

Steele stated: “Nebraska has just 13 returning starters and loses 23 lettermen including their record setting QB which ties them for the 3rd least experienced team in the Big 12. They do have the top 4 tacklers back and I rate their O-line and D-line each #2 in the Big 12 overall giving them the best line play in the North (by far). While Nebraska did not play in the Big 12 title game they were +112 ypg in conf play (best of the North) and tied for the North Title despite being -11 in TO's. The schedule is not easy but the Huskers have the most talent of the North teams this year.”

The root of Huskers fans concern as well as many preseason prognosticators favoring Kansas stems from the Jayhawks returning Todd Reesing at quarterback and the Huskers losing quarterback Joe Ganz.

The most puzzling pick Steele makes is Kansas State finishing tied for second. Again, Steele is extremely reputable but I simply do not see it happening unless head coach Bill Snyder pulls a magic wand. The Wildcats might beat a team you do not think they’ll beat but they are going to have a tough time.

Iowa State, forget it.

Much has been made of Missouri losing its playmaking skill position players but despite the propaganda that Mizzu has athletes at their disposal, will they develop into winners? Keep in mind, much of the Tigers recent rise has been a result of Nebraska’s demise in the Bill Callahan years.

Colorado will beat a team somewhere that you don’t think they will. Dan Hawkins can recruit but the Buffaloes remain very much a hit or miss proposition.

As much as I would like to say NU is the best team in the North, it is a hard team to predict because any time you replace a starting quarterback, no matter how good he looks in the spring game it’s a tough prediction.

I think the coaches will have time to feel out Lee's strengths and weakness in the first few games and will give him the best opportunity to succeed in the tougher games later. The staff probably learned a good lesson last year (after the Missouri game) and tailored the offense to better fit Ganz and the rest of the crew. They'll have that experience from the get-go this year. Much of it, if not all, rests with the offensive line.

Defensively, the best news was Ndamukong Suh opting to stay in school. Suh gives the Huskers that one player that affects the other team’s game plans. The defense should also be better as a whole if for no other reason than having a full season to absorb Bo Pelini’s defense.

Steele has an uncanny record. He's been pretty much on point for picking the North the last several years. I do not see that as cause-and-effect relationship, but I take it as a good sign.

Right now I don't see Nebraska deserving to be ranked higher than the low 20's. Getting above that level will be a challenge. At first glance, I think we have a chance against all teams except OU but I think we'll wind up with three to four losses. That will put us in the low 20's getting above that will require that we do well against our better opponents. Let’s face it, getting hammered by OU and Missouri combined with a slow start against Virginia Tech probably cost the Huskers a spot in the final Top 25 poll despite their strong finish.