[SBRforum Staff]

Huskers should shuck Bulldogs easily

By: Matt Fargo
http://www.procappers.com

Good thing La Tech is getting a fat paycheck for playing this game, because they sure aren't going to get a win at Nebraska.

Louisiana Tech had a solid season in 2005 but was not invited to a bowl game despite a 7-5 record. Normally, a team like that would have something to prove but the problem is that most of the players are gone and this team is extremely young.

They have 21 underclassmen in their two deep, a new starting quarterback and only return two starters on defense. It is going to be a long year and this game was scheduled for one reason and that is to get the $750,000 payout.

Nebraska meanwhile is on the move toward a bigger and better season. The offense has the ability to be one of the most improved while the defense is going to be regressing to its old dominating ways. Quarterback Zac Taylor came into his own last season, passing for a school record 2,653 yards while tossing 19 touchdowns. The offense obviously relies on him and he will have no problem running it. The receiving corps is extremely deep led by Nate Swift and Terrence Nunn but the real threat could be JUCO transfer Maurice Purify who has been opening eyes this fall.

The Bulldogs have only two starters returning on defense and even though it was one of the best in a decade last season, it still wasn’t exceptional. They finished 58th in scoring and 66th in total defense and those ranking are sure to go the wrong way this season. The rushing defense was the strength, allowing only 133.2 ypg and 3.8 ypc but only one player is back from the front seven and there will only be two seniors there to start.

The Huskers will have absolutely no problem moving the ball down the field and should be able to name the score. The Blackshirts improved from 56th in total defense in 2004 to 26th last season and that ranking can get even better. The defense is tabbed third best in the Big XII behind Texas and Oklahoma and arguably has the best front seven in the conference. The linebackers are the best unit in the conference with Corey McKeon leading the way. Bo Rudd, Steve Octavian and Stewart Bradley are all back from injury and this unit rivals Penn St. as one of the best in the country. The defensive line is led by ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore and in total there are six players who have been placed on All-conference watch lists. The Bulldogs are going to have fits trying to move the ball on the Huskers, let alone put enough points up to cover this number.

Offensively, the Bulldogs will be breaking in a new quarterback, new running backs and two key offensive linemen. Junior Zac Champion will be the starter at quarterback and while he has three years in the system, this is the first time he will face a first-team defense. He has thrown only eight career passes with no touchdowns or interceptions in mop-up duty over the previous two seasons. Louisiana Tech is just 7-17 ATS as an underdog over the last four seasons and that includes a 5-13 ATS mark as a road dog. Don’t worry about the big number because it’s not even close to big enough.

Play: Nebraska -21

[onlooker]

It is going to be a long year and this game was scheduled for one reason and that is to get the $750,000 payout.

There are a lot of schools that do this. And it makes me wonder if the teams that are receiving this cash, actually show up and try to win these games. Just get in there, and collect that paycheck for the school and move on to the next week.

Im not one to lay a crap load of points, but it makes you wonder if its good value to on these situations? A long with other aspects of the game.

Huskers should kill them.

[pags11]

keep eating all that chalk in week one toutboy, as I'm on the other side of this one...La. Tech is a well-coached team and they are no easy win...taking the points in this one...nice public play too...ever heard of Freddie Franlkin?...remember that name on Saturday...