12 Jun 2019
Can the Nebraska Cornhuskers rise to prominence under Scott Frost? They face the Colorado on Saturday, hoping to get off to a winning start following the abandonment of their scheduled Week 1 game against Akron due to lightning storms.
We offer analysis and odds on some of this weekend’s NCAA Division 1 games.
COLORADO BUFFALOES @ NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Scott Frost’s spread, no-huddle, fast tempo offense led the nation in scoring last season at Central Florida. The prodigal son has returned to Nebraska to run the same style of scheme – but the Big Ten is known for its defense and bad weather.
As if needing to underline the point any further, Hurricane Gordon storms will be in Kansas and the south-eastern portion of Nebraska on Saturday, so it may be worth looking at the points totals, since it is not so easy to throw the ball in windy conditions.
It will be interesting to see if speed is all you need in Lincoln. The feeling is that the conference won’t be quite as forgiving as the American Athletic Conference.
Nebraska returns its top rushers and receivers, and while true freshman QB Adrian Martinez could have done with throwing the ball last week for experience against lesser opposition, we don’t know how bad Nebraska’s revamped defense is going to perform. Hopefully not as bad as last year, when it allowed 36.4 yards per outing.
The good news is that new coordinator Erik Chinander likes to be aggressive and his front seven is experienced, so they will no doubt bring the heat. The bad news is the potential lack of depth in the secondary.
While Nebraska may be better than their 4-8 campaign last term, their schedule is a rough one, with road games at Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, so it will be important to get off to a fast start.
Colorado put up 45 points on Colorado State last week and employ a similar spread offense to Nebraska, but the Mountain West Conference team has a poor record against the Cornhuskers, who have won the last three meetings and hold a series lead of 49-18-2.
The Buffaloes are 3.5-point underdogs with Genting Casino and Nebraska are 1/2 favourites on the moneyline.
Frost will have to put Martinez in manageable situations, but if he does, then there is no reason think the homecoming will be spoiled by the Gold and Black.
IOWA STATE CYCLONES @ IOWA HAWKEYES
The annual battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy should be a fascinating one. The Hawkeyes have won three straight and seven of the last 10.
The Cyclones leaned heavily on defense last year but linebacker Joel Lanning and others are gone, and they have had to replace both starting safeties and their middle linebacker.
So head coach Matt Campbell, in his second season, must rely on an offense that brings back QB Kyle Kempt (who received a sixth-season exemption), and a veteran offense. They have lost receiver Allen Lazard though, which will hurt.
Last season the Cyclones lost by three to Iowa (in overtime), by four to West Virginia and by one against Kansas State. They are no longer the Big 12 doormats.
The Hawkeyes will make a push for the Big Ten title if they solidify last year’s inconsistent offensive line and if they can’t, it will be a major problem, because all Iowa does is run the ball.
They do have a decent QB in Nate Stanley, who looks a NFL prototype. He tossed 26 touchdowns last year – five in an upset of Ohio State – and was only intercepted six times. Stanley’s stock will rise if the wide receiver group continues its progress from last year. It is led by Nick Easley, who had a team-high 51 receptions, and tight end Noah Fant, who snared 11 touchdowns.
Iowa may have an issue stopping the run, since they have had to replace three senior linebackers who had a combined 118 starts between them, but the secondary remains a strength.
There are several question marks over both the Cyclones and the Hawkeyes, who are 4.5-point Gentinget favourites on the handicap, and that line should interest a few bettors.
The two combined in a Week 2 shootout last season, which ended 44-41. This time, the points total is set at 48.5 points, so the odds-makers are expecting more of a slug-fest.
CLEMSON TIGERS @ TEXAS A&M AGGIES
This one looks a little easier for bettors. The Clemson Tigers are not going anywhere. Its draft-eligible defensive linemen are still in place, they have won the Atlantic Coast Conference for the last three seasons and also advanced to the College Football Playoff all three years, winning the National Championship in 2016.
There is little to suggest the Tigers are losing their bite, even with a retooled offense. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s group remains confident of being fitted for rings at the end of the season.
Behind a stellar recruiting class and a bevy of seniors, this Clemson team may be even better than the National Championship-winning squad.
The most interesting talking point is how much time the Tigers will allow QB Trevor Lawrence to play. He is pushing Kelly Bryant for the starting role and must make four starts in order not to be red-shirted. The 6ft 5” Lawrence is going to be at the helm next year anyway, so it may be better to start him sooner rather than later.
Clemson will try and attack the Aggies on the ground. Since 2014 A&M has given up an average of 224 yards per game rushing against Power Five Conference teams.
And the while they rushed for over 500 yards against Northwestern State last week, with Traybeon Williams notching 240 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns, Clemson poses a vastly different test.
Coach Jimbo Fisher, who has lost the last three meetings with Swinney-coached teams, will hope that the Aggies are quickly rewarded for handing him a $75million 10-year deal, but it might be slow progress, with Alabama on the schedule in two weeks’ time.
The Tigers are the Genting Casino 2/11 favourites to win on the road and are 12.5-point favourites on the handicap. Swinney is 12-1 as a favourite on the road with Clemson.
Many backers will be expecting a routine win and with this fearsome defense giving the offense plenty of opportunities, they may be right to think that.
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