Predictions mixed on Nebraska's 2008 finish

With the College World Series well under way in Omaha, sports fans across this state know very well what comes next. Yes, the countdown to the start of preseason football practice in early August will soon be underway.

In fact, the Big 12 Conference's annual media days loom just a little more than a month away in Kansas City and after that, most folks in Husker Nation are destined to contract a full-blown case of Big Red fever. They'll get that little spine tingle when they take a moment from their busy summer schedule to realize that the Aug. 30 season opener against Western Michigan is a mere 71 days away.

As we know from recent experience  --  just four years ago, to be exact  --  there will be plenty of added anticipation for this season as Nebraska fans will become eager to see how quickly new coach Bo Pelini can turn things around. Judging by a quick glance at some of the first college football preview magazines to hit the newsstands, it seems that questions about Nebraska is one of the top storylines in the Big 12 for 2008.

So far, most predictions have the Huskers finishing anywhere from second to fourth in the Big 12 North. That's probably to be expected considering that Nebraska was 5-7 last season and turned in a defensive performance so poor that the Blackshirts had to be packed away.

On the high end of the expectations spectrum, college football analyst Phil Steele is bullish on Nebraska and Pelini, picking the Huskers to finish second in the Big 12 North Division behind Missouri. Steele says there are a couple of things he likes about NU this year that persuaded him to pick Pelini's squad higher than most.

"First of all, (with) Pelini coming in, you know you're going to have a stronger defense," Steele told the Daily Kansan. "I like the talent level they have on defense. I know they didn't achieve very well last year but I think they're going to have the most improved defense in the country."

Steele said he also likes the fact that Pelini retained offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.

"They can't pass the ball as much as they did last year, but I think they're going to run it more, which is going to keep the defense off the field," Steele said. "It was very tough for me to pick Nebraska ahead of Kansas, but the key was the fact that Nov. 8, they do get them at home and I don't think you're going to see the same Nebraska team on the field this year as you did last year."

Rivals.com has Nebraska pegged at No. 45 in the country in its preseason poll and projects six wins for the Cornhuskers.

The comment from Rivals.com: "Avoiding a third losing season in five years will require improving a defense that gave up 40 points six times last season. Pelini's presence will provide a boost, and he'll squeeze more out of a defensive line that grossly underachieved in 2007. But Pelini can only do so much, and with unproven linebackers, the defense still is an issue for the Huskers. If Ganz's performance in the final three games last season is any indication, the Huskers will have a high-scoring offense that can win shootouts. That won't be enough to produce a championship, but it may be sufficient to secure a bowl appearance."

All things considered, 7-5 or 6-6 probably sounds about right and should satisfy most fans, especially if the Huskers play with passion. After last season, just getting back to a bowl game would be a welcomed happening in Husker Nation.



Terry Douglass is sports editor for The Independent.