Nebraska Football: The Ins and Outs, Highs and Lows of the 2012 Schedule

In Nebraska's first season in the Big Ten, they finished with a successful 9-4 record. This season, they hope to top that by possibly winning the conference and reaching a BCS bowl.

They have the talent to do so, as they return eight starters on both sides of the ball. But one thing that stands in their way is a difficult schedule that may end up shattering their hopes and dreams before they even get started.

As we get closer to kicking off the regular season, here is your 2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers complete schedule breakdown.

Easiest Game

Gus Malzahn left Auburn to take over for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. While the team may improve slightly due to Malzahn's offensive-brain, I refuse to believe this team can compete with Big Ten-caliber teams anytime soon. Give them maybe 10 years or so, and then we'll see.

Nebraska has an easy win here.

Toughest Game

Unlike last year's meeting against the Badgers, this game will take place at Memorial Stadium. That still doesn't change the fact that they're going to have to stop running back Montee Ball, the same guy that rushed for 151 yards and scored four touchdowns in the 48-17 beatdown last season.

Now, the good news is that Russell Wilson isn't the quarterback for Wisconsin anymore, but that doesn't change the fact that Tyler Martinez threw three interceptions in that game. This is a tough game for the Cornhuskers, like many they'll have to play this season.

Potential Blowout

Something tells me that the game against mighty Idaho State will be a blowout. The fact that they went 2-9 last season in the Big Sky conference was enough to convince me. Don't expect this game to be close at all.

Potential for Disaster

Last season, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 27-6 lead early in the third quarter. Somehow, the Cornhuskers ended up winning the game by a score of 34-27. How this happened, I still have yet to know the answer, but I do know that Ohio State has two things going for them this time. They have a head coach in Urban Meyer who won't let something like that happen again, and this time, the game is in Columbus.

I'm not saying Nebraska doesn't stand a chance in this game, but on paper, the Buckeyes look more like a complete team. We have to see a little more offensive production from Tyler Martinez first. 

Most Intriguing Matchup

Another Big Ten team that returns the majority of their starters is the Michigan Wolverines. They're also a team that destroyed Nebraska last season by a score of 45-17. This game will be played in Memorial Stadium, but that's not nearly enough to consider Nebraska the favorite in this matchup.

Can Nebraska slow down the Wolverines? They gave up 45 points and over 400 total yards in the lost last season. Can Nebraska generate offense? They finished the game with only 11 first downs, and Rex Burkhead averaged only 3.6 yards per carry.

The Legends Division will likely come down to these two teams; this is the game all Big Ten fans should have circled on their calendar.

Trap Game

Iowa was a very balanced team last season, but it couldn't seem to play with any type of consistency. This season, they could be very good, as they bring back 11 starters, including six on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback James Vandenberg is also coming back after having a very solid season his first year as a starter, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Despite the Cornhuskers winning the previous four matchups and handling the Hawkeyes fairly easily last season, this will still be a tough game in Kinnick Stadium. It's also the last game of the season for both teams, which means Nebraska can't get caught looking ahead in this one.

Rivalry Game Prediction

While I just spoke on this game a little bit in the last slide, I do believe that Nebraska will pull out the victory once again. Iowa will rely heavily on quarterback James Vandenberg and a shaky offensive line may cause problems against a defense that returns eight starters. Also, losing running back Marcus Coker (Although he may be back by the time this game takes place) and wide receiver Marvin McNutt does help matters.

Iowa remains a solid team on both sides of the ball; I just don't like going with a team that relies so much on one guy. I believe Nebraska is the more complete team at the point, (we're still four months away from the season beginning), so that's the team I'm going to go with.

Nebraska wins: 35-17

Upset Special

UCLA will play Nebraska for the first time since 1994, and it should provide both teams with an early interesting matchup. The Bruins have a first-year college coach in Jim Mora, but they do return seven starters on both sides of the ball. Sure, UCLA wasn't exactly worthy of playing in the Pac-12 Championship last season, but you have to respect a team returning so many starters.

UCLA also has a loaded recruiting class coming in the fall that should help this team right away.

The Bruins didn't do much well last year, but it'll be Nebraska that is the traveling team in this matchup. It'll also be the Cornhuskers that have all the pressure on them, as I'm not sure how many believe the Bruins can pull this off. A home team that has nothing to lose is a scary team; watch out Week 2.

Heisman Highlight Game

Running back Rex Burkhead really emerged last year, rushing for over 1,300 yards and scoring 17 total touchdowns. Now that he has the college football world buzzing, the game he must make an impact in is the matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers.

For one, that's a team that poured it on last year against Nebraska. It's also a game against another Heisman candidate in Wisconsin running back Montee Ball. If he can outperform Ball in this game, his Heisman stock will go through the roof, with several games left to play.

In the loss last season, Burkhead averaged over five yards a carry with only 18 carries. Expect him to touch the ball a lot more and be a bigger factor this time around.

Must-Win Game

Nebraska won last year's meeting against Michigan State and somehow managed to drop 24 points on one of the top defenses in the country. The Spartans will continue to be a strong defensive team, as they return eight starters on that side of the ball. The bad news for Michigan State is that they lose their starting quarterback and their top four receivers.

So why do the Cornhuskers have to win this game? Because it's sandwiched between the game against Michigan and Penn State. Three tough Big Ten opponents in a row, Nebraska can't afford to end the season on a losing streak.