College Football Preseason: Nebraska Cornhuskers' Schedule, Title Hopes

College football isn't taking the Nebraska Cornhuskers lightly this year.

That's what happens when you come within a second of beating a team that would end up playing for the BCS Championship.

Crushing the second-best team in the Pac-10 to end the season doesn't hurt either.

But, what does that mean for the Huskers in 2010?

To the Associated Press, it means they are the eighth-best team in the nation.

To the coaches, it means they are the ninth-best team.

And, according to a poll on huskers.com, over 34 percent of the Husker faithful believe Nebraska will sweep its regular season. 

So, is that realistic?

Western Kentucky

After Sept. 4, quarterback Brion Carnes won't be the only thing Western Kentucky lost to Nebraska.

Nebraska's 49-0 drumming will leave the Hilltoppers searching for their dignity the rest of the season. 

Likelihood the Huskers win: 99 percent

Idaho

In 2009, Idaho had one of its best seasons ever, and hung on to win the Humanitarian Bowl 43-42 over Bowling Green.

However, they went 4-4 in the WAC. That isn't saying too much. 

Expect another shutout from the 'Skers and a 42-point victory.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 95 percent

@ Washington

Somehow the hype about this game has been all about Jake Locker. 

Let's hope it stays that way.

Locker can't win a game by himself; no one can (unless he's named Suh).

The Huskers secondary, anchored by Rickey Thenarse, Prince Amukamura, and Dejon Gomes, shouldn't have too much trouble shutting down Locker.

Keep in mind this is a team that only went 5-7 last year.

Even if Locker makes it a shootout, the Huskers should be able to outscore a Huskies' defense that ranked 78th last season.

Huskers win 28-7. 

Likelihood the Huskers win: 85 percent

South Dakota State

Jackrabbits? 

Really?

63-0, and a chance for Roy Helu to pad his stats. 

Likelihood the Huskers win: 100 percent

@ Kansas State

Kansas State is the first cause for concern. 

Big 12 opponents are never a guaranteed win. Especially when it's a road game against Bill Snyder.

While Kansas State could potentiality be an Iowa State-type lapse, it is unlikely.

Kansas State's offense should be no match for the Husker defense, as long as running back Daniel Thomas can be contained.  

Thomas was able to run all over the Huskers last year, and that was with Suh on the line. 

This one has the potential to make Huskers fans cringe. 

However, the Huskers should prevail, 13-7.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 65 percent

Texas

See the picture above?

That's Colt McCoy in a Cleveland Browns uniform, which is one of the many reasons the Huskers will triumph on Oct. 16 in Memorial Stadium. 

It may sound odd, but the loss of Suh should impact the Huskers' defense less than the loss of McCoy to Texas's offense.

And, if you caught the Big 12 Championship game last year, then you'll realize that should mean a victory for the Huskers.

Expect the Husker defense to control this matchup once again, but this time emerge the victor 13-7.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 55 percent

@ Oklahoma State

The Cowboys go into the 2010-11 season minus their two most-talented players from last year: Russell Okung and Dez Bryant.

This is a squad that shouldn't be as good as they were last year, and that doesn't bode well for the Cowboys.

They managed to lose their final two games by a combined score of 48-7. 

Yet, something is scary about this game. Looks like a 24-21 Huskers victory. 

Likelihood the Huskers win: 65 percent

Missouri

Last year's game against Missouri was one Suh pretty much won single handedly.

So how will the Huskers fare without Suh?

They'll be fine. The Huskers seem to love dominating recruits who end up deferring to another school.

The last time Missouri came to Lincoln, they embarrassed the Huskers. This time it should be the other way around. Huskers 35-14. 

Likelihood the Huskers win: 75 percent

@ Iowa State

Last year, the Cyclones stunned Nebraska.

It still doesn't seem like that game actually happened.

But it did, and it won't happen again. Huskers 42-7.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 99 percent

Kansas

The Huskers won this matchup by two touchdowns last season.

This year it should be more.

Kansas' program just doesn't seem scary this year, and this game is in Lincoln.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 85 percent

@ Texas A&M

A lot of people are afraid of this game.

It's on the road, and against stud quarterback Jerrod Johnson.

This is a team with a lot of potential, and there is no way of knowing how dangerous this game might be until the season gets going.

This A&M squad could be the one to put a kink in the Huskers' season, as a loss that late in the year would prevent them from having a shot to get back to the top of the BCS rankings.

And for those worried about the Washington Huskies, this Aggie team is a lot scarier. Huskers 35-31.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 65 percent

Colorado

The last two games against the Buffaloes have been closer than they should have been for Nebraska. 

If the Huskers are a no-loss, or a one-loss team at this point, this game will be a blowout.

The Huskers are a much more talented team, and, at this point in the season, Colorado will probably be with an interim head coach.

No Henery game savers here, Huskers 45-7.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 85 percent

Big 12 Championship

If Nebraska gets here, then it will likely be facing Texas for a second time, or Oklahoma for the first.

Nebraska would want to be playing Texas. A team it had already played and even if the Cornhuskers had lost, they would know how prepare for them.

No matter who they play here, it's a toss up.

Likelihood the Huskers win: 50 percent

Analysis

The chances of the Huskers playing for a national championship are mediocre at best.

In the Big 12, it is simply too hard to sweep the table due to the parity of the teams. There are many games on the Husker schedule that could become losses.

However, because of the Huskers' high starting point in the polls, an early to midseason loss could still afford them the opportunity to get back to a No. 1 or 2 spot in the rankings with a one-loss season and a win in the Big 12 championship.

Nebraska needs a signature victory to give it a shot. Beating Texas would give it that, or a close loss to Texas along with a convincing Big 12 Championship game could get the 'Huskers there...assuming they do not lose any other games.

If Nebraska's defense is as good as everyone seems to believe, many pundits are saying its pass defense in 2010 will match the impressiveness of the run defense of 2009, then this should be a two-loss team going into its bowl at the worst.

Bo Pelini seems to believe his defense has improved, even with the loss of Suh and Phillip Dillard to the draft.

That's saying something, especially when you consider that the 'Huskers were the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation last year.

Any hopes that the 'Huskers may have will rely on the passing offense. Zac Lee seemed to figure something out when the 'Skers stomped Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday Bowl.

The 'Huskers have to hope that translates into consistent success. The news that Lee played with an injury to his throwing arm throughout the season shows that his potential may be higher than what he achieved last season.

Another key is that the backfield stays healthy. Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead need to supplement each other so that they both stay fresh and ready as the season progresses.

All in all, a lot needs to happen for this team to be championship caliber. But the 'Husker faithful will tell you that it just might.

And why not? Someone has to win it.

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