Nebraska's Schedule, D Make Team Good Bet for National Title Run: Part I

I am an admittedly myopic Husker fan, so take my argument with a boulder-sized grain of salt.

I don't believe the Huskers are the best team in the nation, but I'm not convinced that overall talent is the most important key to winning a national championship.

A very easy schedule, dominant defense, and explosive running game have Big Red fans giddy over the idea of a return to national prominence, and I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.

Let's start with the non-conference schedule. I'll lump Western Kentucky, South Dakota State, and Idaho into one giant category called thanks for participating. None of these teams will come within four touchdowns of the Huskers, and all will likely serve to pad stats and build confidence for an offense in need of a morale boost.

I'll give Washington credit for being the class of the non-conference foes, but I'm not buying them as a threat to Big Red in any way. Their signature win from last season was a victory over a depleted USC team and was due in large part to Steve Sarkisian's knowledge of the Trojans' ins and outs.

That brings me to the final Big 12 tour of duty. Kansas State was admittedly a nice story last year, but a 6-6 season is probably a best-case scenario for Bill Snyder's boys, and none of those six wins will include an upset of Nebraska.

Okie State has been on a good run and will consistently be a solid team during the rest of coach Mike Gundy's tenure. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they have lost way too much on offense and never had anything worth speaking of on defense.

While Texas (I'll get to them in a bit) may draw most of the national attention, I think Iowa State is the team Husker offensive players should be looking at if they're seeking redemption. Who didn't turn the ball over for Huskers in that game? Come Nov. 6, expect a creative and fierce offensive game plan that includes almost enough points to offset 2009's miserable effort.

Kansas will feature a nice reunion of coach Tom Osborne and Turner Gill, but pleasantries will end before kickoff, and when the final gun is fired, I'd be surprised if a single first-string player hasn't been sitting on the Husker sideline for at least a quarter. You may even see Adi Kunalic get to kick a field goal before all is said and done.

Colorado...they have some talent, and it is the last chapter in a forced rivalry, but I can't see Bo Pelini allowing anything but positive momentum to come out of Thanksgiving weekend.

Next up is an out of sequence review of the only three legitimate opponents on the Husker schedule.

The Oct. 30 showdown with Mizzou in Lincoln may be the trickiest of these games to pick. The Tigers believe they're better than Nebraska, and if it wasn't for Hurricane Suh and monsoon-like conditions in Columbia, they may well have won last year's matchup. Blaine Gabbert is the real deal, and I wouldn't bet on Derrick Washington being out of action for too long. In the end, the Sea of Red will play a deciding role in a close-fought victory.

Texas A&M barely makes the cut as a legitimate opponent. I think Mike Sherman will meet the same fate that Bill Callahan met in Nebraska. You can't coach college kids like professionals. They need to tackle, they need to learn, and they need to have stability in the coaching staff.

Asking his defensive players to learn a new system every year will force his team to win shootouts each and every week. Their offense gives them a fighting chance, but it won't be enough to win in the end.

So, that about covers it, right?

Oh yeah, there's that little matter of a Red Out the World showdown on Oct. 16 in Lincoln. I don't think the Huskers can match up athlete for athlete with the Longhorns. What I do think is that every player in that locker room and every fan in that stadium will give every ounce of energy they have and lead the state to its biggest celebration in more than a decade.

Garrett Gilbert is going to be a stud, and Texas' D has just as much talent as Nebraska's, probably more. But football is still a game of emotion as much as it is a strategy session of Xs and Os. I wouldn't want to see Texas a second time in the Big 12 title game, but for one night, I'd put all my money on the Huskers.

A final date with Oklahoma for all of the Big 12 marbles would mark a fitting close to an almost forgotten rivalry. Much like Texas, the Sooners have as much talent as any school in the nation and would mark a strong test for any team.

What I'm banking on here is that the same secondary that victimized Landry Jones for five interceptions in 2009 will be even better in 2010. This may be the one game that I am least confident about, and I'm convinced that the winner will be playing in Tempe for a national title.

If your eyes aren't bleeding yet, check back in later for a breakdown of the running game and defense that will lead the Huskers to an undefeated season.