Nebraska Football: Previewing The Cornhuskers' Game vs. Texas

For fans of Nebraska watching the game against Texas (October 16, 2:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE, ABC regional coverage) ...

YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF ...

- There's More Magic: Redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez has more than lived up to his (let's face it, still silly) nickname of "T-Magic," running roughshod over the defenses he's faced.

But, in all fairness, he hasn't seen a defense full of athletes like Texas will bring to Lincoln. Reports say he's able to gash the Blackshirts in practice like he has teams like Washington and Kansas State.

If he can do that to Texas, the Red Out Around The World should be quite the party.

- Taylor's Not A Ball Hog: While seeing Martinez running wild would be a sight for NU fans, it's almost a given that Texas will be overcommitting to stop him.

That means, if NU is going to have success offensively, running backs Roy Helu, Jr. and Rex Burkhead will have to be the offensive producers. Helu has shown both power and speed this season, and Burkhead has been a model of consistency since his return from injury.

Texas has shown vulnerability against the run, so the yards should be there for someone.

- Nebraska is Driven: NU has done very well with long runs, scoring quickly and from distance.

But the downside to that success is that they have not had much need to execute a long, time-consuming drive. Texas has the athletes on defense to, more than likely, force NU into long drives to score.

In this game, more than any other this season, the patience of the Nebraska offense and their redshirt freshman quarterback will be tested.

YOU'LL BE SAD IF ...

- The Fumbles Return: The huge asterisk on Nebraska's success this year is the alarming rate at which NU has put the ball on the carpet.

To date, it hasn't cost NU a game. But a quick look back to the Iowa State game last year will tell you what a difference turnovers can make.

If NU gives Texas a short field and gives up cheap points off turnovers, Texas has more than enough talent to win the game.

- The Longhorns Find Their Mojo: For reasons known only to him, Texas coach Mack Browndecided to completely change the Longhorns' offensive identity in the offseason, going from a spread attack to a downhill, power-running game.

Unfortunately, he still has the offensive players to execute a spread, which has caused some problems. Texas had a week off to get ready, and if Brown can get the Longhorn offense back to their original identity, they could be much more dangerous than they have shown to be so far this year.

- NU Reads Its Press Clippings: Disturbingly for NU fans, Nebraska, under head coach Bo Pelini, has not handled success well.

They do great coming off losses or in circumstances when the odds are against them, but have not come out nearly as well when they are the favorite. While focus shouldn't be a problem against what NU fans look at as the Evil Empire, college kids are always a bit of an unknown in terms of their poise and maturity.

THE BIG PICTURE

On paper, this game looks like a mismatch.

Texas doesn't defend the run well, and Nebraska is a terrific running team. Texas can't run the ball well and will likely have to throw to be successful, and Nebraska's secondary is one of the best in the nation.

Texas is coming off two straight losses, including one where the opposing team talked about Texas quitting late in the game.

But there are so many intangibles wrapped up in this game, including Pelini's "the BCS" exclamation at the end of the Big XII championship game, that it's not hard to see NU coming out either overhyped or underfocused (given the nine-point spread). Still, there's a difference in motivation between South Dakota State and Texas.

Given how the teams are playing now, the game is Nebraska's to lose. If NU avoids turnovers or special-teams gaffes, they should be able to control the game from start to finish, as Oklahoma did.

Make no mistake, Pelini remembers the game in Dallas last year, and NU should be as ready for this game as they ever have been.

FEARLESS FORECAST: Nebraska 20, Texas 13

Like what you read? Please LIKE me here and on Facebook, re-tweet the article to your friends, and follow me on Twitter @law_talking_guy to get updates on new articles and follow my thoughts and observations.