Nebraska Football: Previewing the Cornhuskers' Game Against Iowa State

For Nebraska fans watching the game against Iowa State (Nov. 06, 2:30 p.m. central, Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa, ABC regional coverage):

YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF ...

NEBRASKA DOESN'T BEAT NEBRASKA: A crucial element in Iowa State's shocking victory in Lincoln last year was, of course, Nebraska's eight turnovers.

No one will dispute that Nebraska will have the superior athletic talent taking the field on Saturday, and such a talent gulf should be decisive in the outcome.

But Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads has made a living getting his teams to play smart and error-free football, putting them in position to take advantage of other team's mistakes.

Recently, NU has curtailed its fumbling issues, but a return to carelessness could leave the door open for another upset.

YOUTH CONTINUES TO BE SERVED: Head coach Bo Pelini made quite a statement last week by replacing his two starting safeties against Missouri. That statement (which can be summarized as "make a freaking tackle, fer cryin' out loud!") was very effective against Missouri's potent offense.

Iowa State doesn't have the type of offensive threat Missouri does, but they still have enough weapons to test the Blackshirts.

Assuming the defensive starting lineup stays the same (with the likely addition of true freshman Ciante Evans replacing injured Alfonzo Dennard at corner), that youth will need to continue their strong start for NU to continue the march to Dallas.

THE ELEPHANT CONTINUES IN THE ASCENDANCY: Stay with me on this analogy. The Republicans won decisively in Tuesday's midterm elections. The Republicans' logo is an elephant. Elephants are known (for reasons I have yet to understand) to have long memories.

Nebraska is in danger of a letdown after a huge win against Missouri last week, and could use some help in motivation.

Remembering Nebraska's 9-7 loss to Iowa State in Lincoln should go a long way towards making sure NU comes out focused against the 'Clones, and avoids the letdown.

So (in completing what has to be the first politics-to-college football analogy on this site), NU needs to channel its inner GOP and use their memory of last year's defeat at the hands of the Cyclones to avoid a letdown.

Although I think we can all agree that Pelini applying the spray-tan the way new House speaker John Boehner does might be taking things a little too far.

YOU'LL BE SAD IF ...

NU HAS QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS: Freshman phenom quarterback Taylor Martinez left last week's game in the second quarter and did not return, due to what the coaches said was an ankle sprain.

According to reports, Martinez has been practicing and should be good to go against Iowa State on Saturday. But much of Martinez's magic comes from his explosive footspeed. If his ankle isn't fully healed, or if he is at all tentative from the injury, Martinez could revert to his South Dakota State or Texas form.

THE CYCLONES DO WHAT THEY DO: Although Rhoads insists it's not a specific area of focus, Iowa State's defense has always been very good at creating turnovers. As we've seen throughout this season, and specifically in Lincoln last year, Nebraska can be susceptible to turnovers.

If Iowa State can get NU to put the ball on the ground a few times and capitalize, the recipe is there for another upset.

ROBINSON GETS ROLLING: If NU's defense has a weak spot, it's been a physical tailback running right at them. Missouri outsmarted itself by almost completely abandoning a downhill running game, contributing to the defeat on Saturday.

Iowa State won't do that, and tailback Alexander Robinson is a legitimate Big 12 back. If Iowa State can get Robinson going, they can shorten the game and force NU to play the run, opening up space for QB Austin Arnaud to do damage with his arm to some of the Cyclones' speedy receivers.

THE BIG PICTURE

A legitimate case can be made for Paul Rhoads as the best coach in the Big 12. Now in year two, he has taken an undermanned Iowa State program and led them to two huge, huge upset conference wins on the road.

He took the Cyclones to a bowl win last year, and looks on track to get Iowa State into the postseason this year as well. Some astute conference observers (not to mention any names, but two thumbs pointed at this guy) believe that he should file a police report to recover the Coach of the Year award that Mack Brown stole from him last year.

Let's be clear. Nebraska has a clear advantage in terms of the talent level of the teams taking the field on the banks of the Skunk River on Saturday. All things being equal, talent should win out and NU should win comfortably.

But that was true last year in Lincoln, and Iowa State won. That was true a couple of weeks ago in Austin, and Iowa State won. Pelini will have to match Rhoads's ability to get a clean, sharp performance out of his squad for NU to keep its BCS dreams alive.

FEARLESS FORECAST: Nebraska 24, Iowa State 13

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