Nebraska Cornhuskers Football: Previewing This Week's Game Against Colorado

A special Thanksgiving edition, for fans of Nebraska watching the game against Colorado (November 26, 2:30 p.m. central, Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE, ABC)

YOU'LL BE THANKFUL IF:

BO IS BORING: For those of you just returning from Mars, the last few days have been filled with drama in Huskerland over head coach Bo Pelini's angry outbursts during the Texas A&M game.

Pelini has apologized, and has apparently received some clear direction from athletic director Tom Osborne that such outbursts must not happen again. The Colorado game will be nationally televised and there will be a camera on Pelini at all times during the broadcast. Nebraska fans should hope there's nothing interesting to see.

THE BLACKSHIRTS STAY HOT: Through all the sideline drama and the offensive ineptitude of the last few weeks, Nebraska's defense has grown into a unit that resembles last year's squad in its dominance.

While it may not be five times better than last year, as Pelini promised, the Blackshirts have rounded into a form that can keep NU in games with even a little offensive help. Given Colorado's resurgence under interim head coach Brian Cabral, the defense will likely need another stellar performance.

THE BUFFS WEAR WHITE: While Colorado is undefeated and playing much better under Cabral, they've also been a terrible, terrible road team. This will be Cabral's first road test, and an awfully difficult one in Memorial Stadium against an angry Nebraska team with a point to prove. If Colorado maintains their road form against NU, the game should be a comfortable way to digest Thanksgiving leftovers.

YOU WON'T BE THANKFUL IF ...

SHAWN CAN'T FIND A PLAN B: Whether Taylor Martinez starts or not, it's pretty clear that we're not going to see the electric speedster that tore apart opponents in the first part of the season. Martinez hasn't scored a rushing touchdown since Kansas State.

It's also clear that the offense designed by offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is built on having a home run threat from the quarterback. If that doesn't work—and it hasn't been for weeks—then the game against Colorado could look disturbingly like last week.

NEBRASKA CAN'T GET GRABBY: Everyone's read about the penalties and the interceptions as the culprits for Nebraska's loss to Texas A&M. What has gotten less attention is the fact that NU got no turnovers against the Aggies.

Particularly with the offense struggling, if the Blackshirts can't turn Ralphie over and get some short fields, the task becomes more difficult.

THE AGGIES BEAT NU TWICE: Nebraska fans are hoping that all the frustration from last week's loss will be focused into a sharp performance against Colorado. But the last time NU had a game they were focusing on after a frustrating result was Texas.

How'd that work out? If NU doesn't focus its anger and frustration properly and usefully, the overly-tight performance against the Longhorns could recur, with similar results.

THE BIG PICTURE

Nebraska probably needs to win the game against Colorado to book a trip to the Big 12 Championship game in Dallas. It's not a guarantee, as if Kansas beats Missouri this week, NU goes to the title game regardless of what happens against Colorado.

But to control their own destiny, Nebraska will not only have to harness the disappointment of the Texas A&M game, but will have to find an offensive structure that can effectively move the ball without Martinez putting his cape on and being T-Magic.

Colorado is coming into the game with two good wins, but against two pretty average opponents. NU's defense should be good enough to hold the Buffs in single digits, and NU's offense should be able to put up just enough points to prevail. Expect a game that looks disturbingly like the Kansas game two weeks ago; no style points, but a win.

FEARLESS FORECAST: Nebraska 16, Colorado 6

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