Nebraska Cornhuskers: 4 Keys to Making It to the Big Ten Championship Game

The No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers' goal in 2011 is to win the Big Ten Championship.

After a devastating 48-17 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, the chances of Nebraska making it to the championship game looked diminished.

But Nebraska has bounced back with wins over Ohio State (34-27), Minnesota (41-14) and last week against Michigan State (24-3). Now Nebraska not only looks like a team that could make it to the inaugural Big Ten Championship game, but also the favorite to win the game.

In order for Nebraska to make it to the championship game they will likely have to win their remaining games (against Northwestern, at No. 16 Penn State, at No. 13 Michigan, and against Iowa).

The only way Nebraska could make it to the Big Ten Championship game without winning each of their remaining games is if Michigan State loses one of their remaining games. Michigan State plays Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Northwestern, teams with a combined record of 3-14 in Big Ten Conference play. It is unlikely Michigan State will lose to any of these teams.

It is important that the Cornhuskers take it one game at a time. Overlooking an opponent could spell disaster for Nebraska. Recent history under coach Bo Pelini suggests this will not happen.

Nebraska has a history of becoming a better team as the year progresses. Nebraska can make it to the Big Ten Championship game, but there are keys to winning each of their remaining four games…

Run the Ball Until Northwestern Surrenders

Nebraska hosts the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday. Since Nebraska will likely have to win out to make it to the Big Ten Championship game, this game is as important as any of the remaining games on their schedule.

Northwestern is 1-4 in Big Ten Conference play. Nebraska must take Northwestern seriously and not think about their trip to Penn State the following week. I doubt Pelini will allow this to happen.

The key to this game is for the Cornhuskers to run the ball. Nebraska is the No. 9 rushing team in the country. The Cornhuskers average 252 yards per game.

The weakness of the Northwestern defense is their rush defense. Northwestern is ranked No. 95 in the country against the run, giving up an average of 194 yards per game on the ground.

If Nebraska comes out running the football, they will take time off the clock and wear down Northwestern’s defense. The only way Nebraska loses this game is if they abandon their game plan and try to pass the ball.

The weather forecast for Lincoln calls for 40-mile-per-hour winds gusts on Saturday, so there is no reason for Nebraska to try and pass the ball.

Nebraska will run the ball until Northwestern cannot take it anymore and move one game closer to the Big Ten Championship game.

Be Patient with Penn State

The game against the Penn State Nittany Lions will not be an easy game for the Cornhuskers to win.

Penn State is 8-1 on the season and ranked No. 16 in the BCS poll. Nebraska will have their work cut out for them trying to win this game in front of 106,000 Nittany Lions fans.  

Penn State has the No. 1 defense in the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions give up an average of only 283 yards per game.

Penn State does not have an offense that should scare the Nebraska defense.

Penn State does have a good running back in Silas Redd, who has already rushed for over 1,000 yards with seven touchdowns. Since Redd is the only weapon Penn State has, the Nebraska defense should be able to slow him down.

This will likely be a low-scoring game. Nebraska must be patient with the Nittany Lions. If Nebraska sticks to their game plan and pounds the ball at the Penn State defense, sooner or later Penn State will wear down.

This game will be close heading into the fourth quarter. If Nebraska remains patient, they will win it in the end.

Winning this game against Penn State will give Nebraska some respect from national critics and bring them one game closer to reaching the Big Ten Championship game.

Control the Clock at Michigan

The game against the Michigan Wolverines will likely be the toughest game remaining on the Cornhuskers’ schedule.

Like the game against Penn State, this game will also be played in front of over 100,000 hostile fans. At least Nebraska will have a game of experience under their belt playing in front of a large opposing fan base.

Nebraska has had problems containing mobile quarterbacks all season. Michigan’s Denard Robinson is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the country.

It will be difficult for Nebraska to completely shut down Robinson. The best way to slow him down is to keep him off of the field.

Nebraska used time management beautifully against Michigan State. The Cornhuskers had scoring drives off 14 plays and 12 plays, and each drive took over 5:00 off the clock.

Nebraska must do to Michigan what they did to Michigan State. If the Cornhuskers move the ball down the field on drives of over 12 plays, they will take time off the clock and keep Michigan’s star player on the sidelines. This will also take the over 100,000 fans out of the game.

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

With this win (and the previously mentioned wins), Nebraska would have one team standing between them and the Big Ten Championship game—Iowa!

Take Iowa Seriously

If Nebraska heads into the Heroes Game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at 10-1, there will be big expectations.

Nebraska fans will already be making their plans for Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship game. It is important that the Nebraska football team does not do the same.

It will be hard for Nebraska not to overlook Iowa. How can you take seriously a team that lost to Minnesota?

Iowa has been an up-and-down team all season. This is the first game in the new rivalry, and both teams will want to win. I look for this game to be much like the Colorado-Nebraska rivalry. When the two teams play, you can throw out the record books.

If Nebraska stays focused, they have the skill to overpower Iowa. The only way Nebraska will lose this game is if they come into the game unprepared looking ahead to the Big Ten Championship game instead of focusing on their game against Iowa.

I think the Cornhuskers will take Iowa seriously and be on their way to the Big Ten Championship game.

Can Nebraska win the Big Ten Championship game?

Hopefully that article will come soon…

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