Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: USC vs Nebraska

Each week, the Profizer sits down to read the tarot cards. Dip his toes into the Sea of Red. And put his fingers on the pulse of college football. Though his glasses may be dangerously rose colored and he continues to drive with an open container of Rhule-aid, he can see clearly what must be done each week. This is the Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: USC vs Nebraska.

A few weeks back, I foresaw the opportunity the month of October presented for an upstart Husker team. Four straight games during the month that, on paper, were all winnable. These games have now come and passed. And the Huskers have come out of the fray with a 3-1 record. But how do we feel about that 3-1 record?

USC vs Nebraska

As college football fans, we all know that each 3-1 record is built differently. There were glimpses into the team’s potential. What could be. What can be. E-Money is a Bonafide DAWG. Nyziah Hunter is a legitimate homerun threat at any time. We have a QB that can make any throw necessary. The Blackshirts have a salty pass defense, and Mike Ekeler has this special teams unit operating as one of the best in the country. But there were also some of the same issues that have haunted this place for years. A lack of complementary football. An offense who at times is stuck in neutral, if not reverse. A porous offensive line, coupled with a quarterback, who sometimes appears to lack peripheral vision and feel in the pocket. A defense that struggles against the run with a young, smaller front line, and a propensity to fall victim to a mobile QB.

So again, what does our 3-1 record tell us? Well, one thing is for sure. Those three wins were gritty. They were not pretty. And, I think as recently as last year, Nebraska would have found ways to lose those games. At times, it seems like the Huskers cannot put a team away when they have the chance. An almost uncanny ability to allow teams to hang around until we finally present a chance to bite us in the ass. But this October, the Huskers found some ways to win. A Michigan State game that they found a way to put out of reach in the fourth quarter. A come from behind win in Maryland. And a game sealing drive and defensive hold against Northwestern, mixed between yet another embarrassing loss in Minneapolis. It is beginning to feel like this program is getting over the one score game hump, which is admittedly exciting to see. But the continued hiccups and at least one scheduled egg laying of a game a year need to be fixed.

I don’t think that anyone would say that they left Lincoln last Saturday after defeating Northwestern feeling better about this year’s team. But it does say something about the culture that Rhule is building when you don’t let a deflating loss to an average, at best, Minnesota team beat you twice. After watching a 21-6 lead evaporate the way it did, it was hard not to think the worst was going to happen. Especially against a Northwestern team that, no matter what, the outcome of the game will be within one score. But this time, there were no ill-advised onside kicks that let them back into the game. It was a combination of some horrible officiating and defensive busts that let them back into it late in the fourth quarter.

Pause here for this interruption, but that officiating crew was horrible and at times felt like they were in over their heads during that game. How can we have the SEC out here suspending crews and the B1G does nothing!

Anyway – rant over. Back to the real story. This defense bends on the ground but hasn’t yet broken through the air. The big plays have generally been surrendered via the ground game, as we saw when Caleb Komolafe gashed the Blackshirts for 7.4YPC to the tune of 125 total rushing yards and two touchdowns, including one 56 yarder where he was basically untouched.

But let’s focus on the positives for last Saturday. A potential back breaking interception was thrown, right after Northwestern had tied the game up, but this Husker team did not roll over. Rather, the Blackshirts picked this team up and Javin Wright accepted the gift presented to him by Preston Stone. And as poor as the offense may have looked to start the fourth quarter, they went on a game clinching 13 play, six-and-a-half-minute drive to all but seal the win. The Huskers have wrapped up bowl eligibility before the month of November for the first time in nearly a decade (2016). And, when toe meets leather this Saturday night at 6:30pm, we get yet another crack at a top 25 team. Is it finally the time to exercise this demon? It’s Halloween. Spirits have been summoned. Remote viewers have been accessed. Crystals have been consulted. The vision is coming into focus, and I see what has to happen for the Huskers to expel yet another curse. This is the Profizer’s Pigskin Preview. USC vs Nebraska.

1.      Shorten the Game – The best thing that the Huskers can do is limit the possessions that USC has. USC has an explosive offensive. Lincoln Riley has Jayden Maiava and the rest of the offense rolling. Maiava has matured well beyond what we saw in Los Angeles last year in his first start for the Trojans. The visions are clear. It’s not a matter of if USC will score, but when, and frankly, how often. So, it becomes a case of offense being the best defense in this game. The importance of Dylan Raiola’s short passing game will be paramount. I am having visions of the final drive against Northwestern. Converting 3^rd downs regularly. Holding the ball for long and sustained drives, that most importantly end in some kind of points. This program has spent a lot of money on facilities and state-of-the-art recovery equipment and personnel. Let’s hope Emmett is taking advantage, because he may have to put this team on his back again. E Money will need to have a huge game for the Huskers to shake that monkey off their back and take that next step.

2.      Trojan Horse – Odysseus was the mastermind behind the Trojan horse that ultimately defeated the Trojans. John Butler, you are Nebraska’s Odysseus. We need a masterful plan on Saturday night to contain this high-powered Trojan offense. The Achillies’ heel of all Nebraska defenses is a mobile QB. Jayden Maiava is exactly that. He may not have too many designed runs called for him, but he is fully capable of extending plays, allowing for receivers to get open downfield. And he will take advantage of some open field in front of him. Butler is going to have to scheme up a way to speed him up in the pocket, while also containing him in there. Pass rush was non-existent last week against Northwestern. It must show up Saturday night. From everything Rhule says, they are very confident in their pass defense, and they are going to have to be. The only consistent pressure on QBs this year has come via a blitz. That is going to leave guys like Ceyair Wright, Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones on a bit of an island against some very talented USC outside weapons, including Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. Two of the best receivers they will see all year long. All of this while trying to contain a potentially potent rushing attack behind a very athletic offensive line. Can John Butler figure out ways to stop the offensive mind of Lincoln Riley? My magic 8-ball told me to ask again later...

3.      Black Out the Night – For one of the first times, the athletic department is sanctioning a black out in the stands on Saturday night. Move over olds. Put the scarlet away for one game and join the future. The Trojans have shown that if they are to be vulnerable, it will be on the road, as they are 1-2 in road games this year, having dropped their past two road appearances at Illinois and Notre Dame. If we want to see that trend continue, the crowd needs to affect this game on Saturday. We have heard public pleas from John Butler and Matt Rhule this week, asking for a strong showing from the crowd. Requesting a true 12^th man presence. We must accept this call to action. We must be deafening. We need to be felt, not just heard. We need to bring energy early, and feast on anything this team gives us. Just like we did when Coach Prime and Colorado came to town last year. Just like the last time Miami visited Lincoln. “Through these gates pass the best fans in college football.” It’s time to prove it.

It's time for some meaningful football to again be played in Memorial Stadium during the month of November. And this time it isn't a high school football championship. The Huskers haven’t found themselves in a situation like this in some time. Another shot at a ranked opponent. Any outside chance of a CFP birth on the line each and every game from here on out. Can this team avoid stubbing its toe yet again on the national stage? Can the big game woes be put to bed? Or will there be another 85,000+ Cornhuskers taking the walk of shame back to their cars Saturday night? 3-1 is nothing to scoff at, especially in today’s college football. But this past October has taught us that this team still has some issues to correct. USC is a different caliber of football team coming to Lincoln than we have seen in the past four weeks. Skill will be on display all over Tom Osborne field Saturday night, and admittedly, the Huskers have a tall task at hand. Nonetheless, all the palms have been read. Rabbits’ feet have been rubbed. All the vibrations felt. The signs are mixed. The air feels charged. And the Huskers will fight like hell, but the curse holds – for now. USC 35, Nebraska 27.