Nebraska plays three teams from the Sun Belt this season, Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State, and Louisiana-Lafayette. I think the Sun Belt is usually the weakest conference in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and should be the weakest conference in '09. After that uplifting news for Sun Belt fans, the conference does have five road wins over BCS teams the last couple years. This will be the ninth year of football in the Sun Belt, Troy won the conference last year and is expected to repeat. Let's get to Nebraska's three Sun Belt opponents.
Florida Atlantic Owls
Phil Steele predicts FAU to finish tied for second with fellow NU opponent Arkansas State. Last year Florida Atlantic lost at Texas (52-10), at Michigan State (17-0), and Minnesota (37-3). In 2007, the Owls beat Minnesota 42-39. FAU has gone to two straight bowls (won both) and finished last season going 6-1 over the final 7 games including the bowl. PS (Phil Steele) rates QB Rusty Smith as the 11th best draft eligible QB who will be throwing to PS's number one Sun Belt receiving unit (top 7 receivers return). Rusty Smith is already the career passing leader with the Owls heading into his senior year. FAU only returns 3 starters on defense (lose their top 6 tacklers from '08). Inexperienced Zac Lee and the unproven Nebraska receivers should be able to get off to a confidence building start.
Way too early prediction: NU 44-20
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Phil Steele predicts Arkansas State to finish tied for second with Florida Atlantic in the 9 team Sun Belt conference. Last year Arkansas State won at Texas A&M 18-14 and lost at Alabama 35-0. In 2007, Arkansas State lost at Texas 21-13 in the first week of the season. I'm not calling this an upset special, but the placement of this non-conference game makes it the second most difficult non-conference game for the Huskers. The following week Nebraska plays at Virginia Tech. I will call for this game to be similar to last years San Jose State game in which NU only led 14-12 early in the fourth before winning 35-12 (SJSU outgained NU 353-315). ASU returns their QB, the top 4 rushers, and the top two receivers. However, the offensive line only has 19 career starts returning in '09 (tied with Army for the lowest). The Red Wolves return 6 of their top 7 leading tacklers from '08. Arkansas State opens their season up against FCS member Mississippi Valley State who went 3-8 last year and should be fired up for NU.
Way too early prediction: NU 31-9
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Phil Steele predicts the Ragin' Cajuns to finish seventh in the Sun Belt. By the time ULL will face the Huskers they will have played Kansas State in Lafayette and on the road against LSU. Last year, Louisiana-Lafayette lost close games at Illinois (20-17) and at Kansas State (45-37). The Ragin' Cajuns return 8 out of their top 9 tacklers from a defense that allowed 430 yards per game and nearly 34 points per game. Last year the offense was the strength of the team averaging 449 yards per game and 33 points per game. This year, ULL loses their QB (1,876 yards, 62.8%, 13 TDs, 11 Ints), their top 2 rushers (combined for 2,410 yards, 24 TDs, 6.5 yards per carry), and their top receiver (46 catches, 656 yards, 7 TDs) but returns 113 career offensive line starts (fourth most). Depending on how Louisiana-Lafayette plays against their first two BCS opponents and Nebraska's attitude after Virginia Tech, this could be the ugliest game of the season for the Huskers.
Way too early prediction: NU 45-12
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I love the mid-summer score predictions! Now, don't go editing your blog and changing them once we play, okay...?
ReplyDeleteI will make predictions for the game the week of once the season is set to begin and based on how teams play. I will hopefully be able to give accurate predictions. As for now without having watched any of these teams play this season, I can only speculate based on returning players and the stats they have compiled during their college careers.
ReplyDeleteYou have my word I won't edit any scores, but my final "set" predictions won't be out until the week of each game. What I am saying is I will reserve the right to adjust my predictions to the week of the game.