Husker Tickets

Mikey C Sez: Week 1

It's time for the annual weekly prognostications from our director of football operations and assistant janitor, Mikey C. So, without further adieu, here is the first of our weekly installment:

Mikey C Sez

Thanks, Johnny . . . well, it's another end to another summer, and that can mean only one thing -- time to figure out the mad maze that the rest of the world knows as college football.

Last year was a nutty year in college football. It got to the point where NOBODY wanted to be the No. 1 team in the country, the No. 2 slot was an even more precarious position and, for the umpteenth year in a row, the BCS sham produced an unworthy team that ended up getting their clocks cleaned in the alleged national championship game.

Will we have to endure more silliness in 2008? Will the BCS actually produce a legit No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup for all the marbles? Will Joe Pa and Bobby Bo ACTUALLY retire at the end of the year?

Before we answer those questions, let's get down what's really important . . . this week's picks:

UTEP at Buffalo (Thursday) -- OK, so it's not the sexiest of openers to the college football season. However, both of these programs are teams that have been much-maligned but are on the rise. Buffalo is coached by legendary Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill, and he has made quite the turnaround up in western New York. The Miners are coming off a 4-8 year under coach Mike Price and are looking for a rebound as they try to battle for a top spot in Conference USA. This is the year of the Bulls in the MAC, I think, and Buffalo kicks off the year in fine fashion: Blue Bulls 41, Miners 28

SMU at Rice (Friday) -- June Jones is the new sheriff in town in Dallas and will have the SMU Mustangs galloping back to respectability faster than you can say "run-and shoot offense." Remember the days when the Ponies were among the best in the country? Yeah, that was a long time ago, and it's amazing what the NCAA's death penalty can do to a once-proud program that hasn't done diddly since. They'll kick off against a good Rice team that is thinking bowl bid in 2008. Jones resurrected Hawaii's once-befuddled program and it's a good bet he'll do the same at SMU, but it's going to be a rough beginning at the home of the Owls: Hooters 49, Ponies 24

Virginia Tech at East Carolina -- Hey, what the heck is going on over there in Blacksburg? Players are either going down to injuries or having multiple run-ins with the law. Are the Hokies trying to resurrect the late 80's Miami and Oklahoma programs? Of course, the difference here is that coach Frank Beaman would much rather win with character kids than kids who are characters. The host Pirates won't exactly be pushovers for the Hokies' road opener, and they may in fact pull off one of the first upsets of the year. We'll give a slight nod to the Hokies, because we'd like to see them at 3-0 when they come to Lincoln next month: Hokie-Dokies 31, Captain Jacks 28

Syracuse at Northwestern -- Geez, if this was a 2007 pick, this would be the leader in the clubhouse for Stinker of the Year. Both programs were horrible last year, and both have a long way to go to climb to respectability. Syracuse's coaching staff is on the hot seat right now, and if they don't come back from last year's disaster they could be looking for new work (and sorry, boys, I've got a lifetime no-cut contract here. You can take an unpaid internship as my gofer, though . . .). Northwestern is, well, Northwestern. But at least they're not Minnesota . . . at least, not yet: Purple Dogs 28, Orange Fruits 24

Hawaii at Florida -- A year ago, this would have been a colossal must-see game with two tremendously talented quarterbacks. This year, this matchup will have two tremendously talented quarterbacks. The problem is . . . they're both playing for the same team. Tim Tebow was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and he'll get a chance to become the second two-time champion. This is our candidate for Mondo Ugly Game of the Week: Swamp Creatures 63, Island Dudes 17

USC at Virginia -- Last year, the Trojans opened up with a sweet cupcake team from Idaho. This year, they go on the road to face a fairly salty Virginia team. This will be a good warm-up for the Trojans before their big showdown in a couple of weeks with Chokehio State in The Coliseum. Maybe the Cavs can put a real dent in the Trojans' armor and get this crazy national championship talk off to a flying start. Ehh, probably not: Men of Troy 42, Cav-Nots 24

Alabama at Clemson -- Now HERE is a game you're going to want to watch this weekend (when you're not watching your favorite team's season opener, that is). Clemson is actually entertaining national championship hopes, but this is a program that has yet to win an ACC title under Tommy Bowden. Lot of expectations for the Tigers, as there are with Alabama, who are into their second year with Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide are expected to be in the mix of the SEC race this year, so this should be a great game to open the season for both teams: Orange Kitties 27, Crimson Tide 24

Illinois vs. Missouri (at St. Louis) -- The Tigers won the Big 12 North last year and were one game away from playing for a national title. Illinois upset Ohio State at the end of the year. Both teams are back. Both teams are loaded. Something has to give here. Again, we want Mizzou to be undefeated when they come to get their attitudes adjusted in Lincoln, so we're going to say: Black Cats 34, Illinois 24

Colorado State vs. Colorado (Sunday at Denver) -- We could really care less what Colorado's record is when they come to Lincoln to get their usual whipping this November. And any time they get their clocks cleaned by their weak sisters from southern Colorado . . . well, how can you possibly think that could be bad? Yeah, yeah, Colorado's won five of the last seven. All that means is that CSU is due: Rams 34, Buffy-Lows 31.

And finally  . . .

Western Michigan at Nebraska -- Believe it or not, Bill Callahan can't take credit for all the historical negatives that have been a part of Nebraska's football history. For example . . . it was not Callahan who was the last Husker coach to lose his first game as head coach. That honor goes to Bill Jennings, who got waxed by Washington State 34-12 in his debut back in 1957. In fact, Callahan never lost a season opener. You have to go all the way back to the dark, dreary days of that guy named Osborne, who had the audacity to coach the Huskers to a season-opening loss to Florida State in 1985, to find the last time our beloved Huskers stumbled out of the opening gate. In fact, in his 25 years as head coach, Osborne could only manage a 20-4-1 record in season openers. How did THAT guy stay employed THAT long??? But I digress . . .

Bo Pelini debuts as the full-time head coach (he is 1-0 with a win as interim coach a few years back during the start of that really ugly period in Nebraska football history) and will have the Huskers ready to roll for the Western Michigan Broncos, who will be a pretty solid bunch defensively. It won't be a huge blowout like some past openers, but the Huskers will be energized and will have a big sellout crowd behind them: Huskers 45, Western Michigan 21

Until next week, remember -- only you can prevent tailgate barbecue fires.

Four of top 10 at AVCA Volleyball Classic

The Qwest Center in Omaha will be rocking this weekend as four of the nation's top college volleyball teams bang heads at the AVCA Showcase Friday and Sunday.

This year has something of a conference flavor to it, as two of the top teams in the Big 12 battle two of the best from the Pac 10. All four teams are ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA preseason poll, including three of the top four, which should make for a great season-opening test for all four teams.

The Huskers come in with a young and untested bunch after losing several key players from the 2006 national championship and 2007 NCAA tournament teams. Only one starter is back from last year's team that spent much of the season at No. 1 before falling in the regional finals. Hooper, Neb., native Jordan Larson will be called upon to be the leader of a team that will learn on the run this year.

The seventh-ranked Huskers will face No. 2 Stanford in the opening game of the classic on Friday at 7 p.m. Stanford is trying to become the third team in NCAA history to reach volleyball's final four in three consecutive seasons. Stanford is coming off a 32-3 season and a Pac 10 title and returns six starters from last year, including reigning Player of the Year Foluke Akinradewo and fellow All-Americans Cynthia Barboza and Alix Klineman. Stanford also features some Nebraska flavor in its lineup, as former Bellevue West standout Gabi Ailes is a libero for the Cardinal.

On Sunday, the Huskers get another big test against a Pac 10 power when they meet No. 4 USC in a 3 p.m. matchup. The Women of Troy reached the semifinals last  year and went 29-5, and they have five starters coming back, including All-American setter Taylor Carico and hitter Jessica Gysin. USC is a very young but very experienced team that will give the Huskers a real test in their second game.

Coach John Cook told the media this week that these are the kind of games he wants his young and inexperienced team to have right out of the gate, as it will give them an indication of where they are at and what they need to work on if they want to return to the Qwest Center this December for the NCAA Volleyball Final Four.

Broncos' calling card is their defense

The 2008 Husker football season is ready to get under way, and the Huskers kick off the Bo Pelini Era on Saturday when they play host to Western Michigan in a 6 p.m. game at Memorial Stadium.

Like the Huskers, the Broncos are coming off a disappointing 5-7 season that saw them stumble out of the gate with a tough non-conference schedule that included top-10 West Virginia and Missouri. The Broncos did get a positive note at the end of the year by marching into Iowa City and defeating the Hawkeyes, and they are hoping to pull a similar trick when they come to Lincoln on Saturday.

Defense is Western Michigan's strong suit, and they have all 11 starters back from last year, led by an all-senior secondary that includes Shrine Bowl nominees Louis Delmas and Louden Fryar. Delmas has a career eight interceptions, while Fryar had six pass break-ups in one game last year and had a total of 16 in 2007.

Offensively, the Broncos are looking to improve this year and will be led by junior quarterback Tim Hiller, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, but struggled with 15 interceptions in 2007. Brandon West is the team's leading rusher and averaged almost five yards a carry last year. Senior receiver Jamarko Simmons averaged almost 12 yards a catch and caught 84 balls for 980 yards last season.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said the Huskers have a tremendous amount of respect for the Broncos and know their past history in playing well on the road against big-name schools like Iowa and Virginia. The Broncos will have the advantage of using that past reputation, but will be walking into something of an unknown entity because of the new coaching staff and having to play the season opener on the road in a place that is very tough for non-BCS schools to compete in.

Watson to call plays upstairs

When the Huskers take the field Saturday against Western Michigan, coach Bo Pelini will have his offensive coordinator up in the press box calling the plays.

The Omaha World-Herald reported Sunday that offensive coordinator Shawn Watson will return to the press box to call plays, as he had done for the first half of the year last year under former coach Bill Callahan. Watson was on the field for the final five games of the season, brought down by Callahan to help call plays from the field.

Watson said that it doesn't really matter where he's at, as long as he can quickly pass information back and forth between he and Pelini. He also feels more comfortable seeing the entire field from upstairs, which helps him more quickly determine what play the Huskers should run next.

Big East, C-USA will both be battles

Here is a Husker Tickets look at Conference USA and the Big East:

Bulls take the next step

A lot is being made of the talent West Virginia has coming back and the momentum from last year's stunning upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. But we like those upstarts down south at South Florida to win the Big East in 2008.

The Bulls got a healthy taste of the big time last year, rising as high as No. 2 in the polls before a late-season implosion took some of the shine off the green-and-gold. This year, though, they have some tremendous talent back, including quarterback Matt Grothe, who accounted for over 3,500 yards in total offense and 24 touchdowns last year. He might be the best quarterback in Florida not named Tebow.

The Dec. 6 matchup between the Mountaineers and Bulls will decide this one, and even though it's going to be played up north in Morgantown, we like South Florida to take the Big East this season.

A toss-up in C-USA

It should be a wide-open year in Conference USA with at least four teams looking to win it all this year.

Central Florida beat Tulsa to win it all last year, and the Knights look to be a good bet to do it again in 2008. Cornerback Joe Burnett leads what should be a very physical and stingy defense for UCF, and we like them to edge out Southern Miss and East Carolina to win the East.

Over in the west, Tulsa and Houston should make this a great race for the West Division title. Houston has a new coach in former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin, and he has a great group of kids back that should give an explosive Tulsa team a run. Tulsa is still the team to beat here as they have almost everybody back from last season, but the Cougars should make this more interesting.

Our Predictions

Big East -- 1. South Florida, 2. West Virginia, 3. Pittsburgh, 4. Connecticut, 5. Louisville, 6. Cincinnati, 7. Rutgers, 8. Syracuse.
Conference Champion -- South Florida

Conference USA East -- 1. Central Florida, 2. Southern Miss, 3. East Carolina, 4. Memphis, 5. Marshall, 6. Alabama-Birmingham.
Confernece USA West -- 1. Tulsa, 2. Houston, 3. SMU, 4. Rice, 5. UTEP, 6. Tulane.
Conference Champion -- Tulsa over Central Florida

Dogs, cats to battle for SEC supremacy

Here is a Husker Tickets look at the Southeastern Conference:

Bulldogs ready for next step

A lot of people down in Athens, Ga., thought the Georgia Bulldogs got screwed out of a chance at playing for the BCS title. Never mind the fact they failed to win the SEC East, the fact they were among a slew of two-loss teams made them a legit national title team in the eyes of the Georgia faithful.

This year they have a chance to leave no doubt in the eyes of those who determine the fate of the BCS. Led by running back Knowshon Moreno, the Bulldogs are primed for a run at the title this year and should dominate a talented East Division in the conference.

Georgia gets Florida at home and will have tough back-to-back road games at South Carolina and Arizona State, but this is a team that is poised and ready for a national title run

Don't forget the Tigers

For all they lost last year, defending national champion LSU is still the team to beat in the West Division. Running back Keiland Williams leads a very talented offense, but the big question is how LSU will replace all it lost on defense (including its defensive coordinator, a guy by the name of Bo Pelini who is now the Nebraska head coach). LSU also has a tough opening stretch in conference play with three road games in four weeks -- at Auburn, Florida and South Carolina. If LSU stumbles, another team of Tigers -- Auburn -- could come away with the division title here.

Our Predictions

East Division -- 1. Georgia, 2. Florida, 3. Tennessee, 4. Kentucky, 5. South Carolina, 6. Vanderbilt
West Division -- 1. LSU, 2. Auburn, 3. Mississippi State, 4. Alabama, 5. Arkansas, 6. Ole Miss
Conference Champion -- Georgia over LSU

Trojans will rule again in Pac 10

Here is a Husker Tickets look at the Pac 10:

USC can run the table

Stop us if you've heard this one before -- the USC Trojans are the class of the Pac 10 and should win the conference title easily.

It's been that way for the last six years, and with all the talent in Trojan camp there's really no reason to believe it won't be seven straight conference titles for the men from Troy.

Joe Mc Knight leads a scary-deep group of running backs that will chew up a lot of yards for coach Pete Carroll. The biggest concern right now is the health of quarterback Mark Sanchez, who sprained a knee in practice last week. If he is healthy, the Trojans will have another banner year offensively.

Of course, USC's schedule won't be a walk in the park. Ohio State comes calling Sept. 13 and Notre Dame will be in town in late November. There is also the confernece schedule, which includes home games against their biggest challengers in Oregon, Arizona State and Cal.

Ducks or Devils?

The battle for second place could be the more intriguing story in this conference. Oregon loses some major talent with the loss of Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart, but have some tremendous talent on the defensive side that should keep them in most games. The Sun Devils look to be loaded with Rudy Carpenter back at quarterback after throwing for 3,200 yards and 25 touchdowns. Arizona State will see where they stand with a key home game against Georgia in mid-September.

Our predictions

1. USC, 2. Arizona State, 3. Oregon, 4. California, 5. UCLA, 6. Oregon State, 7. Arizona, 8. Washington, 9. Stanford, 10. Washington State.
Conference champion -- USC

Buckeyes the class of the Big 10

Here is a Husker Tickets look at the Big 10:

Buckeyes the runaway leader

Say what you want about their inability to win the BCS title game -- the Ohio State Buckeyes are the cream of the crop in the Big 10 heading into 2008.

With running back Chris Wells looking to improve on last year's 1,600-yard ouput, the Buckeyes expect to move the ball at will this season and also possess a superior defense led by linebacker James Laurinaitis.

The only thing standing in Ohio State's way for an undefeated season are two games -- a big road game at USC on Sept. 13 and their annual blood-and-guts matchup with Michigan to close the season on Nov. 22. They play at Illinois -- who upset the Buckeyes in Columbus last year -- on the road as well, but the rest of the schedule should be a smooth ride for the Buckeyes.

Watch out for the Illini

Illinois took a chunk out of Ohio State last year and almost derailed the Buckeyes' BCS title game hopes, and they look to be a contender to step up and win the Big 10 if Ohio State should stumble. Illinois opens with a tough game against top-five Missouri and opens Big 10 play at Penn State and Michigan. Their schedule is tougher, but their tough games are all in the first five weeks of the season and they will have time to get healthy before Ohio State comes calling in mid-November.

Our predictions

1. Ohio State, 2. Illinois, 3. Michigan, 4. Wisconsin, 5. Penn State, 6. Michigan State, 7. Iowa, 8. Purdue, 9. Indiana, 10. Northwestern, 11. Minnesota.
Conference champion -- Ohio State

Clemson the pick to win ACC

Here is a Husker Tickets look at the Atlantic Coast Conference:

Clemson leads the way

Look for the Clemson Tigers to be the big winner in this conference in 2008. Coming out of the Atlantic Division, the Tigers have been on the doorstep of winning the ACC for a number of years and look to finally have what it takes to win it all this year.

Coach Tommy Bowden has assembled an outstanding cast of characters, led by quarterback Cullen Harper and running back C.J. Spiller. Harper threw for 27 touchdowns last year with just six interceptions, and with Aaron Kelly as one of his favorite targets he should put up great numbers.

Miami over Hokies

While some think Clemson will face Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game, we actually like Miami a little better. The Hurricanes were 5-7 last year but have a ton of talent back and is a team anxious to put last year's losing season behind them. Considering all the injuries and problems Virginia Tech is having right now, we think Miami might actually slip away with the Coastal Division title.

Beware the Heels, Deacons

Two teams to watch out for are North Carolina and Wake Forest. The Tar Heels lost six games by a touchdown or less in last year's 4-8 campaign and look to be in good shape to get over that hump, while the Demon Deacons have some great returning talent, including three-year starting quarterback Riley Skinner.

Our predictions

Atlantic Division: 1. Clemson, 2. Wake Forest, 3. Florida State, 4. Boston College, 5. North Carolina State, 6. Maryland.
Coastal Division: 1. Miami (Fla.), 2. Virginia Tech, 3. North Carolina, 4. Georgia Tech, 5. Virginia, 6. Duke.
Championship: Clemson over Miami (Fla.)

Kick returners learning to "just say no"

Assistant coach Ron Brown is not a big fan of the fair catch, and he's letting that be known to the Husker football players who will be returning punts this season.

Brown is in charge of the punt returners, as well as the tight ends, and he is adamant about taking advantage of any hole in kick coverage.

"A punt return ought to be a stinkin' play in the game where everybody (in the stands) gets on their feet," Brown told the Lincoln Journal-Star earlier this week. "We want to move the football. It's got to be an offensive weapon. We want courageous people back there."

Brown cited past players like DeJuan Groce, Tyrone Highes and Rod Smith -- the leader in punt return yardage in 1986 -- who weren't afraid to make something happen on a punt return. Groce averaged over 17 yards per return in 2002 and scored four of Nebraska's six touchdowns off punt returns that season.

That's a far cry from where the Huskers were last year, where they averaged a measley 8.18 yards per punt return with Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones handling most of the duties. In the three previous years, the numbers would have been as bad were it not for Terrence Nunn, who was third in the nation with over 18 yards per punt return.

Of course, there are times when a fair catch is the only play available, so it won't be a situation where the Huskers will return EVERY punt kicked their way. But if the option is there, expect the Huskers to do a lot more advancing punt returns and a lot less waving for fair catches in 2008.

The Huskers will get their first chance at returning kicks on Saturday, Aug. 30, as they open the 2008 season at home against Western Michigan. Get your tickets for the Huskers' season opener now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker game is ever sold out.