A friend of mine texted me this afternoon mentioning a sense of “gravity” for Nebraska fans and its football program this weekend. Nebraska is 5-0 and they host the Indiana Hoosiers at 11 AM CDT. Look, Nebraska used to be the stuff in college football. One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was to look at the Sunday Sports Section to see how many yards Nebraska and Oklahoma put up against their Big 8 opponents. Some of those rushing numbers were staggering. For me, it was just fun to look at those numbers. Never once were these numbers things I would ever see out of Big Ten teams. In 1978, Nebraska beat Indiana 69-17. Eleven Cornhuskers ran the ball that day. I.M. Hipp, Nebraska’s bell cow running back that year, scored four touchdowns. I was there.
Face it, Nebraska Football has changed since they joined The Big Ten. They don’t scare anyone like they used to. But don’t fall asleep on them. Nebraska fans are looking for the answer to a hopeful and nervous question. “Are we really back?” That’s a tough question to ask because so much hope is in play. Lose and a great deal of air comes out of their football…again.
Indiana looked like the football version of the Rudyard Kipling story The Ship that Found Herself last week in a beat down of Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ. Indiana looked like the Hoosiers we have grown accustomed to seeing dominante their football games. Yes, I know every season is different. Some schools have gone on runs that lasted more than a decade. See Bobby Bowden’s run a Florida State. If you are a Hoosier fan, you have already become a little greedy.
Will Indiana beat Nebraska? I think they will. This game feels like a question to me. Is Nebraska really ready for this moment? Do they make the first turnover early and it brings them down? We’ll see. Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule is a great coach. A proven winner. There is a reason for optimism if you are a Cornhusker fan. Indiana’s Coach Cignetti was the plum that was pulled out on the thumb, 32-2 is Indiana’s record under Curt Cignetti. We all know there are losses that will come. Harder times happen eventually. In the meantime, most of America feels disdain for the Hoosiers. “That was supposed to be us!” That refrain has played loud and clear around tables where college football boosters plot their team’s future, unless you are Indiana. They got here without that table. It’s Indiana. A great place to coach a team without a doubt. Bloomington is not a place where countless people want a piece of your time compared to other schools and the fat cats around that “table”.
So, I’m in Nashville this weekend. No, not to see the Ole Miss Rebels take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. I have seen quite a few Rebs games at Vandy. Two that stand out are the 2000 game that ended 12-7 in favor of the Rebels. Looked like two mules fighting over a turnip. What I remember most is heading to Nashville after forgetting my suitcase at home on a busy school day. In 2003, Vandy went ahead of the Rebels 21-14 with 14:20 left to play in the 4th. Ole Miss kicker Jonathan Nichols was the Rebels hero that day. He opened the scoring with a 51 yard field goal in the second quarter. Nichols saved the game for senior quarterback Eli Manning when, on the 6th lead change of the game, he drilled a 54 yarder to end the scoring 24-21 in favor of Ole Miss with 3:52 left to play. Played on August 30th, this game was the season opener and it was 96 degrees at kickoff.
I’m in Nashville this weekend to celebrate my grandson Liam’s 1st birthday. I often refer to him as Merle because I can and I like it. Don’t tell the Rebs. Hanging out with Merle is more fun than watching them play. One day Merle will have other interests and I will be stuck watching the Rebels again. I am a realist. And I am also glad the Indiana Hoosiers host Ohio State NEXT weekend. I am a realist. Merle already knows that.
On to this week’s picks. 48 winners and 22 losers so far. Last week was 9-5 rough.
Indiana beats Nebraska… The Hoosiers BRING IT against the Cornhuskers.
Pitt beats North Carolina… Pitt earned their #25 ranking last week.
Mizzou beats Texas A&M… Mizzou comes off the beat down of Florida with a nail biter at home against the Aggies.
Georgia Tech beats Duke… The T-squares are finally put to good use for these engineers.
Illinois beats Michigan State… The Illini laid an egg against the Boilermakers. Give PU credit. The boys from Champaign figure this one out.
Ole Miss beat Vandy… Look for Trinidad Chambliss to lead the Rebs with his arm and his legs while the rain comes down here in Nashville.
Texas beats Oklahoma… The Cotton Bowl Stadium lives and that is a good thing.
Oregon beats UCLA… I am tempted to take the Bruins. They have played well. Oregon doesn’t lose this one at home.
Ohio State beats Maryland… The Buckeyes get ready next week in Bloomington.
Tennessee beats Arkansas… The Hogs are at home. The Vols still win.
Kentucky beats LSU… Why does this feel like this is UK’s chance to shine. LSU players will be less than enamoured with this trip and the Wildcats take advantage. Why not?
Georgia beats Alabama… The Bulldogs take down the Tide in Tuscaloosa. Then Bama moves up in the AP Poll.
USC beats Penn State… Classic matchup and a conference game at that. Look for the Trojans to disappoint the Happiness in the Valley.
Minnesota beats Purdue… Look for Goldy to force four turnovers against the Boilermaker offense.
Have a great weekend. The rain is heading North and we’ll see it Saturday in Nashville and Sunday on the way home. Old Highway 31, here we come. Rain + Interstate = 31.
Enjoy the football.