Huskers are pick in West
Nebraska was Glen Mason s preseason pick to win the Big Ten West Division. Now, with conference play beginning in earnest, Mason still feels good about the Huskers chances.
Meanwhile, here at Cram Session headquarters, the board of governors (yours truly) is in reassessment mode.
My preseason pick was Iowa (3 1), which couldn t even defeat Iowa State in Iowa City but came back with a spirit lifting win against a tough Pittsburgh team.
Even so, my new pick ipatagonia inflatable vest for salen the wild (mild?) West is Nebraska (4 0). But count this as a reassessment made with halting confidence.
You obviously can t ignore Wisconsin (2 1patagonia better sweater shrink) and its nation leading ground game. You also can t ignore the Badgers second half meltdown against LSU, a team that allowed 302 rushing yards to Mississippi State in a loss Saturday at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
If you like Nebraska to capture the West, you feel better after talking to Mason, the Big Ten Network analyst and former head coach at Kent State, Kansas and Minnesota.
Ypatagonia discount code illpumpyouup2ou feel even more confident after talking to Gerry DiNardo, BTN analyst and former head cpatagonia discount code illpumpyouup1oach at Vanderbilt, LSU and Indiana. DiNardo originally picked Iowa to capture the Division. Not now.
So far, Nebraska has clearly separated itself, he told me this week, basing his change of heart mostly on NU s potent offense it ranks eighth nationally which should allow the defense to develop.
Mason also makes a valid point: The Huskers possess a greater number of potent difference makers than their division rivals.
Ameer Abdullah is playing at a Heisman Trophy level. Iowa has no skill player in Abdullah s stratosphere.
Kenny Bell is living up to expectations (14 recep插入patagonia mens better sweater jacket 255264tions for 284 yards and a touchdown). Jordan Westerkamp has perhaps exceeded expectations as a consistent big play threat (14 catpatagonia discount code illpumpyouup3ches for 285 yards and three TDs). Westerkamp had 20 catches all of last season.
Tommypatagonia clothes reviews Armstrong generally has exceeded expectations. Put it this way: Nebraska s quarterback situation is in much better shape than Wisconsin s or Iowa s.
Randy Gregory is Randy Gregory, disruptive and chatty. He may want to curtail the latter.
Abdullah is the team s heart and soul.
How he fights for that extra inch, to me, that s what really great backs do, Mason said.
Mason feels the best teams have a few elite players spripatagonia discount code illpumpyouupnkled among good players who know their roles. Maybe Nebraska is that sort of team.
Nebraska s offensive line has played well most of the time during an unusually down season for Big Ten O lines, most notably at Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota and even Iowa.
Iowa was Mason s runner up pick in the West based on its light schedule and its line play on both sides of the ball. But the Hawkeyes O line has been somewhat disappointing to this point, Mason said.
Maybe that comeback win at Pipatagonia everlong review xenicaltt will turn Iopatagonia discount code illpumpyouup0wa s season in patagonia everlong review 05the right direction, he said.
Nebraska s win against Miami was a shot of momentum, with one caveat: The Hurricanes speed at the skill positions caused problems for the Huskers back seven, but Mason liked how hard NU fought. He still sees a defense that is greatly improved, he said.
Nebraska s close shave against McNeese State gave Mason paupatagonia guide jacket vectorse.
Then when you watch Nebraska play Miami. . It was a hard hitting game, a well played game, he said. FSU has posted three relatively unimpressive wins Oklahoma State (37 31), Citadel (37 12) and Clemson (23 17 in OT). Of course, the Seminoles defeated the Tigers without suspended patagonia guide pants 00quarterback Jameis Winston. But FSU netted 16 rushing yards against Clemson, an embarrassing number for a defending national championship team. It s high time for the Noles to assert themselves. Do they have it in them?
