– Last Updated on August 28, 2018 10:03 pm
2018 Football Preview – Big Ten – Cornhuskers
Looking for 2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers predictions? The Cornhuskers endured a very brutal 2017. The program needed a complete overhaul, which is what the football-mad athletic department in Lincoln hope they accomplished by hiring native son Scott Frost as the new head coach.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Nebraska Cornhuskers
Head Coach: Scott Frost
2017 Record: 4-8
Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +30000
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It’s probably not going to happen overnight for a team that was sucking the hind teat in the Big Ten last year, but everyone hopes Frost has things moving in the right direction.
At the very least, Frost is going to be stewarding an up-tempo attack and aiming to shore up the defense. The new coach cut his teeth with an excellent showing at UCF; that and Huskers’ fans/administators cult-like love for in-state natives returning home should make for optimism and a long leash in 2018.
Central to getting going is solidifying the QB position, which is probably up for grabs between a redshirt freshman (Tristan Gebbia) and a true frosh (Adrian Martinez). Reasonably, there should be come growing pains in the process.
2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers Predictions: Team Strengths
Potent Offensive Weapons: Despite having an extremely young QB contingent, Nebraska features some intriguing weapons for the pivots to play with.
The Huskers roll out two good WRs in Stanley Morgan Jr., a senior that put up 61 receptions for 986 yards and 10 TDs and J.D. Spielman, chipping in with 55 for 830 yards. Junior college transfers Jaron Woodyard and Mike Williams are also promising.
There’s talent in the backfield also, with Tre Bryant as the starter. He has the ability to show marked improvement, but he has to make it happen, as Nebraska only reeled off only 10 rushes of 20 or more yards in 2017.
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Flourishing O-Line: Part of the rushing renaissance should be thanks to an offensive line that’ll be much improved provided their conditioning is on point to suit Frost’s turbocharged offense.
The stars are all-Big Ten guard Tanner Farmer and Honorable Mention all-conference Jerald Foster. Offensive tackle Brendan Jaimes has moved from the right to the left side, and he offers promise in the run game.
Frost and his staff recruiting the type of lineman to suit the high-tempo attack – smaller but more mobile – are doubtlessly on their way to America’s Heartland.
2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Fixin’ That Leaky ‘D’: Last year, Nebraska employed a ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ philosophy with its defense, and that mediocrity showed. The Huskers were near the bottom in every major defensive statistical category in the Big Ten. Indeed, Nebraska was ranked a paltry 110th nationally in total defense in 2017.
They are apparently going to stick with a 3-4 scheme, but need some serious upticks in performance from the many returning starters in the fold.
Nebraska returns all of last year’s defensive linemen and five of its seven linebackers. Frost brings over his defensive co-ordinator from Orlando, Erik Chinander. He ultimately wants to turn his players loose, which may take an adjustment period but should lead overall improvement for the formerly high-regarded ‘Blackshirts’ defense.
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The only known returning dynamic quantity on defense is DE Ben Stille (9.5 tackles for loss in ’17). Two of NU’s best guys, LB Chris Weber and safety Josh Kalu, have departed. So, clearly, others need to emerge in Lincoln sooner rather than later.
On special teams, Nebraska loses kicker Drew Brown, which is a significant loss. Punter Caleb Lightbourn returns as does the primary returner, the aforementioned Spielman. Nebraska needs an underclassman to step up and replace veteran Brown.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Prediction: 5-7
Nebraska made the right call in moving off of Bo Pelini, a coach that had a good thing going at first (2010-2011ish) but showed results that were cratering the last couple of years.
Under the new coaching staff, the Huskers should be more physical and competitive. Frost and his staff completely turned around the Central Florida program in their time in Orlando. The Golden Knights were winless before Frost arrived and he came to Nebraska with UCF most recently finishing 13-0 and celebrating a bowl victory over Auburn.
Nebraska’s faithful fans would do well to not get their hopes up too quickly, but they have to like Frost’s track record. In front of them in 2018, the schedule is not easy. The slate includes trips to Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
The Huskers might only finish fourth or fifth in the Big Ten’s West division this year, but finally, it seems like the football hotbed is on the right path.
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Getting a QB in and solidified early is vital. Once they figure that out, generating chemistry with their receivers shouldn’t be too bad, with the talent present.
2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 8:00 PM ET AKR
- 9/8/18 3:30 PM ET COLO
- 9/15/18 12:00 PM ET TROY
- 9/22/18 TBD @MICH
- 9/29/18 TBD PUR
- 10/6/18 TBD @WIS
- 10/13/18 12:00 PM ET @NW
- 10/20/18 TBD MINN
- 11/3/18 TBD @OSU
- 11/10/18 TBD ILL
- 11/17/18 TBD MSU
- 11/23/18 12:00 PM ET @IOWA
What do you think about our 2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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