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Dish Network Omaha
Well here we are Husker fans, about 24 hours until kickoff of the Gator Bowl where our beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers will be taking on the Clemson Tigers of the ACC Conference. The first New Years Day bowl for the Huskers since they lost to Auburn in the 2006 Cotton Bowl. The Huskers have really improved under first year head coach Bo Pelini and they hope to close out his first season with a victory over the Tigers on New Years Day!
It will be very interesting to see how both teams come out and open up the game. I think the first quarter could be a little sluggish as both teams have been over for quite a while. Clemson will be coming into the game with a 7-5 record and winners of their last three games while Nebraska comes into the game with a 8-4 record and has also won their last three games and are playing their best football of the year.
I think the Nebraska offense will have their way with the Clemson defense because the Tigers never really get pressure on the opposing quarterback. Not getting pressure on Joe Ganz will allow him to pick apart the defense and if he has to, he will hurt you with his legs while picking up good yardage. The offensive line play for the Huskers will be huge and I suspect that they will play a great game while Ganz keeps moving the chains and the Huskers put the ball in the endzone five times.
Marlon Lucky still isn’t quite 100% but he is the best he has been in a very long time. Look for him to get quite a few carries as well as super sophomore Roy Helu Jr. Helu has really came on and sparked the Huskers rushing attack while Lucky has been out. We can’t forget about Quentin Castille either as the truck load will get in their on third and short situations as well as down on the goal line.
On the defensive side of the ball look for Clemson to attack the Huskers on the ground. C.J. Spiller and James Davis are two very good running backs for the Tigers and both have great speed if they get into the open field. The Blackshirts will have to control the line of scrimmage where they will be going up against a very young offensive line. I think Ndamukong Suh and Zach Potter will have big days for the Blackshirt defense while they hold the Clemson running attack to around 150 total rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper passed for 2,395 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 12 games. That is not very good production through the air and if the Huskers d-line can get any sort of pressure on Harper and still control the Tigers running game, I expect Harper to not handle the pressure and will make mistakes through the air.
At the end of the game I’m predicting the Huskers to come out on top. I think it all comes down to how well the offensive and defensive lines play for the Huskers. I think they will control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and Ganz and company will put up over 40 points. I just don’t think Clemson has the offense to keep up with the Huskers in a shootout if the point total gets into the 40′s.
My Gator Bowl Prediction: Nebraska 45 Clemson 38
Your thoughts?
Nebraska Sports
January 1st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
What a game today!! From a former Nebraskan now a S. Cal gal, you guys made me proud! Congrats to Ganz and the whole team! And especially to our new coach, Bo Pelini!
January 1st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Go Big Red!! I got to see the game on tv and was a great game both teams played really well and congrats to the Husker you guys played really well thanks coach for being an exceptional leader!
January 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Wow, I was way off on my score prediction but that’s ok! Great job by the Huskers and the coaching staff in the second half.
The defense came up huge and Ganz did what a leader does and guided the team down the field and put points on the board.
This game was very close to being a Huskers blowout had they been able to score a couple touchdowns when they were in the redzone rather then settle for field goals.