Date: October 31, 2009
Time: 12:30PM ET
TV: Versus Network
Line: Baylor – 13
Total: 46
Nebraska travels to Baylor this week holding a 10-1 series lead including a 32-20 win over the Bears last season. But both teams are struggling on offense. Nebraska committed eight turnovers in last week’s loss to Iowa State 9-7. Nebraska’s offensive struggles have been blamed on quarterback Zac Lee, who was nearly replaced in the starting lineup last week by Coach Bo Pelini. While all of the blame for Nebraska offensive struggles cannot be placed on Zach Lee. Pelini is considering giving exciting freshman Quarterback Cody Lee some time at Baylor. The Huskers (4-3, 1-2) have dropped two straight after a 9-7 loss at home against Iowa State last Saturday. Nebraska, which was ranked as high as 15th nationally two weeks ago, is 1-1 on the road this season with a 27-12 win at Missouri and a 16-15 loss at Virginia Tech.he
The Bears (3-4, 0-3) have dropped three straight, most recently a 34-7 loss at home against Oklahoma State last Saturday. Baylor is 2-2 at home this season with wins over Northwestern State and Kent State and losses to Connecticut and OSU. Baylor’s three-game game slide can definitely be attributed to the quarterback position. With Robert Griffin out with a season-ending knee injury, Baylor has fallen apart. The Bears are trying to salvage the season; they will have to win three of their last five just to be considered for the postseason Bowl Game. Szymanski have started.
Nebraska’s Zac Lee has had a rough year he has thrown ten touchdown passes but also six interceptions on the year. Cody Lee is electric and there is strong talk that he will see some time this week. Running back Roy Helu, Jr. has been struggling to play with a sore shoulder, but he looks like he will go this week and he has rushed for 644 yards on 112 carries with six touchdowns this season. Paul leads the Husker receiving corp. with (23-359 and 3 TD’s) interestingly.
For Baylor the troubles started when Griffen went down for the season with a knee injury. Nick Florence a true freshman and Veteran backup Matt Szymanski has been ineffective since replacing Griffin. It looks like Florence will get the start and Florence may give Baylor the better chance of getting back on its feet this week he is athletic and appears to have a great feel for the game. Jarred Salubi is the leading rusher for the bears with (40-247 and 2TD’s). Salubi does not have staggering numbers but he does average 6.2 yards per carry. WR Kendall Wright has caught at least one pass in every game (19) of his career. Last week he became Baylor’s 25th player to amass at least 1,000 career receiving yards (1,048). David Gettis has added (24-407 and 3 TD’s). Kendall Wright led all BU receivers with three catches for 60 yards.
Baylor’s defense is led by Joe Pawelek, Antonio Jones, Antonio Johnson and Jordan Lake who all rank in the Top 10 of the big 12 in tackles. Joe Pawelek is scheduled to start his 41st consecutive game Saturday against Nebraska. The school record is 45-consecutive starts. Chance Casey has 2 interceptions for the bears. BU’s Lake tallied a season-high15 tackles last week.
Nebraska’s defense is lead by DT Ndamukong Suh has at least one tackle for loss in each of the Huskers’ last 11 games and 17 of the last 18. Suh may be the best defensive player in college football. Suh blocked an extra point and a field goal against Iowa State. He has blocked five kicks in his career. The Husker defense held Baylor to 16 first downs and 350 total offensive yards last season.
The Huskers offense needs to get some points on the board this week. Baylor has been shaky at best at the quarterback position this season, so putting up some early points this week would allow the defense to pressure the inexperienced Baylor Quarterbacks. Do not let Baylor get out to an early lead and get some confidence. It’s not too late to salvage the season, especially in the quirky Big 12 North. Nebraska needs a good game this week.
The Bears need to try and keep themselves close this week, develop some confidence and pressure Nebraska in to some turnovers. Florence’s needs to come out poised and not make a huge blunder to take Baylor out of the game. Nebraska’s struggling offense isn’t likely to put up a lot of points quickly. The Bears are staggering but they might have an upset left in them if they can get to halftime in good shape.
Betting Trends:
Nebraska is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games
Nebraska is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games
Baylor is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an UNDERDOG
The UNDER is 9-4 in Nebraska’s last 13 road games
The UNDER is 4-0 in Baylor’s last 4 games
