Husker FB

New Husker CB Andre Jones sounds pretty confident -- but I wish he would keep quiet. Coaches need to very emphatically tell players not to provide ANY oppositional motivation. All we need is USC WR Dwayne Jarret to have a reason to be po'd. I would like to note the Ohio U is 2-0, and Turner Gill's Buffalo squad is 1-1 after losing a heartbreaker in 3 OTs & hanging 40 on Bowling Green.

Thoughts on Nicholls St. -- about what I expected, we played a overmatched squad that had little or no chance of putting up much of a fight. The encouraging signs were that Taylor kept a number of receivers involved in the passing game and was extremely efficient. Lucky and Wilson had good days running the football as well, and I had to applaud FB Dane Tood finally getting his first TD of his career. D played well, only giving up the late long run that set up their only TD. I predicted 35-10 against La. Tech and 49-7 against Nicholls, results were better than I expected to be honest.

Thoughts on USC -- Trojans are very talented, but a little inexperienced, and are nowhere near the team they had last year. I don't think they have played anyone with the talent we have on defense other than Texas last year. The big playmakers from last year that played in that game aren't around anymore for them. Arkansas game is not a good indicator of where they are, any more than La. Tech and Nicholls are of the Huskers. The idea that Arkansas was an 8 point underdog and we are 19 1/2 is a huge joke. We are a far, far better team than Arkansas. USC didn't really have to move the ball much against them with the Razorbacks commiting 5 turnovers.

Defensively, USC wasn't very good last year, and I don't think they are as good on that side of the ball this year as well. Injuries have taken a toll on the Trojan's defensive depth to some degree as well, losing one starting S in camp and now their #1 NT, and have a LB and a CB nicked up as well. I see Taylor and company moving the ball pretty consistently on them, and the Blackshirts will slow them down to a degree. We definitely can not afford to make silly mistakes or turn the ball over. Going out on a limb, crossing my fingers it turns out to be true but --

NU 35, USC 31.