It's summer doldrums time. I personally spend time watching a lot of college baseball and tennis until football finally arrives in late August.
And before Fall Camp starts up in July...I'd like to hear from the Husker faithful 5 bold predictions for the coming NCAA Football season. it can be "all Husker" predictions, or anything NCAA Football related.
Here are my FIVE BOLD PREDICTIONS for 2024 Football season:
1. MICHIGAN LOSES 4 GAMES IN 2024. The defending national champs play a brutal schedule, including Texas, Washington, USC, Oregon, and Ohio State. Their defense will be rock solid and they return a lot of talent. But they lost a lot, too...including their QB (Vikings), RB, and key defensive players. I think they lose 3 of those and a bowl / playoff game. Final record 9-4 or 10-4 (they might win a playoff round).
2. NEBRASKA BARELY MISSES PLAYOFF BERTH IN 2024. Laugh if you will - for a team that hasn't even been to a bowl game since 2016 (which they lost), this is a bit of a stretch. But if Raiola and offensive starters stay relatively healthy - our defense can play with anybody. I think we put a scare into Ohio State and USC on the road - winning the latter. But because people just won't believe - and because we will lose a game we simply shouldn't lose - we just miss the playoffs at 8-4. 9-3 might not even get us in, but either way I think we're first out at best. Consolation bowl win helps spur momentum for 2025.
3. OHIO STATE WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I'm sorry - I have to apologize as I loathe these guys more than most people. And my wife's family is all Buckeyes, which makes this even more excruciating. But the ridiculous downpour of talent that ran to Ohio State after Harbaugh left for NFL (again) and Saban retired was unreal. They've got FIVE superior level QB's and are deep everywhere. They've got a coach who was one (purposeful) injury to Marvin Harrison Jr by Georgia away from winning the natty in 2022. Yes, they play Oregon, Nebraska, and Penn State in a row. But they start out with creampuffs in non-con and neither Iowa nor Michigan State will test them early. They'll be hitting their stride and even if they lose to Oregon (or NU or PSU), they win the rest. Then in the playoffs I think only Georgia or Texas stand a chance. And I'm leaning Buckeyes. UGH. My apologies again.
4. COLORADO GOES 4-8 (or worse)...AGAIN. This I'm far less apologetic about. This train wreck didn't even leave the station. Starting out 4-0, The Stinkaloes went 0-8 down the stretch. This year, they start with tough ND State, then play at NU before going for a ride. Every game they could lose. I won't be shocked if they go 0-12 and "Coach Prime" is fired. Anyone who is too good to visit recruits in their homes should lose and lose badly. The luster has worn off. However, as long as Shadeur and Travis Hunter are there and healthy - they're a threat. But I see every game for them as a game they "should" lose. Every one. Experiment will end in disaster but it'll be fun to finally tag them in Lincoln in early September. Score prediction: NU 38 - CU -17
5. LSU RETURNS TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE. Yes, the SEC is loaded even worse this year adding in Texas and Oklahoma. But I thought for a second LSU MUST have joined the Big 10, as they're playing both USC and UCLA in non-conference. And their SEC schedule - it really couldn't be easier. They play Alabama as they always do. but that might be their only loss. I say "might be" because they're going to be as good as Alabama this year, and they get them in the Bayou. The rest of their schedule...well... let's just say it's the easiest I've seen in a long time. South Carolina, South Alabama, Nichols State, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt...and Oklahoma. Sure...There are some tougher games there. But Arkansas isn't that good yet, and that and A&M are their only road tests. If their defense improves as much as I think it will - and they get QB production post-Jayden Daniels as they're supposed to - this will be a 10-2 year and maybe a playoff win or two.
SO GIMME YOUR BOLD PREDICTIONS!! Let's have some fun and we can laugh at ourselves in January.
And before Fall Camp starts up in July...I'd like to hear from the Husker faithful 5 bold predictions for the coming NCAA Football season. it can be "all Husker" predictions, or anything NCAA Football related.
Here are my FIVE BOLD PREDICTIONS for 2024 Football season:
1. MICHIGAN LOSES 4 GAMES IN 2024. The defending national champs play a brutal schedule, including Texas, Washington, USC, Oregon, and Ohio State. Their defense will be rock solid and they return a lot of talent. But they lost a lot, too...including their QB (Vikings), RB, and key defensive players. I think they lose 3 of those and a bowl / playoff game. Final record 9-4 or 10-4 (they might win a playoff round).
2. NEBRASKA BARELY MISSES PLAYOFF BERTH IN 2024. Laugh if you will - for a team that hasn't even been to a bowl game since 2016 (which they lost), this is a bit of a stretch. But if Raiola and offensive starters stay relatively healthy - our defense can play with anybody. I think we put a scare into Ohio State and USC on the road - winning the latter. But because people just won't believe - and because we will lose a game we simply shouldn't lose - we just miss the playoffs at 8-4. 9-3 might not even get us in, but either way I think we're first out at best. Consolation bowl win helps spur momentum for 2025.
3. OHIO STATE WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I'm sorry - I have to apologize as I loathe these guys more than most people. And my wife's family is all Buckeyes, which makes this even more excruciating. But the ridiculous downpour of talent that ran to Ohio State after Harbaugh left for NFL (again) and Saban retired was unreal. They've got FIVE superior level QB's and are deep everywhere. They've got a coach who was one (purposeful) injury to Marvin Harrison Jr by Georgia away from winning the natty in 2022. Yes, they play Oregon, Nebraska, and Penn State in a row. But they start out with creampuffs in non-con and neither Iowa nor Michigan State will test them early. They'll be hitting their stride and even if they lose to Oregon (or NU or PSU), they win the rest. Then in the playoffs I think only Georgia or Texas stand a chance. And I'm leaning Buckeyes. UGH. My apologies again.
4. COLORADO GOES 4-8 (or worse)...AGAIN. This I'm far less apologetic about. This train wreck didn't even leave the station. Starting out 4-0, The Stinkaloes went 0-8 down the stretch. This year, they start with tough ND State, then play at NU before going for a ride. Every game they could lose. I won't be shocked if they go 0-12 and "Coach Prime" is fired. Anyone who is too good to visit recruits in their homes should lose and lose badly. The luster has worn off. However, as long as Shadeur and Travis Hunter are there and healthy - they're a threat. But I see every game for them as a game they "should" lose. Every one. Experiment will end in disaster but it'll be fun to finally tag them in Lincoln in early September. Score prediction: NU 38 - CU -17
5. LSU RETURNS TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE. Yes, the SEC is loaded even worse this year adding in Texas and Oklahoma. But I thought for a second LSU MUST have joined the Big 10, as they're playing both USC and UCLA in non-conference. And their SEC schedule - it really couldn't be easier. They play Alabama as they always do. but that might be their only loss. I say "might be" because they're going to be as good as Alabama this year, and they get them in the Bayou. The rest of their schedule...well... let's just say it's the easiest I've seen in a long time. South Carolina, South Alabama, Nichols State, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt...and Oklahoma. Sure...There are some tougher games there. But Arkansas isn't that good yet, and that and A&M are their only road tests. If their defense improves as much as I think it will - and they get QB production post-Jayden Daniels as they're supposed to - this will be a 10-2 year and maybe a playoff win or two.
SO GIMME YOUR BOLD PREDICTIONS!! Let's have some fun and we can laugh at ourselves in January.
