Nebraska, Washington and Texas are the three teams that ESPN's analytics folks say could come "out of nowhere" and make the CFB playoffs. Good stuff and gets me even more jacked up (not that I need it) for the season. GBR!!!!
"Nebraska's record last season did not fully capture the team's true strength. Six of the Cornhuskers' seven losses came in one-score games, including four on their opponents' final play. The case can be made that many of Nebraska's losses were self-inflicted, but looking at the entirety of its season, including a fortunate no-call that helped the Cornhuskers beat Michigan State, there have not been many teams in recent college football history that were more unlucky.
Generally, teams that lose a lot of close games one season do not repeat those performances the following year. Of course, Nebraska can look to Northwestern, which went from 2-4 in one-score games in 2014 to 5-0 in those games last season, for inspiration, but chances are the Cornhuskers will simply regress to the mean in tight matchups.
2016, Nebraska has the experience and schedule to make an Iowa-like run through the Big Ten West. The Cornhuskers return 13 starters, including last season's leaders in passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles, sacks and interceptions. They also have a schedule that FPI ranks among the easiest of any Power 5 school, which includes a Power 5-high six home games against teams ranked in the bottom half of the country. Obviously, Nebraska will have to be more careful with the football (27 turnovers), but in Mike Riley's second season, the Cornhuskers should be in the running for a Big Ten title. FPI gives them a 40 percent chance to win the Big Ten West and a 29 percent chance to finish with double-digit wins."
"Nebraska's record last season did not fully capture the team's true strength. Six of the Cornhuskers' seven losses came in one-score games, including four on their opponents' final play. The case can be made that many of Nebraska's losses were self-inflicted, but looking at the entirety of its season, including a fortunate no-call that helped the Cornhuskers beat Michigan State, there have not been many teams in recent college football history that were more unlucky.
Generally, teams that lose a lot of close games one season do not repeat those performances the following year. Of course, Nebraska can look to Northwestern, which went from 2-4 in one-score games in 2014 to 5-0 in those games last season, for inspiration, but chances are the Cornhuskers will simply regress to the mean in tight matchups.
2016, Nebraska has the experience and schedule to make an Iowa-like run through the Big Ten West. The Cornhuskers return 13 starters, including last season's leaders in passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles, sacks and interceptions. They also have a schedule that FPI ranks among the easiest of any Power 5 school, which includes a Power 5-high six home games against teams ranked in the bottom half of the country. Obviously, Nebraska will have to be more careful with the football (27 turnovers), but in Mike Riley's second season, the Cornhuskers should be in the running for a Big Ten title. FPI gives them a 40 percent chance to win the Big Ten West and a 29 percent chance to finish with double-digit wins."
