If we can somehow manage to cobble together some semblance of an offense we have a fighting chance to win our remaining games and end 8-4. But how likely is it that this late in the season that we can do that? Rhule has clearly sent a signal to his offensive coaches that they need to improve. That will either light a fire in their bellies or create low morale.
Shit, I don’t want to end 5-7. Maybe, just maybe, we can scratch out 6-6.
USC has scored 48/27/24/38/17/30/28/42/21 The low of 17 was v. Minnesota on the road;
At home they've scored 48/38/30/42. The low of 30 was Penn State.
USC allowed 20/0/27/21/24/33/30/20/26 The low was Utah St (0), LSU & Rutgers 20 each.
At home they've allowed 0/21/33/20. The 0 was Utah St, and the high was Penn State with 33.
In road games this year, NU has scored 28 v. Purdue, 7 v. Indiana, 17 v. OSU.
In the road games NU has allowed 10, 56, and 21.
OSU scored 52/56/49 the first 3 games of the year against Akron, W. Michigan and Marshall, but after those 3 cupcakes OSU has only scored 38/35/31/21/20, as you can see from the 49 against Marshall for FIVE consecutive games the OSU point production has fallen. So this has not been a typical OSU team that scores a ton of points.
USC has very dangerous special teams units. We have a terrible matchup with their WR's, and their backup QB is really good. Regardless of what we think of Riley as a HC, you know, given an off week, he's gonna scheme the shit out of us in the passing game.
Apples and oranges, but USC may score quite a few points unless NU has an inspired, well-schemed defensive plan and effort like the first half of CU or the entire OSU game.
Both teams are in a transition periods 3/4ths of the way through the season. USC removing their starting QB and NU scratching their heads trying to decide what kind of offense they may become.
Which NU team that went on the road to Indiana or OSU show up? The last time
both NU and our opponent came off bye weeks together we got our ass handed to us by Indiana.
NU has been a Jekyll and Hyde on the road, and USC is 4-0 ATS at home.
This doesn't look like a very good matchup for the Huskers.