Make or break week for MR?

[HuskerDana]

In order to finish over .500 this year, I think this is their best shot at getting one of the big three on their schdule to do so.

Plus, as some know, this is the biggest recruiting weekend in quite some time...

Here is to hoping that MR can prove me wrong and pull the upset this weekend. GBR!

 

[DudznSudz]

In order to finish over .500 this year, I think this is their best shot at getting one of the big three on their schdule to do so.

Plus, as some know, this is the biggest recruiting weekend in quite some time...

Here is to hoping that MR can prove me wrong and pull the upset this weekend. GBR!

TOTALLY agree. The way this game turns out is going to color my opinion on how long Riley should really be coaching here a ton.

And I'm one of those "Let him coach through 2018 minimum" guys.

 

[headcard]

Huge weekend for the fate of this staff and this recruiting class. Knock of a Top 10 team in front of a big time group of visitors and things are looking a lot more positive.

 

[jawbreakingsafetyplay]

In order to finish over .500 this year, I think this is their best shot at getting one of the big three on their schdule to do so.

Plus, as some know, this is the biggest recruiting weekend in quite some time...

Here is to hoping that MR can prove me wrong and pull the upset this weekend. GBR!

I’m not sold on any opponent being impossible.

 

[Toms Wife]

Huge weekend for the fate of this staff and this recruiting class. Knock of a Top 10 team in front of a big time group of visitors and things are looking a lot more positive.

Absolutely. Let's hope we can get it in gear and limit mistakes.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

This game alone is not make or break. But the OP is correct, I think, that this is our best chance of beating one of the big boys on our schedule. Win this game and we have momentum, a good chance to win the West, and some recruiting mojo. Lose and the season might unravel just like last year.

I hope we bring our "A" game and the team makes a statement. Hard to know how this will go though since we have little idea of how much we have really improved. Rutgers and Illinois are both truly awful teams. I really hope guys like Tre, and Kalu and Newby are good to go. Not certain about Chris Jones. Even if he plays he will be rusty.

 

[Mack In Motion]

Absolutely. Let's hope we can get it in gear and limit mistakes.

Yep. No reason this game can't be won at home. We need to get over on these guys for once.

 

[otismotis08]

Really hoping that MR proves my intuition to be wrong.

 

[inWV]

I’m not sold on any opponent being impossible.

There is a difference between possible and probable. A victory against Wisconsin is not a coin flip, but is much closer to a coin flip than most think, given the results of the last two games. tOSU and Ped St are much less probable.

 

[spinner4]

Every week but Ohio State & Penn State could be a break week for Riley. Of course those two weeks could be a make week as well. But I don't think he will be under attack for losing those games.

However, beat Wisky but lose to Purdue, he will still be under-attack. He has very little equity left and he was hired on a short leash. At least gotta go 8-4 and play well in the bowl game or he's out.

 

[stonesak]

There is a difference between possible and probable. A victory against Wisconsin is not a coin flip, but is much closer to a coin flip than most think, given the results of the last two games. tOSU and Ped St are much less probable.

OSU yes, PSU is overrated. Should've lost to a team that almost lost to Iowa St. and was completely shut down by an average Michigan State team.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I don't think the Wisconsin, OSU or PSU games are the make or break games for Riley. Certainly, if we get blown out in those games it could be. But losing to any of those teams is no shame.

The make or break games are against teams like Purdue, NW, Minny and Iowa. Lose one or more of those and Riley is toast I think

 

[jlb321]

he needs to get to at least 6-6. 7-5 to be really secure IMO. It doesn't matter to me how it happens.

Losing to NIU left little margin for error - it would be nice to pick up an unexpected win as otherwise he might need to run the table against NW-Purdue-Minnesota and Iowa which is going to be difficult.

 

[nebcountry]

I've been thinking that 7 wins is "the number", but that's just a guess. It might be more wins, or less wins, or the record may not even matter, good or bad.

If I had any advice for Mike Riley, it would be to treat every game like it's make or break.

 

[chicolby]

Really a shame that a) they gave up two pick sixes to Northern Illinois and b) once they grabbed the lead, they allowed a 50 yard completion to give NIU the lead back and ultimately lost that game. If they had found a way to win that game, the team is sitting at 4-1 with only a 7 point loss (where they had the ball for the tying score) to Oregon.

Quite amazing how a couple plays can completely change the perspective of many people.

 

[little a]

In order to finish over .500 this year, I think this is their best shot at getting one of the big three on their schdule to do so.

Plus, as some know, this is the biggest recruiting weekend in quite some time...

Here is to hoping that MR can prove me wrong and pull the upset this weekend. GBR!

Please, Please, Please no blowout on national TV!!!

 

[nebcountry]

Really a shame that a) they gave up two pick sixes to Northern Illinois and b) once they grabbed the lead, they allowed a 50 yard completion to give NIU the lead back and ultimately lost that game. If they had found a way to win that game, the team is sitting at 4-1 with only a 7 point loss (where they had the ball for the tying score) to Oregon.

Quite amazing how a couple plays can completely change the perspective of many people.

Not that I know anything about football, but this is the first time this season I'm actually optimistic, and it's against Wisconsin.

My area of concern is our offense though. Wiscy's D will be tough and they'll be looking for Langsdorf to serve up some freebies.

 

[oldjar07]

Really a shame that a) they gave up two pick sixes to Northern Illinois and b) once they grabbed the lead, they allowed a 50 yard completion to give NIU the lead back and ultimately lost that game. If they had found a way to win that game, the team is sitting at 4-1 with only a 7 point loss (where they had the ball for the tying score) to Oregon.

Quite amazing how a couple plays can completely change the perspective of many people.

It wasn't just a couple plays. We haven't played well outside of that. If we do play well, we win those games even with the mistakes, but we haven't played well all year.

 

[timnsun]

It wasn't just a couple plays. We haven't played well outside of that. If we do play well, we win those games even with the mistakes, but we haven't played well all year.

Even playing bad, take away even one of those three plays and we win.

So yes, it was a couple of plays, even playing poorly. Don’t make it harder than it is.

 

[oldjar07]

Even playing bad, take away even one of those three plays and we win.

So yes, it was a couple of plays, even playing poorly. Don’t make it harder than it is.

It shouldn't come down to a few plays against an unranked MAC team. We should blow those teams out of the water.

 

[chicolby]

It shouldn't come down to a few plays against an unranked MAC team. We should blow those teams out of the water.

Don't over complicate things. I'm not saying the team would be great or that they weren't playing poorly. But the reality of my statement is still correct. The team would be 4-1 with an improving defense and a one TD loss on the road to an Oregon team that looks pretty good. I do believe the negativity surrounding this team would be significantly less if they had pulled off that win.

That said, maybe they needed to lose that game to turn the corner. No one knows.

 

[timnsun]

It shouldn't come down to a few plays against an unranked MAC team. We should blow those teams out of the water.

I’m not arguing that at all. The simple fact of the matter is if TL throws one less pick six we win the game and are 4-1. If the defense defends a 50 yard completion we win the game and are 4-1.

I freely admitted we didn’t play well, but even playing poorly, one play would have made a difference between a win and a loss. Do you not see this?

 

[swissticuffs]

I think they lose 31-14

 

[HuskerDana]

OSU yes, PSU is overrated. Should've lost to a team that almost lost to Iowa St. and was completely shut down by an average Michigan State team.

Penn St. has the best player in the country on their roster. They are not as overrated as you might think, at least compared to where our program is right now. We have to go there for most likely a night game. I am sure we will be at least a 15 point dog.

Ohio St. ? .....Don't feel too good about that one, either.

NU gets Wisconsin at home on a Saturday night under the lights. No matter what anybody says, I firmly believe this is our best shot at knocking off one of those top teams in the conference.

By the way, the transitive property theory does not work very well in regards to gauging matchups in a football game.

 

[LZZOSO]

Penn St. has the best player in the country on their roster. They are not as overrated as you might think, at least compared to where our program is right now. We have to go there for most likely a night game. I am sure we will be at least a 15 point dog.

Ohio St. ? .....Don't feel too good about that one, either.

NU gets Wisconsin at home on a Saturday night under the lights. No matter what anybody says, I firmly believe this is our best shot at knocking off one of those top teams in the conference.

By the way, the transitive property theory does not work very well in regards to gauging matchups in a football game.

That PSU team reminds me of 2001 NU with Crouch. Decent surrounding pieces, but one stud that carries them. They will be legit, but get smoked against a Clemson or Bama

 

[HuskerDana]

That PSU team reminds me of 2001 NU with Crouch. Decent surrounding pieces, but one stud that carries them. They will be legit, but get smoked against a Clemson or Bama

Can't say I disagree with you there. Good comparison....except I think the PSU D might be a little better than ours was.

 

[HuskerDana]

I’m not sold on any opponent being impossible.

I never said any opponent was impossible. Probability is certainly not likely, however.

 

[sparky62]

OSU yes, PSU is overrated. Should've lost to a team that almost lost to Iowa St. and was completely shut down by an average Michigan State team.

Agree on Penn St. I'm actually more worried about Iowa.

 

[Huskercigar]

Every week but Ohio State & Penn State could be a break week for Riley. Of course those two weeks could be a make week as well. But I don't think he will be under attack for losing those games.
.

Well he is already under attack. Why would losing to Wisconsin exempt him from it continuing?