Poll: Contender or Pretender

[nebcountry]

We're ranked in the top 25, undefeated, but how will we stack up against our conference's better teams. A person can play ifs-and-buts, how do you see things if you don't play the ifs-and-buts game. The more we win, the more it puts us into the discussion. We sit at 2-0 conference play, alone at the top of the West. It's not a big stretch to see us winning the West, but it's not a gimme either.

Just using espn's FPI model as it stands today:

NU will be highly favored over Indiana, Purdue, Minny, and Maryland.
NU will slightly favored over Iowa.
Wisconsin will be favored over NU.
OhSU will he highly favored over NU.

Edit: this is not about winning the west division. Are we good? Good chance to win the conference? Are we over-rated, correctly rated, under-rated?

 

[NikkiSixx]

Wow, I'm the only one who has voted Contender out of the first 10 people?

Y'all bunch of negative neeling nancy's

 

[ssmill777]

Wow, I'm the only one who has voted Contender out of the first 10 people?

Y'all bunch of negative neeling nancy's

Or Realistic Ronnies

 

[planored]

I think if we win next 3, the country will take serious note of what is happening. I think we can out score Wisc, believe D is better than in the past against them.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

If you are asking pretender or contender for a national title, I would say pretender. Not enough depth to win 3 consecutive games against top 5 teams (CCG, semi, title).

However this team is a contender to finish with 10 -12 wins after the bowl game.

 

[Suh is King]

I think I will just enjoy the fact that this team is 5-0 going into the bye, and appears to be much improved over last yr.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Wow, I'm the only one who has voted Contender out of the first 10 people?

Y'all bunch of negative neeling nancy's

Voted pretender, but it's very fluid and could change.

 

[nebcountry]

If you are asking pretender or contender for a national title, I would say pretender. Not enough depth to win 3 consecutive games against top 5 teams (CCG, semi, title).

However this team is a contender to finish with 10 -12 wins after the bowl game.

I thought about using playoff team as criteria for contender. But, I chose otherwise as it's not a fair comparison. In my book, there's 3-5 teams that sit on top on their own tier. Then there's maybe a half dozen more teams that are still in the discussion. So around a dozen teams, they may control their destiny, or they may need some help, but they are in the discussion until the end.

As an example, I'll use Iowa last year. It took the last game against stanford to expose Iowa as a true pretender.

 

[DudznSudz]

I voted contender, only because it is so, so obvious that this year we have a real, functional team. It's been a while since we've seen a Nebraska team that consistently wins through patience, makes adjustments when necessary, and bends but doesn't break down mentally when challenged.

Granted, all I am saying is, we finally have a functional team. I am not saying we're going to beat Wisconsin or OSU, or even Iowa. I'm just saying we look well-rounded, we look competent, and frankly, we look talented. These are wonderful things to see after years of heart-attack seasons under Pelini with wins but major meltdowns, and the years of embarrassment before that. We're trending up, and this year it really shows. We're not conference championship level yet, though.

 

[chicolby]

I like our chances against Wisconsin. There's certainly the "we owe them" part of the equation, but beyond that, Wisconsin has to get UP so many weeks in a row and if they come up short against Ohio State (they should) and maybe even let down against Iowa, they may lose their steam and be ripe for the Huskers to come to town and steal one. If they can stay clean through Wisconsin, it may be through a bunch of smoke and mirrors, but if the team starts to believe and click, there is no reason this team can't be a contender.

 

[Freddie gaines]

The penalty for winning the West is facing The OSU twice in the season

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Maybe. They were going to destroy Iowa last year until they didn't win the division.

 

[red rover 70]

Can you believe some didn't think we'd make it to a Bowl this year???

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Can you believe some didn't think we'd make it to a Bowl this year???

Pump your breaks. One more win is needed.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Can we please beat Indiana first? That game worries me.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Can we please beat Indiana first? That game worries me.

Let's watch what Wake Forest did against them and do that.

 

[Hoosker Du]

Ask me after Wisconsin. It appears more and more that we haven't played a real good team yet, but we've learned to stay close and beat the tar out of teams in the 4th.

I think Indiana will give us a very competitive game in a couple of weeks, and honestly, I think our chances against Wisky are maybe 35 - 40%. Maybe 10% against Ohio State.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Why does Indiana scare people?

 

[Hoosker Du]

Why does Indiana scare people?

Because they are going to be much better than Illinois, and because they are coached by the offensive coordinator of those Oklahoma offenses that putt up gaudy numbers.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Because they are going to be much better than Illinois, and because they are coached by the offensive coordinator of those Oklahoma offenses that putt up gaudy numbers.

Meh.

 

[Bill_Callahan2.0]

Contender for a New Years 6 bowl game. Could be tough if we finish 10-2 and play tOSU or Michigan in Indianapolis. 11-1 reg season would just about guarantee a NY6.

 

[red rover 70]

I've seen enough of the heart of these players to know they are contenders.

 

[scarletred]

Can we please beat Indiana first? That game worries me.

Right behind you on this.

 

[BigRedPimp]

Because they are going to be much better than Illinois, and because they are coached by the offensive coordinator of those Oklahoma offenses that putt up gaudy numbers.

Agreed. I think Wilson will exploit our LBers so we will have to play good D that game. Grab a few turnovers.

 

[headcard]

I guess it depends how you define contender and pretender. If you are talking about National Championships we are a pretender, if you are talking about our current #12 ranking, we are a contender.

 

[frankluv]

If Tommy gets injured and can't play in a big game, how do you thing we will respond?

 

[BolderHusker]

If we make it to the BIG championship ..... Ohio State and Michigan will have beat the hell out of each other the week before.... I think that will always give us a big chance! GBR

 

[nebcountry]

I just cast my vote...contender. We haven't played anybody super tough, but we haven't put together any real good games. Yet, we are 5-0. If we look past some of the teams on our schedule and we lose, well, we'll be pretenders. I don't want to grade our team harder or to a higher standard than other teams. I don't see us as one of the elite few, that top handful of teams that are wrecking their opponents. But we're not chicken feed either.

Wisconsin scored 7 points against Michigan and subsequently lost the game. There's room for hope for us.

We'll get a better idea as the season plays out. And we can't look past any of our opponents. But our team hasn't shown signs of giving up, why should I.