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NCAAF Odds: Cornhuskers host Texas Longhorns
It's hard to imagine that this is going to most likely be the last time that the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Texas Longhorns face each other as members of the Big XII. These two archrivals have played some thrilling games over the years, not the least of which was the duel last year in the Big XII Championship Game which came down to a last second field goal.
For Texas though, this game could signal a drop even further into college football oblivion. This will be the first time that the Longhorns play a game without a Top 25 ranking since 2000. It has also been three years since the team played a game off of a two-game losing streak. In order to find the last three game skid, you have to go all the way back to the final three games of the 1999 campaign.
Yet this is what the Longhorns are faced with on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, and they are 9 ½-point underdogs following back to back horrible losses to the UCLA Bruins and Oklahoma Sooners in consecutive weeks.
Perhaps the bye will be good for QB Garrett Gilbert. There is a ton of pressure on this sophomore to succeed and perform at the highest level. Unfortunately this year, he has done nothing but live in the shadow of the departed QB Colt McCoy, and the end result has been a lot of questioning in the Austin media about whether Gilbert should be starting or not. He has thrown for 1,151 yards and four scores against five picks on the season.
If you're a 'Huskers fan, you're hoping to take the Big XII title with you to the Big Ten next season. Nebraska not only has a legitimate shot at winning the Big XII this year, but the whole enchilada to boot. If this team continues to play at this type of a level, the No. 4 team in the land will be challenging for a berth in the BCS Championship Game regardless of what happens in front of them.
This is the biggest test of the year to date though for QB Taylor Martinez. He really hasn't been a fantastic passer this season, with only has 660 yards and three TDs against three picks in five games. Instead, he has really made a name for himself with his legs. Martinez has rushed for 737 yards to lead the team and help give Nebraska the No. 2 ranked rushing attack in the game at 337.6 YPG.
Don't forget about RBs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead either. These two have combined for 776 rushing yards on the season with eight combined TDs. The Cornhuskers have already accounted for a whopping 21 rushing scores in just five games in 2010.
When you've got a defense that has only allowed 64 total points, you know that you have something special. Even with the departure of DT Ndamukong Suh to the NFL, the 'Huskers have the No. 1 pass defense in the nation at just 128.0 yards per game.
What must be stressed about Big Red though, is that the schedule just hasn't been this difficult. The Kansas State Wildcats provided the only legitimate test of the year last week, and it is clear that a one dimensional team just isn't beating this Black Shirts defense.
Nebraska might not have a win in this series since 1999, but it has certainly done well against the NCAA football odds. The Cornhuskers nearly won the Big XII last year as 14 point underdogs, while they had no trouble staying within the five point line at home in 2006 and the 20 1/2 point spread in 2007. The underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine clashes of these rivals.
Not only can you find the aforementioned NCAA football betting line of Nebraska minus 9 ½ at Pinnacle Sports, you can find the 'total' there at 46 ½ as well.
It's hard to imagine that this is going to most likely be the last time that the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Texas Longhorns face each other as members of the Big XII. These two archrivals have played some thrilling games over the years, not the least of which was the duel last year in the Big XII Championship Game which came down to a last second field goal.
For Texas though, this game could signal a drop even further into college football oblivion. This will be the first time that the Longhorns play a game without a Top 25 ranking since 2000. It has also been three years since the team played a game off of a two-game losing streak. In order to find the last three game skid, you have to go all the way back to the final three games of the 1999 campaign.
Yet this is what the Longhorns are faced with on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, and they are 9 ½-point underdogs following back to back horrible losses to the UCLA Bruins and Oklahoma Sooners in consecutive weeks.
Perhaps the bye will be good for QB Garrett Gilbert. There is a ton of pressure on this sophomore to succeed and perform at the highest level. Unfortunately this year, he has done nothing but live in the shadow of the departed QB Colt McCoy, and the end result has been a lot of questioning in the Austin media about whether Gilbert should be starting or not. He has thrown for 1,151 yards and four scores against five picks on the season.
If you're a 'Huskers fan, you're hoping to take the Big XII title with you to the Big Ten next season. Nebraska not only has a legitimate shot at winning the Big XII this year, but the whole enchilada to boot. If this team continues to play at this type of a level, the No. 4 team in the land will be challenging for a berth in the BCS Championship Game regardless of what happens in front of them.
This is the biggest test of the year to date though for QB Taylor Martinez. He really hasn't been a fantastic passer this season, with only has 660 yards and three TDs against three picks in five games. Instead, he has really made a name for himself with his legs. Martinez has rushed for 737 yards to lead the team and help give Nebraska the No. 2 ranked rushing attack in the game at 337.6 YPG.
Don't forget about RBs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead either. These two have combined for 776 rushing yards on the season with eight combined TDs. The Cornhuskers have already accounted for a whopping 21 rushing scores in just five games in 2010.
When you've got a defense that has only allowed 64 total points, you know that you have something special. Even with the departure of DT Ndamukong Suh to the NFL, the 'Huskers have the No. 1 pass defense in the nation at just 128.0 yards per game.
What must be stressed about Big Red though, is that the schedule just hasn't been this difficult. The Kansas State Wildcats provided the only legitimate test of the year last week, and it is clear that a one dimensional team just isn't beating this Black Shirts defense.
Nebraska might not have a win in this series since 1999, but it has certainly done well against the NCAA football odds. The Cornhuskers nearly won the Big XII last year as 14 point underdogs, while they had no trouble staying within the five point line at home in 2006 and the 20 1/2 point spread in 2007. The underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine clashes of these rivals.
Not only can you find the aforementioned NCAA football betting line of Nebraska minus 9 ½ at Pinnacle Sports, you can find the 'total' there at 46 ½ as well.
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