No doubt better than the last three games which were brutal. But, look beyond the curtain at what looks like easy pickings and you may not be all that optimistic.
The first thing we have to do is take off any remaining rose colored glasses and look at the facts. Our defense is shredded by anyone with an arm. Many people have had a couple of these games as gimmees. Our offense is also pretty much gone also when you consider just how many points they have actually put on the board lately. Take out the scores by the D or special teams and there isn't much left. Our points scored are 239 and we have given up 321! Take out the opening blow out over Norfolk State and it is brutal to look at.
Let's look at what is left:
Nebraska (4-6) is clearly looking for an opportunity to get a bowl bid. They have two games left to get to what is now only 5 wins to qualify for one of the multitude of low level bowls. Their other game is against Iowa! Any questions now on how important next week is to them? Besides, their win over Sparty yesterday has to have them on a season high and maybe Iowa is also doable, but they have to take us out. Finally, look at their points scored 339 and points surrendered 291 and they score more than us and give up less. After yesterday, this is not nearly the "wounded" team we may have been expecting,
Army (2-7) is pretty much on everyone's list as a nearly impossible game for us to lose. Keep in mind that they have lost 5 games by a TD or less including PSU!!!! We cannot come close to that. They're at 196 pts scored while giving up 248. We also know that playing Army or Navy brings with it a totally different set for defense. We will need to be continually focused on staying on point to stop their offense. We are a lot better at stopping the run. But any coach who looks at what we have done this year has to see the possibilities of passing against us. I have no idea if Army can effectively pass the ball, but I certainly expect them to try a lot more against us than they usually do in a game.
Maryland (2-7) is probably out of the bowl hunt as they also have to win all 3 remaining games to even minimally qualify. But they have been playing teams a lot closer than we have even though they had their coach fired. Yesterday's game is a perfect example. Besides us, they have MSU and Indiana left. We are clearly the easiest task ahead of them and winning their last game would certainly be a lift for their program. They have had problems putting points on the board with only 215 and have given up 301. To me, they are a better balanced team that is going to be a tough game for us.
The first thing we have to do is take off any remaining rose colored glasses and look at the facts. Our defense is shredded by anyone with an arm. Many people have had a couple of these games as gimmees. Our offense is also pretty much gone also when you consider just how many points they have actually put on the board lately. Take out the scores by the D or special teams and there isn't much left. Our points scored are 239 and we have given up 321! Take out the opening blow out over Norfolk State and it is brutal to look at.
Let's look at what is left:
Nebraska (4-6) is clearly looking for an opportunity to get a bowl bid. They have two games left to get to what is now only 5 wins to qualify for one of the multitude of low level bowls. Their other game is against Iowa! Any questions now on how important next week is to them? Besides, their win over Sparty yesterday has to have them on a season high and maybe Iowa is also doable, but they have to take us out. Finally, look at their points scored 339 and points surrendered 291 and they score more than us and give up less. After yesterday, this is not nearly the "wounded" team we may have been expecting,
Army (2-7) is pretty much on everyone's list as a nearly impossible game for us to lose. Keep in mind that they have lost 5 games by a TD or less including PSU!!!! We cannot come close to that. They're at 196 pts scored while giving up 248. We also know that playing Army or Navy brings with it a totally different set for defense. We will need to be continually focused on staying on point to stop their offense. We are a lot better at stopping the run. But any coach who looks at what we have done this year has to see the possibilities of passing against us. I have no idea if Army can effectively pass the ball, but I certainly expect them to try a lot more against us than they usually do in a game.
Maryland (2-7) is probably out of the bowl hunt as they also have to win all 3 remaining games to even minimally qualify. But they have been playing teams a lot closer than we have even though they had their coach fired. Yesterday's game is a perfect example. Besides us, they have MSU and Indiana left. We are clearly the easiest task ahead of them and winning their last game would certainly be a lift for their program. They have had problems putting points on the board with only 215 and have given up 301. To me, they are a better balanced team that is going to be a tough game for us.