Final Score

          24                             19

Nebraska finishes the 2013 season filled with injuries, controversies and strife with a 9-4 record and a win over the unbeatable SEC. But of course since about 2:30 Central time Georgia wasn't any good to begin with right? Nice way to end the season and it will make for a much nicer off season no doubt.

Gameday #13 Gator Bowl Edition.

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Happy New Years! Well for Nebraska fan it's not been the happiest...on the field anyway. Still for all of the lows, injuries and controversy there's Nebraska playing in a New Years day bowl. A particularly good one? maybe not and yes so is North Texas and UNLV. Still there have been some fine moments. The hail mary the wins over Michigan and Penn State that only became average wins after Nebraska won them...before that they were games Nebraska had no hope of wining.

Look on paper Georgia is the better, more talented team. But these games aren't played on paper. Human action involves human emotion. And emotions are hard to read in a bowl game. Georgia has a QB playing his second game ever. Nebraska has a QB with little more experience. Will either team be excited to play this game? Especially Georgia who has sent players home and has been hit by the flu. In other words there is a shot for Nebraska to end the 2013-2014 with a 9-4 record and a nice memory. Last year Georgia was much better than Nebraska and didn't put them away until late in the game and this year in the rematch nobody wants the difference isn't as stark.

This is the last chance to root for Nebraska football until the summer, well not counting the spring game in April so even though I know it goes counter against everything Nebraska fan believes in they might as well get behind the team and believe.

Count's Krystal Bawl
Nebraska 31
Georgia 24

It's A Winter Repeat

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This year meet in the Gator Bowl (Fuck the corporate name)  And I think the term "fuck" about covers it. Good news is Georgia's also 8-4 and also without their QB. And it's not a bowl game they are thrilled with. I wanted the Chicken wings with Kansas State but if we have to go to "Cracksonville" this is abut as good of an opponent as we could have drawn as far as having a chance to win.

Final Score

    

                        17                                      38

 What you kinda feared was gonna happen at some point finally did but you played with the hand your dealt and don't make excuses. Even with all of the injuries the game was there to be had with Iowa's QB also on the bench. To Iowa's credit they're playing error free football right now which goes a long way in hiding whatever weaknesses your team might have.

I like Bo but he didn't help himself today. The fake punt call was ignorant and the Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was beyond stupid. Yes it was a terrible call and yes Little Kirksy can stand there and yell at the refs and say things to them like that's f'ing BS and have to be restrained and yet not get a flag but you gotta be smarter than that.

What Bowl game is Nebraska going to? I know not. Personally I am fine with going to Detroit and playing a MAC team. Let's just get the 9th win.

Gameday #12

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Yup it's that time again. Time for giving thanks. And one of things Nebraska fans have to be grateful for is when they left the Big 12 for the B1G  that they traded 3 Ne'er do well fan bases with a massive inferiority complex for just one. This means instead of 3 weeks a year of LOOK AT US!!! LOOK AT US!!! LOOK AT US!!! IT'S YOUR FAULT NOBODY EVER LOOKS AT US!!! we only have to live through one week of it. And to be honest Iowa fan is much like Opie Taylor is kinda cute when it throws a tantrum. 

In the 6 years Bo Pelini has been head coach of Nebraska his teams have never fared worse than 9-4. In the same time frame Iowa has had 1 good team. The rest have been average to... well shitty. Still it's Pelini who is looked at as being on "the hot seat" while the media can't get enough of that voodoo that Kirk Ferentz do so well. It's Nebraska at 8-3 who is seen as the poor team sliding down to hell while Iowa at 7-4 is seen as the powerful beast. "Best 7-4 team ever. Could beat the Pats on a neutral field." How is beating Northwestern in the final seconds a sign that Nebraska isn't very good while beat Northwestern in overtime is a sign that Iowa is for real? Because Iowa is the beneficiary of what I like to call the G.W. Bush or Republican debate syndrome. If a Republican shows up to a national debate 3 minutes ahead of time, in the right arena, and with both of his shoes tied the media will already consider it a draw. The same thing goes for Iowa. If they show up on time in the right stadium with their shoes laces tied properly the media will sell that they have over achieved. Part of this is do to the disposition of their fan bases. Nebraska fan, most of them anyway, will be happy...(only just) if Nebraska wins its last 2 games and finishes 10-3. Clem in Carroll is already so happy about being 7-4 he doesn't know whether to carve his prize pig up for breakfast or save him for something else different entire.

There is good news for Iowa. This figures to be the closest the two teams have been since the "rivalry" started in 2011. Iowa has played the tougher schedule and with the Nebraska just one injury away from Ryker Fyfe playing QB there is plenty of reason for Nebraska fan to hold it's breath and for Iowa fan to be optimistic... well again no matter what happens it will get sold as Iowa showing true grit even if the score is somehow 45-7 Nebraska.

Neither of the "Hero's" games have been works of art with Nebraska pounding out a 20-7 win in Lincoln in 2011 and beating both Iowa and the cold in Iowa City 13-7 last year. Iowa likes to hold on to the football play ground pound and keep you down with their excellent defense. Nebraska's defense has gotten better every week while their offense is literally down to the nub with injuries. All of it means expect another ground and pound low scoring slug-fest that wont find it's way to the Louvre or even the Joslyn Art Museum. Or even the Clem and Curly Sue house of finger paintings in downtown Ottumwa.

Count's Krystal Bawl

Nebraska 20
Iowa 14

Final Score

        OT

                 23                               20

If ever a team deserved to be cheered on by the fans this team does. They just keep fighting no matter the adversity. Injuries, fan bullshit, refs...they just keep fighting. And the officiating...Yeah the B1G should be embarrassed.

Gameday #11

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Earlier in the week I felt very good about this pick but as the week has gone on there has been so much baggage... well garbage really around the program that I am far less certain about this pick. Nebraska has won the last 2 games 17-14 2 years ago ( The Jerry Sandusky game) in State College and 32-23 ( the fumble-touchdown game) in Lincoln.  I am a homer I admit it. And Nebraska is the better team if, and it's a Mark Mangino sized if, if Nebraska has their minds on business and HOLDS ON TO THE BALL they'll win.

Count's Krystal Bawl

Nebraska 27
Penn State 17

Final Score

  
                 28                  41

Gameday #10

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Stop me if you've heard this before. Nebraska is playing a team from the state of Michigan and nobody expects them to win the game. There hasn't been a situation like this since...well last week.

Michigan State have never beaten Nebraska. in 1995 in Nick Saban's first game as a head coach they lost 50-10 in East Lancing. The Next year in a game that was nearly statistically even they lost 55-14 in Lincoln thanks to about 15 defensive and special teams scores by Nebraska. In Bo Pelini's first game as a head coach, albeit an interim one, Nebraska beat Michigan State 17-3 in the 2003 Alamo Bowl.

In 2011 everybody picked Michigan State and Nebraska won 24-3. That was because Michigan State had 3 hard games in a row.

In 2012 everybody picked Michigan State and Nebraska won 28-24. That was because of the refs.

In 2013 everybody is picking Michigan State. Should Nebraska win again what will the excuse be this year? It is fun watching little Lee Barfknecht's hopes get up only to get destroyed every year.

I do want to clear up one possible myth. The myth that the winner of this game has the division wrapped up. That is true if Michigan State wins. Well technically it isn't. MSU could lose out and Minnesota could win out. And technically I could have a date after the game with Univison personality Lourdes Stephen after the game. But they won't and I don't. However should Nebraska win there is still work to be done. The game next week at Penn State is no sure thing and should Nebraska stumble bum around the day after Thanksgiving they also could lose to Iowa.

This just feels like Nebraska-Michigan State III Return Of The Same... And it's in Lincoln where the cold weather could be a factor...OK it's suppose to be 62 at kickoff so scratch that!

Count's Krystal Bawl

Nebraska 17
Michigan State 10

Final Score

              17                                  13

Gameday #9 The Nebraska Edition

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In 2005 when these teams met in the Alamo Bowl it was suppose to settle the 1997 national championship debate (Yeah I don't get that either) But Nebraska won 32-28 and the national media didn't like that answer so the 2011 game in Ann Arbor settled the 1997 national championship debate. Michigan won 45-17 which was much better for the media and somehow proved Michigan was the better team in 1997. (Yeah I don't get that either.) Last year Nebraska won 23-9 but that didn't count because Denard Robinson got hurt nevermind that Taylor Martinez played injured and Rex Burckhead, Nebraskas best player was also injured.

Despite what you may have heard from the media both local and national on both teams these teams are both 6-2 not 0-8. Michigan is favored which makes sense. If I had to pick a spread I'd favor Michigan as well. But I am not sure what is in Michigan that makes Nebraska fan think they can't win or even compete in this game. Was it those killer victories over UCONN and Akron? Maybe they are just so down on their own team they're hoping they get blown out. You'd hope not but this is Nebraska fan we are talking about.

Call this a hunch or call me a homer...Nebraska wins and does so in surprisingly easy fashion...

Count's Krystal Bawl...

Nebraska 31
Michigan 17

Final Score

    
         27                           24

Gameday #8 The Northwestern Edition

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It's not hyperbole to call this the biggest game of the Bo Pelini era. Win this game and there is still a chance albeit a shrinking one that both his job and the season can be saved. Lose this game and both are all but over. Northwestern is beat up. Mentally and Physically. They've lost four games in a row since giving Ohio State hell four weeks ago. But Kain Colter who has given Nebraska fits the last 2 years is getting healthier and after the last two years, a Northwestern win in Lincoln, and a one point Nebraska victory in Evanston there is no reason for Northwestern to believe they can't win this game.

Nebraska is going with Tommy Armstrong and Ron Kellogg III at QB this should make the world's greatest fans happy. No matter that Armstrong threw 3 Interceptions and looked in over his head against a Purdue team not as good as this Northwestern bunch. So long as he's not named Taylor Martinez it's all good for the worlds greatest.

And about the world's greatest fans? If things start badly will they turn, or should I say act pretty much like the usually do, and begin to boo, mock and ridicule their own team? We all stick together you know... in all kinds of weather...hahahahahahaha. No worries though win or lose they'll cheer the team at the end of the game...Northwestern can count on it. Through these gates!

Count's Krystal Bawl

Nebraska 31
Northwestern 28

Final Score

 
          34                                 23

Significant program loss. I like Bo. But the facts are these. There are 2 possible wins left on the schedule and 0 guarantees. They can't score enough to beat Michigan State and they won't win on the road against Michigan or Penn State. So best case scenario is they beat Northwestern and Iowa at home and finish 7-5. That won't be good enough nor should it be.

Gameday#7 Minnesota Edition

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It's hard to believe but historically Minnesota has an edge in this series 29-22-2. What makes that so hard to believe is Nebraska has won the last 16 contest between the teams dating back to 1960. And most of those games have not been close. Of course the most lopsided and maybe famous was played 30 years ago when Nebraska beat Minnesota 84-13 in the HHH Metrodome. For the first 3 or 4 decades of the last century Minnesota was THE football power in the Midwest those days are long gone.

The news is not entirely grim for the Golden Gophers. This is a better Minnesota team than many of the ones who have gone painfully down to defeat to Nebraska in the last 50 years. Last week they upset Northwestern and carry a 5-2 Record into the game. They are also playing for their coach Jerry Kill who has taken some time away from the game to deal with his on going battle with Epilepsy. Kill is one of the really good guys and everyone hopes he beats it and returns to the sidelines and more importantly that he gets well again.

2 Years ago when these teams played in Minneapolis it was about a 50/50 Crowd. This year Minnesota is hoping for more of a split though anything more than 60/40 for the Gophers seems unlikely. It is suppose to be a "cold" game with temps at kickoff around 40. It's not official but it seems that Taylor Martinez will be back at QB for Nebraska. This of course is causing much chagrin in Huskerdom because they hate Taylor Martinez because...well just because they don't need a reason they are the worlds greatest fans. Even if they secretly hope their QB gets hurt or loses the game because well...they hate him. That's what the worlds greatest fans do right?

This is a better Minnesota team than the last 2 and maybe the last several Nebraska has seen. This could very possibly be a close football game if Nebraska is as sloppy offensively as they were against Purdue. Still if Nebraska takes care of the football and doesn't beat itself it should win the football game. Especially against a Minnesota team that isn't a great offensive team and has questions of it's own at QB. Plus Nebraska's defense seems to be getting better every game.

Count's Krystal Bawl
Nebraska 38
Minnesota 17

BIG 10 Picks Week 9

7-2 the last 2 week 53-11 Season.

Nebraska 38 Minnesota 17
Michigan State 24 Illinois 10
Ohio State 38 Penn State 28
Iowa 24 Northwestern 20

The Iowa-Northwestern game is a case of when in doubt go with the home team. Northwestern is the better team but they are hurt and down in their own shit. The other 3 games could all be competitive but I feel pretty sure of the picks.

Final Score

         44                                   7

Gamday #6 Purdue Edition

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Well Purdue has history on their side.  Ok they've played once and that was in 1958 so take that for what it's worth. There are easier places to play than Ross-Aide Stadium (Just ask Ohio State) but outside of a spirited showing against Notre Dame Purdue has been dreadful. The used their bye week to move their starting QB to safety and are going with a True Freshman at QB Saturday. Nebraska's QB situation is also up in the air but if it's Tommy Armstrong again he's shown no signs of being overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Of course with tickets going for $3 on secondary ticket sites how overwhelming will the atmosphere be?

The Blackshirts showed some growth Saturday against Illinois and have only given up 22 points in the last 7 quarters. I suspect this gets ugly...

Counts Krystal Bawl

Nebraska 49
Purdue 17

Final Score

  
                  39                                           19

Best game Nebraska has played all year. For 3 quarters at least. To paraphrase famous words of Johnny Dollar "no not that Johnny Dollar, the Johnny Dollar who sang country music and drank himself into suicide" in the 4th quarter the Wheels Kinda Fell Of Wagon.

Weather was a story. Early on walking around Lincoln with temps in the 40's and the wind blowing 30 miles and hour it was nippy to say the least. And seeing as how the temperature until today have been around 80 it really felt a shock to the system. In the first half the sun came out and it actually felt didn't feel too bad. Then at the end of the first half and for the rest of the game the sun went behind the clouds and the second half was nippy again. 

The Good...

Ameer Abudllah had the best game of his career and ran like a man possessed rushing for 225 yards.
Kenny Bell made an unhuman one handed catch for a touchdown in the second half.
The Defense gave up yards but also made plays. More than they've made in any game this season.
Nebraska pretty much shut down the Illinois passing game and actually made several plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Tommy Armstrong looked more like a Freshman today but still looked calm and smooth running the offense.
Even in the wind kickoffs and the one punt were outstanding again today. Nebraska also made both of their field goals.

The Not So Good...

The Defense had it's best game against a good offense but still got gashed at times in the running game.
You can not miss extra points let alone 2. Inexcusable.
Nebraska could have scored 3 more TD's in the 4th quarter and only got 3 points. Missing a wide open pass on 4th and goal at the 2 and fumbling at the 20 before making a 33 yard kick to conclude scoring.
What game was this officiating crew watching? Good Lord they were sorry. Holding might as well be legal on passing plays. A late hit on a play when Nebraska hit the QB in bounds. The no calls on the illegal pick plays. Not allowing Nebraska's defense to properly set up. B1G officials are awful.

 All an all it was a feel good day for Nebraska football. It wasn't perfect and you wish they would have closed the show a little better. Still as a Nebraska fan you have to feel better than you've felt after any game this year. And as for all the people who picked Illinois to win this game...go ahead and say it. You knew Illinois wasn't any good in the first place. Am I right? P.S. Time to cut back tickets to students. If they aren't going to show up and leave in the 2nd quarter give the tickets to people who will use them. Yes it was at times uncomfortably cool out with the wind blowing like a Fox News Blonde. But still it was 50 degrees not -5 If the kiddies don't want to use the tickets there are lots of other people who do.

Gameday #5 Illinois Edition

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The last time Nebraska played Illinois was on September 20th 1986 in Champaign, Illinois when on that date at halftime they retired the great hall of fame linebacker Dick Butkus' jersey. With Illinois behind 38-0 at half Butkus told the crowd to enjoy the rest of the game and rolled his eyes. Nebraska ended up winning 59-14. And for most a similar score seemed to be in order this season. But Illinois has seemingly been better than advertised with their one loss being in a spirited effort against a fine Washington team. Nebraska's defense is at least so far worse than it was feared they might be. And it was feared it might be pretty bad. Plus Redshirt Freshman Tommy Armstrong is getting his second start at QB this weekend. Add it all up and the Illini are a trendy pick to pull the upset.

On the weather front No rain or severe weather is in the forecast but it is suppose to be by far the coolest game of the year with temps topping out in the mid to low 50's. The temperature is expected to be about 48 or so at the 11 O'Clock kickoff.

For Bo Pelini's sake Nebraska needs to win this game. Win this game and beat Purdue and Minnesota and maybe the team picks up momentum for the tough, tough, tough November stretch. But lose this game and his tenuous grasp on the head coaching job at the University of Nebraska may begin to slip out of his control.

I am not sure what to expect tomorrow except both teams will score some points...Nebraska scores a couple of touchdowns more...

Count's Krystal Bawl...

Nebraska 38
Illinois 24