4. Nebraska

Rivals says: Oregon

I say.....

4. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last year the Cornhuskers finished the season by humiliating Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday bowl but the bowl aside, the Huskers had to have finished the year with a sour taste in their mouths. In the Big 12 championship game, Nebraska made undefeated Texas look like a MAC team for 3 and 3/4 quarters, but the last third cost them the conference title and a BCS bowl. That was a season with little to no hype behind it, as a matter of fact, most critics spent a good portion of the season debating whether or not they were a legitimate top 25 team or the product of a weak division. The end of the season answered those questions and the hopes will be very high for Bo Pelini and Co. this season.

The 'Huskers offense will decide how far this team can go this season, last season it was awful, finishing in the bottom ten in the nation throwing the ball. If Zach Lee can simply be Landry Jones, the 'Huskers can compete for the national title. Roy Helu is a classic smashmouth-Nebraska football player coming off a 1500 yard season. That number is not impressive by itself, but considering every single defense they played stacked against the run all year and they had a relatively inexperienced line, the effort is better than it looks on paper. This year the line will not have the same worries, returning 3 starters, and both tackles. The QB situation is scary, senior Zach Lee could very well lose his job after throwing for under 300 yards nine times a season ago, and even if he keeps his job the expectations will be low.

The defense is outstanding, putting up absurd numbers last season while playing in a league that is all about offense. Ndomukong Suh is gone, and people will look at that as a worry, but the D-line is too deep for it to be a serious concern. Jared Crick, another DL, was also an all conference player as a sophmore last season and could very well be the next Suh. Overall the D-line is behind only Iowa and North Carolina for the best in the nation, the linebacking corps are better than both of the aforementioned teams, and will be adding the nations top defensive JC prospect to it. The secondary has to replace a lot of starters but there is so much talent waiting to step off, and such a great pass rush, that it shouldn't cause any worries.

The schedule is very easy. The starts with Western Kentucky, the worst team in D-1 football, and Idaho, who despite last seasons fairy tale end, is generally among the worst in the country. A trip to Washington will be a big challenge, especially with the turnover in the secondary, facing one of the best QB's in the nation in Jake Locker. The Big 12 does not look very good this year and the schedule looks even better because Oklahoma is not on it. A home game against Texas is probably the only real test on the conference slate. Missouri, the North divisions best team will also be at home, with the only good team on the road in conference play being against an inconsistent Texas A&M team.

Prediction: Big 12 champions: National Championship Game.