| Children of the Corn (USC -10 at Nebraska) By The Guy Next Door Sep 14, 2007 - 2:48:45 PM |
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After an off week, USC now prepares for its first road clash of '07. The last time the Trojans packed luggage they blew a National Title shot while losing at UCLA as 12 point favorites. Ya know, for as much as people don't even blink an eye about laying cash down on the beloved Trojans, they are a shabby 7-10 against the spread on the road the last three years. And oh boy, are they on the road THIS week! Let me tell you, make no mistake about it, they'll be a long way from Hollywood on Saturday night. You know how when the Boston Red Sox play on the road there's more Sox fans in attendance than not? That won't be the case for USC in Lincoln, Neb.
A few years back there was a Bud Light sponsored billboard just off of the Lincoln exit of I-80. It said "Welcome to the Center of the Football Universe." What we saw in Baton Rouge, La. last Saturday night was quite a scene, filled with passion and excitement. What we'll see in Nebraska this week is a way of life.
They're building this up as the biggest weekend in the history of Nebraska Football. That's pretty big considering the heights the program has reached in the past. Heroes of Husker lore will be in town to show off championship rings and sprinkle a little karma up and down Cornhusker Highway. Grant Wistrom was on the Jim Rome show on Thursday saying he was heading out to have a few words with the boys before the game. They're bringing in all the blue chip recruits they could find flights for and are hoping to parlay an upset of the Trojan horse into a one-way recruiting pipeline directly into Lincoln for years to come. They're gambling... and so are we.
Last year USC was 2-4 ATS on the road with two outright losses. The Huskers covered the number in five of six in the cornfields. There used to be a saying that opposing teams had already been defeated when they caught their first glimpse of Memorial Stadium from the highway. That really isn't the case anymore, but there's a lot of magic in that stadium. Remember the look on Bob Stoops face as Eric Crouch caught that flea-flicker touchdown pass to beat the Sooners in '01?
As mediocre as Nebraska has been the last few years, they are an overlooked 41-8 straight up in that building this decade. Under Callahan they are 3-0 ATS as a home dog. AND, since the beginning of '01 there have been eight ranked teams to visit Lincoln. Only one has covered the number! (Colorado '02) Mark May and Lou Holtz don't tell you THAT do they?
You can never guarantee anything in a football game. But this we can take to the bank. We're gonna get one hell of an effort from the home team this Saturday night. Folks, this is a special weekend in a special place. The entire state of Nebraska is all-in on this one. And we should be too. I'll also take a side order of corn to go with my 10 points please! Can I get a Go Big Red?
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