Nebraska
5th Big 1210-3
Washington
3rd PAC-126-6
Nebraska @ Washington preview
Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium
The Nebraska Cornhuskers venture outside of Memorial Stadium for their first time this year, marching all the way to Seattle for a showdown with the Washington Huskies.
The Huskers have been flying high so far in 2010, outscoring their opponents by an average of 29 points a game, but the competition has been far from stellar. Washington (1-1) will change that.
The host Huskies present a number of challenges for the Huskers, starting with quarterback Jake Locker. The senior will give the Nebraska secondary its most stern test so far. Locker has a rocket for an arm and is coming off a 289-yard, four-touchdown performance in last week's win over Syracuse. The Huskers have racked up six interceptions in their two games, but Locker proved last year that he is capable of shredding even the best secondaries.
Nebraska's Blackshirts will also face a potent running attack for the first time, led by Husky sophomore running back Chris Polk. The sky is the limit for Polk, who rushed for 1,113 yards in 2009. He is the first Husky to top 1,000 yards in his freshman year and is averaging over 100 yards per game so far in 2010. The Huskers have struggled at times stopping the run this season and are still trying to fill the shoes of injured middle linebacker Will Compton.
The good news for Nebraska is that their once vaunted running game is alive and kicking again. Quarterback Tyler Martinez has the speed to excel in the Huskers new run-oriented spread option, and running backs Roy Helu Jr, and Rex Burkhead have keyed a rushing attack that is currently third in the country. Martinez appears to be a game-changer in the making. In his first two games, the redshirt freshman has galloped for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Through the air, Martinez certainly won't be confused with Locker, but he completes enough passes to keep the defense honest each week.
A win in this game could serve as a launching pad for either team on Saturday afternoon. Washington would be able to forget their tough opening-week loss to BYU, and restart the Heisman buzz for Locker. Nebraska could start to live up to their considerable hype this year and ride the momentum towards a championship run in their final Big 12 season.
The Huskers have been flying high so far in 2010, outscoring their opponents by an average of 29 points a game, but the competition has been far from stellar. Washington (1-1) will change that.
The host Huskies present a number of challenges for the Huskers, starting with quarterback Jake Locker. The senior will give the Nebraska secondary its most stern test so far. Locker has a rocket for an arm and is coming off a 289-yard, four-touchdown performance in last week's win over Syracuse. The Huskers have racked up six interceptions in their two games, but Locker proved last year that he is capable of shredding even the best secondaries.
Nebraska's Blackshirts will also face a potent running attack for the first time, led by Husky sophomore running back Chris Polk. The sky is the limit for Polk, who rushed for 1,113 yards in 2009. He is the first Husky to top 1,000 yards in his freshman year and is averaging over 100 yards per game so far in 2010. The Huskers have struggled at times stopping the run this season and are still trying to fill the shoes of injured middle linebacker Will Compton.
The good news for Nebraska is that their once vaunted running game is alive and kicking again. Quarterback Tyler Martinez has the speed to excel in the Huskers new run-oriented spread option, and running backs Roy Helu Jr, and Rex Burkhead have keyed a rushing attack that is currently third in the country. Martinez appears to be a game-changer in the making. In his first two games, the redshirt freshman has galloped for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Through the air, Martinez certainly won't be confused with Locker, but he completes enough passes to keep the defense honest each week.
A win in this game could serve as a launching pad for either team on Saturday afternoon. Washington would be able to forget their tough opening-week loss to BYU, and restart the Heisman buzz for Locker. Nebraska could start to live up to their considerable hype this year and ride the momentum towards a championship run in their final Big 12 season.