Wyoming @ Nebraska preview

Wyoming at Nebraska

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Nebraska 38, Wyoming 14

Despite closing last season on a sour note, No. 18 Nebraska has its sights on extending the nation’s longest winning streak in season openers to 28 games Saturday against the visiting Wyoming Cowboys. Nebraska finished atop the Big Ten Legends division thanks to a six-game winning streak. However, the Huskers’ Rose Bowl hopes were dashed following a 70-31 rout by Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship before they suffered a 45-31 loss to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl.

Nebraska believes it has one of the best secondaries in the conference, but it – along with an unproven front seven – figures to get tested by a non-conference schedule full of spread offenses, starting with the Cowboys. Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith averaged 308 yards in total offense and threw 27 touchdown passes against six interceptions in 2012, besting the Huskers’ Taylor Martinez in every category. The Cowboys overcame a miserable start to win three of their final four games last season, but are 0-6 all-time against Nebraska.

TV: 8:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: -30.5.

ABOUT WYOMING (2012: 4-8, 3-5 Mountain West): The Cowboys raised hopes after an 8-5 finish in 2011, but injuries wrecked any chance they had of repeating that success. Smith – who did not throw an interception in his final 174 pass attempts last season and needs only five more to break the Mountain West and school records – is one of seven returning starters on offense. The defense also welcomes back seven starters, but must replace its three top tacklers on a unit that ranked 106th in total defense and 117th against the run.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (2012: 10-4, 7-1 Big Ten): Few questions exist on offense as Martinez and running back Ameer Abdullah – both 1,000-yard rushers – as well as the Huskers’ top three receivers return from a season ago. Senior defensive end Jason Ankrah is one of the few players among Nebraska’s front seven with any notable experience, although the coaching staff is excited about the potential of junior-college defensive end Randy Gregory. The Huskers finished 58th in scoring defense in 2012, their worst mark since coach Bo Pelini was hired in 2008.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Martinez is set to become the first quarterback in school history to start four consecutive season openers.

2. Wyoming, which won its last two contests away from home last season, hasn’t recorded three consecutive road victories since 1999.

3. Nebraska has won every one of its last 27 season openers by at least nine points and scored 40 or more points in 20 of them.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 52, Wyoming 20