The 2008 preseason outlook for the Big Red is now on paper, so take a look and disagree if you like.  Although I am pretty sure you can just go ahead and put this in stone.

The 3 Amigos – The first 3 games should be victories, but Nebraska does not have cakewalks anymore so they will have to suit up and play decent games to win.  I mean come on, Ball State probably should have beat us last year, enough said.  I will however give NU the benefit of the doubt so 3-0 to start the season.  (3-0)

Virginia Tech – This should be a great matchup and a fun game to watch.  The Hokies are a top 20 team in almost all the publication I have looked at.  They have 10 returning starters (6 on Off, 4 on De) and they did win the ACC last year.  This team, in the past, has been world-beaters the beginning of the season only to fade down the stretch, which of course is not great news for the Huskers.  I however think the Hokies style of offense run first and throw if you have too is a great fit for NU’s struggling defense.  Bo will have these guys ready to play and his zone schemes should help limit the big plays we have given up over the last few years.  I will give NU the victory in a low scoring affair thanks to the home crowd and the fact that I think VTech is overrated.  W (4-0) 

Missouri – The Big Twelve opener against Missouri should be an interesting one and could have plenty of fireworks.  The Tigers are loaded this year returning 15 starters (6 on Off, 9 on De) and the only team they lost to last year was Oklahoma twice.  They have Chase Daniel coming back and that is not a good thing for Nebraska’s defense, which always seems to stink it up when facing a mobile quarterback.  Missouri crushed Nebraska last year in Columbia and they will be looking to do the same this year in Lincoln.  Missouri however does struggle in Lincoln and their defense was bad last year.  They do have 9 returning starters on defense, but bad is bad no matter how many returners you have.  I will have to give Missouri the edge here in a high scoring shootout (45-35).  L (4-1)

Texas Tech – The first road test for the Huskers is going to be a challenge to say the least.  Texas Tech is returning basically everyone off a team that was 9-4 last year and a couple breaks away from being 11-2.  They have given Nebraska fits recently and again run a style of offense that we struggle to stop.  This team is good enough to win the south and the Big Twelve for that matter.  This could be another high scoring affair and I would expect NU to hold tough for a couple quarters before gracefully bowing out of the contest (38-21).  L (4-2)

Iowa State – The only back-to-back road contests for Nebraska this year ends with Iowa State.  Iowa State was bad last year, but then again so were we.  I would probably have to pick Iowa State to win this one if the coaching changes were not made, but I will give Bo and the boys the W here even though Nebraska just flat out stinks on the road.  W (5-2)

Baylor – Baylor is well….Baylor so it doesn’t take much thought to give NU a victory here.  It is a home game and Baylor is not good on the road.  W (6-2)

Oklahoma – Now we are getting into dangerous waters with the Husker schedule for 2008.  We are at OU and have not performed well in Norman recently.  They are returning 15 players (9 on Off & 6 on De) and are consistently in the top 5 of most preseason polls.  I am not as high on this OU team as everyone else is, but they are a good team nonetheless.  Sam Bradford is not a threat to run and that suits Nebraska’s defense well.  Our offense will need to avoid the big mistakes to stay in this game and I think we will.  I however do not think Nebraska will win this game simply because we will not get a needed break by OU.  I’ll put us down for a 24-21 loss at the hands of the Sooners.  L (6-3)

Kansas – This team came out of nowhere last year to win an Orange Bowl game & finished the year 12-1.  It was a great year for them without question, but I think the stars were aligned perfectly for them last year.  They have a much tougher schedule and Lincoln has not been kind to the Jayhawks.  They are still probably a better team than Nebraska right now and do return a bunch of starters including their quarterback Todd Reesing, who is a big reason for their success.  This is a really tough game to pick at this point since the season hasn’t started yet, but I will give NU the victory because of its home field advantage and KU’s lack of winning history in Lincoln.  I think the NU defense will cash in on a turnover by KU and win this one 21-17.  W (7-3)

Kansas State – The Wildcats won’t be the most talented team in the Big Twelve or the North for that matter but it, like most places for NU on the road, has not been a fun place for the Huskers to visit.  I expect KSU to give Nebraska its best effort.  Josh Freeman, the trader – please excuse my editorial comments, is the mobile quarterback that NU consistently struggles with and will again this year.  I also think Nebraska will give this game way with mistakes and turnovers.  I am going to pick KSU to win 35-31.  L (7-4)

Colorado – This team I think will be the surprise of the North Division and will be a tough nut to crack.  They have a brutal stretch of games starting in mid-September playing West Virginia, @ Florida State, Texas and @ Kansas.  If they can come out of that alive, they will have a lot of confidence for the remainder of their schedule.   They are returning 4 starters on offense and 8 on defense and they are going to need the experience on the defensive side because they were almost as bad as NU was last year.  I am expecting a lower scoring game than a lot of people might be picking, but then again I am typing this in July so there will have to be some adjustments to my thinking process as the season unfolds.  I’m going to pick NU to win this game with a late field goal.  W (8-4)

Well this being said I think the goal for NU should be 7 wins and I certainly think that is obtainable.  And those are my preseason picks for how the season will unfold.