I had a chance to chat with Sports Handicapper, Tristan Hartley, from GridIronPicks.com on the Husker’s chances against Nevada and the rest of the season.

HZ: From a gambler’s perspective, what can we expect from the Huskers this season?

Tristan: Nebraska could represent some strong value this year, especially early in the season. There are questions about just how well Sam Keller can lead this offense. If he comes out flat against Nevada, pay attention to key situations like 3rd and long to get a feel on how he will react once he’s shaken the first game jitters - if he shows promise, Nebraska could fly under the radar for awhile. If he is dead solid perfect the entire game, the odds-makers will take note and the future lines will reflect it.

HZ: Is there anything you will be looking for from the defense?

Tristan: Defensively, I have some issues with Nebraska, I’m not sure they are ready to stand-up to the Top 10 teams just yet. They are close, but I think they focused a bit too much on offensive recruiting. You may know better than me because I really don’t follow recruiting, but I think Callahan has recruited like 9 QB’s since he came on board. Only one can play at a time.

HZ: Where do you see the line with USC?

Tristan: Right now without a game under either team’s belt, I see USC as 4-5 point favorite on the road in Lincoln.

HZ: Will Nevada have any surprises for Nebraska?

Tristan: Defensively, they have a secondary that might be a tad underrated and could give the Huskers some trouble early. Offensively, it will be a long day for the Wolf Pack.

HZ: So you see a Nebraska win, will they cover?

Tristan: Nothing is absolute in this business, but I see a 26 to 28 point margin of victory for Nebraska. With the line at -21; yes, Nebraska should cover the spread.

HZ: Is there anything in particular you look for when you are breaking down games for gambling information?

Tristan: As in, “Give a way the secrets,” haha? Actually, the first thing I keep tabs on is turnover ratio. College football is a game of momentum and big plays; Turnovers are often at the heart of both of those.

HZ: Any general advice for gamblers?

Tristan: Money Management. I could go on and on about this, but it comes down to money management. Set and know your budget/limits, don’t chase the big pay day, and be smart about your money. If you are gambling with money you can’t afford to lose, you shouldn’t be gambling.

HZ: Thanks for taking the time to chat. Do you want to share your site with our readers?

Tristan: Thanks for having me. You can find me on the web at GridIronPicks.com.

72-odd hours away from the kick off of the 2007 season and I can’t wait. While I’ve been hibernating under a pile of work (maybe one day I can make Huskerzone.com my fulltime job), Keller was named the starting QB. Probably one of the worst kept secrets of the year.

So here is the contest for Gameday in Lincoln. There will be 3 folks running around Lincoln sporting the official sideline coaches shirt of the Huskers with Huskerzone.com embroidered on the left chest and right sleeve (my wife, my pops, and myself). Each of us will have 4 shirts to give away (by mail within the next two weeks). Be one of the first twelve (4 each) to introduce yourself to one of us and give us your name/address/etc, and a shirt is yours.

If any of the shirts go unclaimed, keep checking the site as I’ll come up with some sort of contest to give them away here in coming weeks (If you have an extra USC ticket and want to take me, the Administrator, that would be a good way to earn some bonus points).

By the way, anyone catch the news that former Nebraska QB, Harrison Beck, lost out in his bid to be the starter at North Carolina State?

Washington Post Staff Writer, Steve Yanda looks at the Keller/Ganz shootout, a competition for starting QB that won’t be settled until one week before the opening game with Nevada.

“We’re looking for someone who can manage the system and maintain the profile of a great decision-maker,” Callahan said. “We want a leader who can put the team on his back and carry it.”

Based soley on the above words from Callahan, I’d say Ganz has a good shot at starter, since he has more experience with the west coast offense. Whoever gets the nod, I imgaine both players will see a fair amount of action this fall.

At yesterday’s press conference in Lincoln, Sam Keller spoke (click for audio file) about the competition for starting QB.

See Huskers.com for more audio and transcripts.

The Huskers have yet to take a snap this season, yet heroes are already emerging. David Graff, who worked in the Nebraska sports information office from 2004 through 2006, has helped renivent the cumbersome old playbook into a portable, fun, player-centric experience.

What started as a design studio project in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s J.D. Edwards Honors Program, of which Graff, Brian Kaiser and John Wirtz were members, is now a tech business by the name of Agile Sports Technologies. Agile’s first and best client is Coach Bill Callahan.

Graff & Co. presented a prototype of their Huddle System to Nebraska coach Bill Callahan and his staff in February 2006.

While computer simulators and viewing video of football plays by computer via DVD are not new concepts, the interactive and portable nature of a virtual playbook advances the idea. Having it available throughout an entire organization is potentially an invaluable learning tool, particularly in an advanced offensive system based on West Coast principles, such as Nebraska’s.

“Coach Callahan is really receptive to new technologies, so he’s been a really good guy to work with,” said Graff, the company’s CEO. “He’s a very progressive coach from that standpoint.”

[via Omaha World Herald]

The USA TODAY Board of Coaches is made up of 60 head coaches at Division I-A institutions. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association.

Los Angeles Times sports writer, T.J. Simers, wishes he was funny. Steve Martin funny. Sadly, he’s not all that funny. Nebraskans, as members of the human race, appreciate funny.

Here’s some of the drivel he convinced his employer, the Tribune Company, to run:

I got to thinking last summer, as I drove the family-that-I-used-to-love across Nebraska in a RV what it must be like to actually live there most every day of your life.

I can’t remember for sure if it was Nebraska or Kansas where I saw a tree, but it just seemed as if there wasn’t much there.

That’s why the corn cobs love their football. It’s all they have, everyone wearing red, and sitting there like plump, ripe tomatoes with corncobs stuck to their heads, singing, “There is no place like Nebraska.”

I didn’t know coastal media elites had the wherewithal to drive a recreational vehicle. You learn something everyday.

As for the tired old cliché about Nebraska being boring, I beg to differ. In reality, there are few things more monotonous than sitting in L.A. traffic.