A lot to digest in tonight’s loss. RamHatter already sounded off with his Four Downs. It is easy to let the season go after a loss like this, and I hope the players – and coaching staff – are able to learn from this and move on.

I lot of people bagged on Taylor Martinez tonight. He’ threw 3 picks that led to 21 points by the Badgers. But he is an easy target for grief. Sure he tucks the ball if his primary read isn’t there, and he is as selfish as they come inside the 10 yard line, but he touches the ball nearly every snap on offense. What your TV screen doesn’t show is the wide receivers who can’t break coverage, offensive linemen who are getting pushed off their assignment, and trying to make good with a questionable game plan. I’m defending Martinez, but he isn’t the whole of the problem, and he’s the best the Huskers have to offer at the QB spot. It is quite likely that Carnes isn’t anywhere close to being ready, so I don’t get why there is public outcry to change out quarterbacks. What should be more worrisome, is what happens if Martinez gets hurt?

Defensively, I haven’t a clue. This is Bo Pelini’s fourth year. Every player on that team is a Pelini recruit. Yet here we are with what appears to be the worst defense he’s fielded since he took over for Callahan…and that shouldn’t be the case for someone who’s specialty is the defense. Frankly, I’m dumbfounded by that side of the ball. After Suh left, the defense held together last season when Nebraska was without an offense. Are you telling me that the cupboard was bare of talen after last year’s graduating class?

I have a lot on my mind from this game. Kudos to Wisconsin for the spanking. They made plays on both sides of the ball and kept their mistakes to a minimum. It’s Big 10 time Huskers, things need to go up from here.

Dr. Tom Osborne is calling for a blackout in Madison tonight as the Huskers roll in to Big 10 conference play. I’ve blacked out the background on Huskerzone.com to match.

Wisconsin, 4-0, #7 in the country and seemingly unstoppable on offense. Nebraska 4-0, #8 in the country and looking good on offense, troublesome on defense, in their non-conference games.

There are rumors floating around that the Huskers will be wearing something new for uniforms, black pants or black jerseys, to coincide with the Blackout. For the record, I don’t think anything will be changing, but it would be interesting to see what they come up with.

Alfonzo Dennard is healthy and back in the mix andJared Crick should be back after a week off. This could be the week we see the Blackshirts come together.

My Pick: Nebraska 33 – Wisonsin 30 as the Huskers march down the field and take home the win with a fieldgoal as time runs out. Leave a comment with your predictions.

Go Big Red!

The following is a guest post by Tony George, courtesy of Tony George Sports, tonygeorgesports.com

I was elated and dejected when asked to do a Las Vegas Perspective of the Nebraska and Wisconsin Game this Saturday Night for HuskerZone.com. As a Husker Fan, and previous ESPN 1480 co-host of the Average Joe Sports Show in Lincoln, my first post on HuskerZone.com may displease many Husker Nation Fans! But this is strictly business!

Nebraska @ Wisconsin -9.5
Saturday October 1, 8:00pm EST

The mighty Huskers open up Big 10 conference action for the first time ever in Camp Randall in front of an anticipated wildly rabid and juiced up crowd on a national TV game. The biggest game without question to date in the Big 10 conference this year, the Huskers look to make their mark in this marquee matchup Saturday Night. Both teams enter in the Top 9 in country and both teams are physical and have great playmaking QBs.

At days end from the line perspective, Wisconsin opened up at -3 on the futures board back in August for this game at which I took them, however this week the line opened at -10 and jumped up to -10.5 before settling in after much action at -9.5 on Thursday. What warrants a line perspective jump almost a full TD in this game from the opening lines on the futures from oddsmakers to this one?

In short the vaunted Husker defense has failed to perform up to its usual game dominating standards. In 2 key games in Lincoln against schools that count, both Fresno State and Washington shredded the defense and rolled up huge yards in the process. NU took care of Washington by scoring 51, but Fresno’s Derek Carr tore up NU’s secondary with little pass rush and that contest was in doubt till late in the game. Rarely does someone come into Lincoln and go up and down the field making big plays against the blackshirts, but it has happened this year, at home, which is alarming to Husker Nation backers. Turnovers also have reared their ugly head for NU, and if that happens on the road in this game, it will be amplified on the scoreboard and hard to recover from.

Wisconsin has played no one of real stature yet which might be the saving grace in terms of public perception, but the better QB in this game lies with the Badgers and QB Wilson in terms of being an “all around” threat. The thing that Wisconsin has done is totally dominate those weak sisters like they were suppose to. QB Russell Wilson, A NC State transfer, he is a dual threat QB with a solid arm and great ability on the ground as well. With Wisconsin’s balanced attack, and over 40 ppg of production, in a very hostile environment, is going to be a huge challenge for Nebraska on both sides of the ball, in perhaps their toughest game of the season. That is a stark reality from an unbiased perspective.

The key here is Husker QB Martinez and his questionable ability to play from behind and having to throw to win, not his strong suit. I simply do not see NU running it between the tackles here against a good defense with active linebackers and moving the chains at will, so passing yards and big plays will be needed, and I just do not see it. I smell a Wisconsin win here and perhaps a convincing one as Jared Crick is not 100%, and NU’s defense could be overmatched, already giving up 27 ppg their last 3 games, 2 of them at home. Nebraska will rise to the occasion no doubt, but at days end Wisconsin is 10-1 ATS (against the spread) at home and the home field is worth 5 points in this game, especially at night.

Lay the wood: Wisconsin 35 – Nebraska 21

PS: It pains me to say that, but I’ll be rooting for the Skers anyway! One time I hope I am wrong.

Husker Red will likely be taking over War Memorial Stadium in Laramie as Nebraska heads West for a border war.

Alfonzo Dennard will likely return to limited action to get ready for Wisconsin next week. Jared Crick is questionable. Wyoming’s spread offense may give the Huskers some trouble on D, but Nebraska’s offense seemed to find their rhythm last week and I expect the running game to be dominate.

I’m kicking off with my prediction of Nebraska 49 – Wyoming 17

The Huskies roll in to Lincoln for the rubber match in their 3-games-in-a-year series. When we last checked in, the Huskers played uninspired football in a bowl game loss to Washington.

We’ve had the “not prepared” excuses coming from the coaching staff in the first two games this season. Today, will the Huskers be ready?

My prediction: Nebraska 38 – Washington 24. What say you?

It was ugly. Nebraska was outgained in yardage. But clutch plays in the 4th quarter – a goal-line-to-goal-line kickoff return by Ameer Abdullah, and smashmouth rushing up the gut by Rex Burkhead capped off by a 46 yard touchdown by Taylor Martinez off the option – gave the Huskers a win.

There is a lot to digest with this game. Nebraska’s offensive line continues to underperform and Fresno State’s dual-threat offense was punching holes through the line while the secondary was forced to stay honest.

If you followed along on Twitter tonight, there was panic starting to sweep through the Husker faithful as the offense sputtered the first half. The last 8 minutes of the game showed what this Nebraska offense is capable of. They found their rhythm on the line as gaps started to appear – however slight – giving Burkhead a lane to smash through. Martinez gained a bit of poise in the pocket, showing signs he starting to expand his vision; and then when the defense was worn down, the speed option to the side and Martinez races 46 yards with 2 minutes to play to ice the game.

I’ll be back with grades and further analysis tomorrow, but I’m going to bed tonight with the hope that the offense is starting to click.

The Bulldogs from Fresno State make another appearance in Lincoln on a beautiful day for college football.

Will the offensive line show improvement?
Will Taylor Martinez make a non-primary read?
Will Taylor Martinez throw the ball outside the hashmarks?

Get your score predictions in the comments. I see the Blackshirts shutting down the Fresno State offense and the Husker offense rolling in the running game. Nebraska 42 – Fresno State 10.

This week’s polls are out and Nebraska is ranked #10 in both the AP and USAToday polls.

In the AP, Wisconsin’s domination of UNLV allowed them to leapfrog Nebraska from #11 to #8 as Oregon dropped out of the top 10. In the USAToday Coaches poll, Nebraska moved up one spot as Oregon dropped out of the top 10.

AP Poll – Week 2
1. Oklahoma
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Boise State
5. Florida State
6. Stanford
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin
9. Oklahoma State
10. Nebraska

USAToday Coachses Poll – Week 2
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Florida State
5. Boise State
6. Stanford
7. Oklahoma State
8. Texas A&M
9. Wisconsin
10. Nebraska