PREDICTION TIME

Mike Babcock

Steven Sheffield provides a little more mobility at quarterback, though Taylor Potts has the stronger arm. And the passes have been spread around to more receivers than a year ago. Brandon Carter is likely to be matched against Ndamukong Suh. I might be light on points for both sides. Nebraska 31 Texas Tech 20 Season: 5-0

Robin Washut

Don't expect Nebraska to be feeling overconfident after last week's comeback victory, as the Huskers have had more than a full week to come back down to earth and get refocused on Texas Tech. The Red Raiders will probably get their points, but I see Nebraska having even more success against Tech's defense, which has struggled this season against arguably weaker competition. Look for the Huskers to continue their hot streak this week and improve to 2-0 in conference play. Nebraska 38 Texas Tech 28 Season: 4-1

Aaron Babcock

I've been looking at this all week and I can't figure out why Nebraska is a 10.5 point favorite. I feel Nebraska's defense can slow Texas Tech's offense, but can Nebraska's dinged up offense keep pace? The Cornhuskers have yet to post an impressive offensive performance against a quality team. With Nebraska's backfield in limbo (RB Roy Helu Jr.'s questionable health and RB Rex Burkhead out) additional pressure will be on QB Zac Lee. Lee needs to sustain lengthy drives to keep the Tech offense off the field. If he does this, Nebraska wins. Nebraska 33 Texas Tech 30 Season: 3-2

John Talman

Nebraska has to make sure they continue consistency in the run game, even with absence of No. 2 Rex Burkhead. Once again, on defense, Nebraska must get pressure with the front four allowing the linebackers and secondary to give plenty of coverage. That will help against a young QB like Sheffield in a new road environment. Nebraska 44 Texas Tech 21 Season: 4-1

Nebraska will take the field today at 2:30 pm against Texas Tech to try and erase some bad memories they've had against the Red Raiders in tough losses in 2004, 2005 and 2008. The Huskers haven't beaten Tech since the 2001 season and NU is 4-11 against Big 12 South competition since 2004.

As things get closer to kickoff for Saturday's match-up, here are the keys to a Husker victory over the Red Raiders. Nebraska will enter the game as an 11 point favorite.

NU can't afford a slow start

I think the biggest thing for Nebraska in this game is they can't afford a slow start on offense. Last week at Missouri the Huskers got off to a sluggish start and put themselves in a 12-0 hole going into the fourth quarter.

If NU gets off to that type of start against Tech, that hole could be much bigger because the Red Raiders obviously score at a much higher clip than Missouri. The biggest thing for the offense is to establish some early continuity. Quarterback Zac Lee has also shown he plays much better at home than he does on the road.

Establish the ground game early

Last year at Texas Tech the Huskers racked up 471 yards offense and both running backs Roy Helu and Marlon Lucky put up decent numbers on the ground in a 37-31 overtime loss.

Tech has shown this year they are vulnerable with their rushing defense and it will be important for Helu and the offensive line to get things going early to take pressure off of Lee. Lee struggled at Missouri last week when he faced predictable downs and situations.

Don't let Tech run

This might sound crazy, but one of the biggest keys to stopping Tech's offense is to shutdown their rushing attack.

Red Raider running backs Baron Batch (5.9 yards per carry) and Harrison Jeffers (6.9 yard per carry) really give Tech head coach Mike Leach an added dimension to his offense. The two of them have scored nine total touchdowns on the ground and they've done a great job of putting Texas Tech's offense in better situations on second and third down.

Keep Sheffield off-balanced

Before being inserted into the New Mexico game on Oct. 3, Red Raider starting quarterback Steven Sheffield was a scout team player. However, over the last two games he's thrown 718 yards and 10 touchdowns leading the Red Raiders to two wins.

I think the biggest thing for Sheffield is today will be his first road start. He's never seen an atmosphere like Memorial Stadium before and he hasn't faced a defense as good as Nebraska's. I think NU can really confuse him with different coverage schemes, which would force him to play off-balanced.

Front-four pressure

The key to beating any team that runs the spread offense is front four pressure on defense. I think NU has proven over the first five games of 2009 that they have one of the best front fours in the nation led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Even though Sheffield has decent mobility, that hasn't been a problem for NU in games against Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette and Missouri, which all featured dual-threat quarterbacks. I expect the Huskers to get to Sheffield early and often and they should be able to force some early turnovers and pull out the win to move to 5-1.


Callahan's Prediction:Nebraska 31 Texas Tech 23
Season Record: 5-0 overall; 3-2 vs. points