As my private clients have come to learn over the last 3-5 seasons, I place a heavy emphasis on defense and special teams in college football. While the betting public loves to wager on the flashy offenses and “Red Raider” offenses like those found at Texas Tech, I like to place my money on the unglamorous and undervalued teams with solid offensive lines, talented defenses and quality special teams. With those attributes in mind, here is why I really like the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2010:
- Nebraska takes the field with an outstanding offensive line that boasts 75 career starts. With an excellent offensive line coach in Barney Cotton, look for the Cornhuskers to have one of the best and most powerful offensive lines in college football.
- Despite losing Ndamukong Suh (85 tackles & 12 sacks in ’09), the Cornhuskers still have one of the best defensive lines in the nation led by DT Jared Crick (9.5 sacks in ’09) and Baker Steinkuhler. According to my power rankings, Nebraska has a Top 10 defensive line which is significant in that the Cornhuskers only allowed 93 rushing yards per game (2.8 ypc) last year.
- Nebraska enters the 2010-2011 football season with the best secondary in the country, bar none. This unit returns seven players with starting experience and will be led by Prince Amukamara (5 interceptions in ’09). Note to opposing teams: Don’t bother trying to pass against this highly athletic unit as they will only turn your mistake into points.
- The Cornhuskers have excellent special teams behind kicker Adi Kunalic (86 career touchbacks) and placekicker Alex Henery (24 of 28 FG’s in ’09). According to my power rankings, Nebraska has the 3rd best special team’s unit in the land, only surpassed by UCLA and Florida State.
With fifteen returning starters and two of the best lines in college football on both sides of the ball, Nebraska could fly under-the-radar this season as the betting public will certainly focus their attention on Alabama and other explosive offenses. And, when your money is on the line, rest assured that you have invested on one of the best special team’s units in college football. The margins between collecting or paying is razor thin in sports investing, and a last-second FG could ultimately be the difference-maker.