Monday Morning Quarterback: Huskers vs. South Alabama – Do the Huskers gain over 500 yards and hold the Jaguars to less than 250?
The Huskers are a heavy favorite in their first game of the season against South Alabama with a 36 point spread and most action having them covering the spread. Scott Frost’s spread offense proved in the second half of last season that they can put a lot of points on the board. Another year of team experience running the motion-heavy option schemes points toward the Huskers growing on that success and being one of the top offenses in the Big 10.
There are more questions on the Nebraska defense for a team that last season allowed 31.3 points per game and allowed 5.81 yards per play – although they improved down the stretch and showed up well against Ohio State. While Nebraska doesn’t need to have a shut down defense with all the offensive firepower, it can’t put the offense in the position of having to constantly play catch-up, especially in the games against the elite Big 10 programs.
South Alabama lost 7 starters from a defense that gave up almost 40 points per game, with concerns about both the defensive line and the secondary. On offense, they are outsized by the Huskers, have an experienced quarterback with only 19 career passing attempts and struggled to run the ball last year.
The Huskers should handle this game easily. But will they dominate the game on both sides of the ball and show the signs that both the offense and the defense are here to play in the 2019 season?