PREDICTION TIME

Mike Babcock

Arkansas State should be a good test for Nebraska before it goes to Virginia Tech. The Red Wolves have a mobile quarterback in Corey Leonard and an imposing pass rusher in 6-5, 284-pound Alex Carrington, who runs the 40 in 4.69 and had 11.5 sacks last season. In Blacksburg, Va., the mobile quarterback will be Tyrod Taylor and the pass rusher Jason Worilds. Nebraska's offense will pick up the tempo this week, the offensive line will deal with Carrington and the defense won't play as "soft" as Bo Pelini suggested after the Florida Atlantic game. Nebraska 45, Arkansas State 10. Nebraska 45 Arkansas State 10 Season: 1-0

Robin Washut

While I don't think Nebraska will have any trouble winning this game, I do see the score being a little closer than people think. Because of the way that both teams like to run the football, I see the clock moving quickly and the time of possession to be fairly balanced. Plus, don't be surprised if Arkansas State comes in and tries to control the ball as much as possible to keep NU's offense off the field. The Huskers' should control this game on both sides of the ball, but don't expect a blowout. Nebraska 31 Arkansas State 14 Season: 1-0

Aaron Babcock

I expect Nebraska to get a tougher test from Arkansas State than they received from Florida Atlantic last week, but I still expect the Huskers to roll. Head Coach Bo Pelini has challenged his team calling their defensive play "soft" in week one -- a challenge I think many will take personally. Nebraska needs to improve and turn in a sharp performance to set the tone for a tough road test at Virginia Tech. Nebraska 42 Arkansas State 17 Season: 1-0

John Talman

Arkansas State was a problem for one Big 12 team, Texas A&M, when they beat the Aggies in College Station last season. Regardless, that is still the one win in the last 16 games against Big 12 teams. Obviously controlling Reggie Arnold, who ran for over 100 yards last week against an overmatched 1-AA team, will be the focus of Pelini's defense. Losing a top offensive lineman in Padrta doesn't help against a very talented NU defensive line that showed it had much more than star Ndamukong Suh last week. ASU will probably try a whole lot more offensively than they did last week. I think Nebraska's defense takes another stride in shutting down ASU as the game moves along. I also expect Nebraska to show their running game strength with Helu and Burkhead. With Lee getting more comfortable through the air, I think NU pulls away from ASU as the game moves along. Nebraska 41 Arkansas State 14 Season: 1-0

I know when Nebraska fans see another Sun Belt team on the schedule, they are probably expecting things to be just as easy as last week's 49-3 win over Florida Atlantic.

However, when you look at Arkansas State this game should be much more competitive than last week's FAU game, as the Red Wolves return veteran offensive and defensive units. Here are the fives keys to victory for the Huskers against ASU.

Don't look past these guys

I can still remember sitting in the press box last year and seeing the score that Arkansas State had just beaten Texas A&M 18-14 in College Station.

The Red Wolves racked up 415 yards of offense that day, including 255 yards on the ground led by running back Reggie Arnold's 145 yards. ASU also gave No. 2 ranked Alabama all they wanted in Tuscaloosa last season, as that game was 14-0 late into the third, before the Crimson Tide blew the door open to win 35-0.

What I'm saying about this team for Nebraska is they cannot afford to look past the Red Wolves. They have enough talent to give the Huskers a game if they come out flat similar to last season's San Jose State game where the Spartans only trailed 14-12 in the fourth quarter before NU pulled away to win 35-14.

Expose ASU's offensive line

The one area where Arkansas State lacks depth and experience is on their offensive line. The Red Wolves suffered a major blow last week against Mississippi Valley State when they lost their best offensive lineman Dominic Padrta for the season with a leg injury.

With plenty of questions and inexperience on the offensive line, the Huskers should be able to expose this weakness on Saturday with players like Ndamukong Suh and Jared Crick up front.

Contain Corey Leonard

The Red Wolf offense stops and goes with the success of quarterback Corey Leonard. ASU head coach Steve Roberts will feature Leonard in a multitude of different ways on Saturday and it will be important for Nebraska not to let him establish any early confidence.

A quarterback like Leonard should also serve as a good early measuring stick for what the Huskers will see next week at Virginia Tech when they face off against the dangerous Tyrod Taylor.

Keep Carrington in check

Next to Suh, there won't be a better NFL prospect on the field than Arkansas State defensive end Alex Carrington.

As a junior, Carrington recorded 10 ? sacks and 19 tackles for loss en route to Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the year honors.

Last week Nebraska's offensive tackles really didn't receive much of a test from Florida Atlantic's undersized defensive ends. This week will be different story, as Carrington and this talented Red Wolf defensive line should give NU a pretty good test.

Make an early statement

The Huskers cannot afford a slow start on Saturday, especially from quarterback Zac Lee, who will enter the ASU game fresh off a solid opening debut against Florida Atlantic.

It will be important for NU to continue to build confidence with their young football team today as they start to look ahead for next week's showdown in Blacksburg.

I expect to see a tighter game this week, but I obviously expect the Huskers to win. I don't think they will cover the 21 point spread.


Callahan's Prediction: Nebraska 37 Arkansas State 17
Season Record: 1-0 overall; 1-0 vs. points