2011 B1G schedule analysis - Nebraska

Games in which Nebraska will be a heavy favorite:
Tennessee-Chattanooga
Fresno State
Washington
@Wyoming
@Minnesota
Northwestern

Games in which Nebraska will be a heavy underdog:
none

Favorable match up games:
Ohio State
Michigan State
@Michigan
Iowa

Unfavorable match up games:
@Wisconsin
@Penn State

Analysis:
The Huskers will have to take advantage of a B1G conference that is really down at the top.  Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Iowa will all be rebuilding in 2011.  Only Michigan State looks like it will be better than it is traditionally.  If Michigan State is the best team  in the conference on paper, that says two things, 1.) The Big Ten is really down, and 2.) Nebraska has a real shot to be in the mix for a title in year one.  The Huskers get the Spartans at home, so the schedule sets up beautifully for Big Red. The Huskers most difficult games are @ Camp Randall in Madison against a Wisconsin team that will be breaking in a new quarterback and lost a lot of key personnel on the defensive side of the ball, and in Happy Valley against a Penn State team that doesn't know who it's quarterback is going to be. 

If Taylor Martinez can stay healthy, I see Nebraska winning 10-12 games, but that is a big "if".  At the end of the day I see Nebraska struggling to get over the hump and falling just shy of a Legends division title with 10 wins.