Huskers, Trojans in Holiday Bowl battle

Someone get Dr. Phil on the line, or at the very least, invoke the spirit of Sigmund Freud to psychoanalyze how Nebraska’s football team will overcome losing fired head coach Bo Pelini to battle USC in Saturday’s National University Holiday Bowl.

Will it be “Win one for Bo,” or cave in a “championship-caliber” game like all of Bo’s teams before it, one of the reasons given by Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst for sending Pelini packing?

To get an idea of what Nebraska’s mindset might be, we go to USC’s sharp-shooting quarterback Cody Kessler, whose USC team had the same situation last year going to a bowl game after popular coach Ed Orgeron was replaced by Clay Helton. That was an interim for an interim, but that didn’t stop USC from beating Fresno State 45-20 in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl, a game they dedicated to Orgeron.

“We were in the same exact spot last year,” Kessler said. “If they’re the same as us they’re going to want to finish the season off, not only for their seniors but their coaches and make it a very special ending. It’s going to be tough. We have to match their enthusiasm.”

Enthusiasm aside, No. 25 Nebraska (9-3) and No. 24 USC (8-4) appear evenly matched even though USC is a 7-point favorite, up from an opening 6-point favorite with an over-under of 62 points. One computer software spit out USC 39, Nebraska 38 game.

With Pelini gone and settling in at Youngstown State, his remaining staff led by Barney Cotton, defensive coordinator John Papuchis and offensive coordinator Tim Beck believe their Huskers are ready to play well against the Trojans. They’ll have to overcome the nagging injuries to key players like I-back Ameer Abdullah and defensive end Randy Gregory and depletions at linebacker and offensive line.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this bunch of young guys,” Cotton said. “It took a little while for some of the pain to subside, but once we got bowl prep and started practicing, our guys have really prepared well. I’m really proud of our guys and the way they’ve taken this opportunity to play one last time together for this staff.”

Papuchis defensive scheme will be focused on stopping USC’s high-flying passing game led by Cody Kessler, a 70.1 percent passer with plenty of weapons that include leading wide receiver Nelson Agholor. USC is No. 1 in the country in completion percentage, but Nebraska’s defense is No. 1 in pass completion defense, holding rival QBs to a paltry a 47.5 percent completion rate, tied with Wisconsin for best in the country.

Nebraska’s quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., is a 51.7 percent passer and often looks more like Geno Smith than Russell Wilson. Many of the Huskers players and coaches compare USC to Michigan State, who went up on them 27-3 before hanging on to win 27-22 with the Huskers knocking on the door for a dramatic game-winner at the end at East Lansing, Mich.

For an idea of how explosive Nebraska’s freshman punt returner De’Mornay Pierson-El is, look no further than the fourth quarter of the loss to Michigan State when he blew through the Spartans like they were standing still to score on a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown. Pierson-El, who led the nation in punt return yardage with 589 and tied for the national lead with three punt returns for scores, joins Jordan Westerkamp, Kenny Bell and a very good receiving unit if Armstrong can only settle down, stay patient and connect.