Chattanooga @ Nebraska preview

THE STORY: No. 11 Nebraska will be playing its first season as a member of the recently expanded Big Ten Conference after a 15-year run in the Big 12. The Huskers, who lost their final two games of the 2010 season, are ranked in the preseason top 25 for the third straight year. Chattanooga went 6-5 in 2010 but hasn’t fared well against BCS opponents, losing by an average score of 52-8 over the last three years against four teams.

TV: None. Line: Nebraska -34.5

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (2010: 6-5, 5-3 SoCon): Chattanooga seems to have finally turned a corner, winning 12 games over the last two seasons after going a combined 3-20 in 2007 and 2008. QB B.J. Coleman and WR Joel Bradford return to spark a passing attack that was among the best in the FCS in 2010. The Mocs ranked second in the Southern Conference in passing and were seventh nationally with 277 yards per game.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (2010: 10-4, 6-3 Big 12): The Huskers return Taylor Martinez at QB to lead an offense that averaged 30.9 points per game in 2010. The defense could be the best of fourth-year coach Bo Pelini’s tenure and is led by three All-America candidates, including DT Jared Crick. The Huskers ranked ninth in scoring defense in 2010 despite playing in the pass-happy Big 12.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Cornhuskers have won 25 straight home openers. They haven't lost one since falling to Florida State, 17-13, in 1985.

2. The Huskers only defeated FCS South Dakota State, 17-3, last year despite being favored by more than six touchdowns.

3. Chattanooga has scored 0, 2 and 7 points in three of its last four games against BCS opponents.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 55, Chattanooga 7. The Huskers are far more physical than the undersized Mocs and will turn this one into a laugher by halftime.