Three weeks ago a corn win in this game was a given regardless of what else happened. Hawk had completely lost this team (as well as his mind but that's another issue) that even in the best of his days couldn't figure out how to win on the road. Since he has been gone the players are essentially the same give or take an injury or a recovery but the character of the team is completely different. Will that translate on the road? Nobody can say right now but this is a changed team.
If you are counting on a relatively mistake free game from the corn to win then you are in trouble. If Green starts you have to know that he is a bunch of turnovers waiting to happen. On the other hand if Martinez starts, he won't be close to healthy meaning that he will either be pitching the ball or throwing it a lot (off a bad ankle) which are both risky for him at this point. His real strength is his ability to challenge defenses with his running opening up lanes for the rest of the offense. If he can't effectively run then much of his effectiveness is lost.
The script for a nebraska win is a simple one, get out early with a solid lead and put the game on Helu. Avoid penalties and negative yardage plays that put them in must pass situations. If nebraska is forced to pass the ball or to play from behind then the CU dbs and the revitalized pass rush will force game changing plays.
Considering how Speedy has done the past few weeks running the ball and the fact that the CU line is playing much better now than anytime last year when they did well against a nebraska D-line that included the #1 pick in the draft I would say that nebraska definitely wants CU throwing the ball.
