PREDICTION TIME

Robin Washut HuskerOnline.com

Huskers will come out fresh with a month rest. They'll find a way to beat a talented SEC team and their 10th win of the season. Rex Burkhead will carry a big load to help NU get the win move into 2012 with some solid momentum. Nebraska 26 South Carolina 21 Oregon 44 Wisconsin 35 Michigan State 28 Georgia 27 Ohio State 21 Florida 17 Houston 31 Penn State 14 Season: 22-14 vs. the spread: 17-19

John Talman HuskerOnline.com

There will be plenty of team speed for Nebraska's offense to deal with. If the Huskers can get a ground game going against South Carolina and get them out of position for a few big plays, the Big Red's chances of victory go up dramatically. Defensively, Nebraska has to shut down the mobile QB game and give Connor Shaw plenty to look at pre-snap and during the play. Nebraska 28 South Carolina 24 Oregon 38 Wisconsin 27 Michigan State 31 Georgia 30 Ohio State 26 Florida 21 Houston 38 Penn State 21 Season: 22-14 vs. the spread: 16-20

Andy Kendeigh KETV Channel 7 Omaha

The best thing about a bowl game is the month layoff so guys like Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead can get back to 100 percent. The bad thing about a bowl game is a month layoff so it may take a while for the Huskers find their offensive rhythm but they will. Nebraska gets a big day from their special teams and score enough to get the job done. Nebraska 20 South Carolina 14 Oregon 55 Wisconsin 38 Georgia 28 Michigan State 21 Ohio State 17 Florida 14 Penn State 20 Houston 17 Season: 18-18 vs. the spread: 18-18

Mike'l Severe 1620 the Zone Radio Omaha

The Huskers will come up short against South Carolina's talented defensive front and lose a heartbreaker. The Gamecocks speed on defense will be too much for Nebraska's offense to match-up with. South Carolina 20 Nebraska 17 Oregon 42 Wisconsin 31 Georgia 24 Michigan State 23 Ohio State 24 Florida 17 Houston 38 Penn State 25 Season: 27-9 vs. the spread: 19-17

ORLANDO, Fla. - Nebraska will go for their 10th win of the season today in Orlando at the Capital One Bowl against South Carolina.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are today's keys to victory over the Gamecocks, along with our staff and guest predictions on this game and the other Jan. 2 bowl games featuring Big Ten teams.

The Huskers enter today's match-up as a 2 ? points underdog against South Carolina.

Establish Burkhead early

If Nebraska wants to win this game one of the biggest things they have to do is get running back Rex Burkhead going early.

South Carolina is going to sell out to slow down NU's running attack and it will be important for the Huskers to find ways to still run the football in these situations.

Burkhead needs to be able to get his consistent 4 to 6 yards per carry in order for Tim Beck's offense to operate properly.

Keep South Carolina off-balanced

The Gamecocks are going to attack NU with great speed and athletic ability on defense. It's the type of speed and athletic ability that has given nearly every Big Ten team fits in bowls the last few seasons.

It will be important for Beck to find ways to keep South Carolina guessing with a mixture of the option and zone read game, along with early play action passes. I expect the Gamecocks to load up eight or even nine men in the box to dare quarterback Taylor Martinez to throw the football down the field on them.

Containment on Connor Shaw

I don't think the Huskers are worried about Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw's throwing ability. It's more Shaw's ability to create and make plays happen with his feet when nothing is open downfield.

Shaw is one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks Steve Spurrier has ever coached. Spurrier said on Sunday that he's now realized that dual-threat QB's are the future in college football and Shaw's ability to run played a big factor in their play down the stretch.

Win special teams

Special teams is the one area where Nebraska has a big advantage over South Carolina. The Huskers boast arguably the best all-around kicking game in the country with Brett Maher and they have a real return threat in Ameer Abdullah.

If Maher can help NU control field position and Abdullah can break a few nice returns it will go a long way in helping the Huskers win this game.

Create opportunities

Nebraska's defense needs to come up with a few big plays in this game. Whether that's an interception or forced fumble, anything like that will help NU's defense get going early.

I also think it's important that Beck comes out aggressive with his play calling. Beck can't wait for things to happen today, he needs to find ways to make them happen.


Callahan's weekly predictions

I really went back and forth on this pick. I think either team can win, but I feel like other than last year Bo Pelini's track record in bowl games speaks for itself. Pelini is 6-2 overall in college bowl games, where South Carolina is 1-4 over their last five. I'll take the Huskers to win a tight one.

Nebraska 23 South Carolina 20
Wisconsin 37 Oregon 31
Georgia 27 Michigan State 23
Ohio State 23 Florida 17
Penn State 34 Houston 27

Season Record: 21-15 overall; 18-18 vs. points