Nic Grigsby looks to be playing for Arizona in tonight’s Holiday Bowl despite his shoulder injury, but money has poured in on Nebraska.  At one point this game was at a pick.  Now the Huskers are as high as a 3-point pick. 

Something to consider whether looking to bet either side or total in the Holiday Bowl tonight is the massive success that Bo Pelini has had when his defense is in a bowl game.   After a decade in the NFL, Pelini entered college football as the defensive coordinator of Nebraska in 2003.  That season, Pelini’s Cornhuskers held Michigan State to 3 points.

In 2004 as Oklahoma’s co-coordinator, Pelini’s Sooners were destroyed by the scintillating USC Trojans 55-19.

From 2005-2007 Pelini-coordinated LSU defenses held their bowl opponents to 3, 14, and 24 points.  The 24 points were in LSU’s 38-24 championship win over Ohio State in which LSU had a 31-10 lead after the first drive of the second half and the Buckeyes earned some garbage time yards and points.

In 2008, Nebraska’s defense held Clemson’s high-powered offense to 210 yards in a 26-21 win over the Tigers.

Take away the explosion of points by a historically good USC team and Pelini defenses are very, very good in bowl games. 

Additionally, Nebraska’s defense has excelled in their biggest games this year.   Oklahoma and Nebraska combined for a single offensive TD against the Huskers.   At a Virginia Tech team that proved to have a decent offense, Nebraska held the Hokies to 190 yards and 9 first downs in the first 58 minutes of that game before a freakish long pass by Virginia Tech won the game. 

The Huskers figure to have a sound game plan and be ready to play tonight.   But you can’t always say the same about their offense.