Wagering Web site Covers.com has weighed in on its prediction for Nebraska this season, offering that the Cornhuskers will finish the regular season with a 9-3 record.

Covers.com predicts the Huskers will be 7-1 heading into the Oklahoma game on Nov. 7 with he loss will come at Virginia Tech. However, the Web site says the Nebraska "isn't quite ready to upset the Sooners, who have as much talent as anyone in the country," and also forecasts a loss the following week at Kansas.

So, will 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 Conference be good enough to win the North Division? "It could be because Kansas has to play both Oklahoma and Texas and at Texas Tech," Covers.com writes. "Kansas could easily lose three games in the conference.

"Nebraska's odds to win the Big 12 North are +175 and that's a solid bet."

I agree with the Covers.com prediction for the most part, but as I wrote in a column back in May, saying Nebraska will be 9-3 requires the Huskers to go 3-1 in what I consider "swing games" at Missouri, at home against Texas Tech, at Baylor and at Kansas. That could be a tall order, especially with a first-year quarterback in Zac Lee. I'll stick with 8-4.

What's your prediction?

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Nebraska will open the season ranked No. 22 in the USA Today coaches' poll.

The poll, which was released Friday morning, has defending national champion Florida No. 1 with 1,466 points and 53 first-place votes. Texas, Oklahoma, Southern California and Alabama round out the top five.

The Cornhuskers, who finished last season unranked in the coaches' poll, earned 236 points. Nebraska was 9-4 in 2008, winning six of its last seven games and capped the season with a 26-21 victory over Clemson on Jan. 1 in the Gator Bowl.

In his poll analysis of the Huskers, USA Today's Jack Carey wrote: "After a bounce-back season that included a win in the Gator Bowl, the Cornhuskers need to settle on a QB, likely from among junior Zac Lee, redshirt freshman Kody Spano and true freshman Cody Green. TE Mike McNeill, OL Jacob Hickman and RB Roy Helu Jr. return to the offense. Defense brings back standout DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Pierre Allen. K Alex Henery also is back.

Nebraska opens its season Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Virginia Tech, which hosts the Cornhuskers on Sept. 19, is ranked No. 7.

The other Big 12 Conference school ranked was No. 11 Oklahoma State. Kansas (138 points) was at the top of the list of other teams receiving votes and was joined in that category by Texas Tech (114 points), Missouri (44 points) and Colorado (two points).

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In its daily countdown of the top 100 preseason college football teams, The Sporting News Today has tabbed Nebraska at No. 29.

"It appears Nebraska still doesn't have the horses to battle at the Big 12's highest level. Nobody in the North does," writes Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star and Sporting News Yearbooks. "But this team wound up tied for first in the division last season, losing out on the title-game appearance with the Missouri loss.

"Enough is here for the Huskers to contend for at least that position this season, and defense is where this team will hang its hat."

Also on the Web, CollegeFootballNews.com has the Cornhuskers ranked No. 38 in its preseason rankings. That just one slot ahead of No. 39 Colorado.

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In case you were wondering how the money men in Las Vegas are viewing Nebraska’s prospects this season, VegasInsider.com has set the over-under for wins by the Cornhuskers during the regular season at eight.

The odds on Nebraska to exceed or go “over” eight wins is -120, meaning that a winning $12 wager would be worth $10. The odds for the Huskers finishing under eight wins in the regular season is even money.

Looking ahead to 2010, the Web site has set Nebraska’s odds of making a BCS bowl at +7,500.

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