The Nebraska Cornhuskers played sloppy in the first half, and they arguably had several calls go against them in their final home game on Saturday afternoon against the Michigan State Spartans -- but in the end, they walked off the field with a 9-6 victory. They all aren't pretty, but all people remember are the wins and losses!

Points at a premium

The stats are far from impressive, that is if you are a fan of 42-40 games. If you are a fan of defensive battles and hard-hitting action, then Saturday’s home game finally was perfect for you. Both defenses dominated the game, but somehow, someway Adrian Martinez and the Huskers' offense did just enough to get the job done.

The Detroit News reports that the Huskers offense was in neutral most of the game, one of the key plays that turned the game around is when senior Antonio Reed sacked Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi causing a fumble which led to the Huskers tying up the game 6-6.

After holding the Spartans to a three-and-out on the following possession, the Huskers got the ball back and drove into Michigan State territory. The offense once again stalled but it was the offensive hero of the day, Nebraska place-kicker Barret Pickering to the rescue.

Pickering connected from 47-yards out giving the Cornhuskers a 9-6 lead at the time. That kick would be the difference in the game as Nebraska held on for the win.

Fittingly, it was senior running back Devine Ozigbo who officially put the game on ice with his 8-yard run with 1:55 left in the game, leaving the Spartans with no choice but to watch the seconds tick away.

Bowl possibilities

30 years ago, teams didn’t make it to a bowl game if they had a sub-500 record. That has long changed.

Over the past decade or so many teams, including the Cornhuskers, have made a bowl appearance with a 5-7 record. Why not this one?

If the Huskers defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes next Saturday, they will have finished their final six games with a 5-1 record. The only loss during that span was to Top 10 ranked Ohio State - by just five points.

If any 5-7 teams make it to a bowl game, which they will, the Huskers deserve that chance if they are victorious next Saturday.

If anything, it would give the Huskers some much-deserved publicity and show the college football world what they can expect from Big Red in 2019!

The way the Huskers are playing right now, Nebraska fans have to like their chances next week in Kinnick Stadium.
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