FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (81,067) -- Lincoln, Nebraska. Television: FSN. Home Record: SJSU 1-0, Nebraska 1-0. Away Record: SJSU 0-0, Nebraska 0-0. Neutral Record: SJSU 0-0, Nebraska 0-0. Conference Record: SJSU 0-0, Nebraska 0-0. Series Record: Nebraska leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: The Nebraska Cornhuskers continue their honeymoon start with new head coach Bo Pelini this weekend, as the squad welcomes the San Jose State Spartans to Memorial Stadium for a non-conference event.

Last weekend, the Huskers began the Pelini era in Lincoln with a convincing 47-24 win over Western Michigan. The win marked the 23rd straight season- opening victory for the Huskers, who also extended their consecutive sellout streak at Memorial Stadium to an NCAA record 290 games. The game was the first of five straight at home to begin the 2008 campaign for Nebraska, which doesn't hit the road until October 11th when it challenges the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a Big 12 Conference tilt in Lubbock.

As for the Spartans, who are again directed by head coach Dick Tomey, they nearly got off on the wrong foot on Saturday when they barely slipped by UC Davis by a score of 13-10. Unlike the Huskers, SJSU plays three of its first five games away from home to begin the season, with trips to Stanford and Hawaii later this month.

Nebraska won the only previous meeting between these two programs with a 49-13 decision back in 2000.

The San Jose State offense was nowhere to be found in the first half against the Aggies this past weekend. The squad didn't even get on the scoreboard until there was just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, thanks to a three-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Reed to Terrance Williams. That effort was the culmination of a 12-play drive that covered just 43 yards. With eight seconds remaining in the fourth the Spartans squeezed out the victory when Reed connected with Kevin Jurovich from 17 yards out. Reed finished the event 14-of-18 for 132 yards as the third quarterback to see action for the Spartans. Also standing under center for the squad were Myles Eden (10-of-13 for 86 yards, INT) and Jordan La Secla (2-of-3 for 13 yards, INT).

Although returning running back Yonus Davis was supposed to shoulder much of the load coming out of the backfield this season for San Jose, his 26 yards on seven carries was second to the 28 yards on seven attempts by Reed. Jurovich proved his value down the field with his 11 catches for 99 yards and the winning score under pressure. Coach Tomey has already given the starting nod against the Huskers to Reed, whom he said had a storybook start to his college career. However, Tomey also notes that he's going to shuffle Eden and La Secla in when needed to change up the offense.

Just as the San Jose State offense ceased to show up in the first half the defense had its own share of issues in the first quarter, allowing all 10 point by UC Davis within the first 15 minutes of action. But as flat as the unit appeared in the opening frame, it picked up the effort in the final 45 minutes and played tough when it counted the most. Perhaps a tell-tale sign that the Spartans are willing to try almost anything to put themselves in a position to win is the fact that coach Tomey had a pair of freshmen working on the defensive line in the contest. Down in the trenches SJSU dug in deep and gave up a mere 61 yards on 30 attempts, yet that average of just over two yards per carry was still better than the 1.8 yards per attempt for the Spartans themselves.

For a team that recorded only 18 sacks a year ago, San Jose State began rather light in that department with just a single quarterback takedown, registered by Carl Ihenacho who also put himself in the running for WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors with a pair of forced fumbles and a team-best nine tackles overall.

Historically a run-dominated offense, the Huskers continue to move in the opposite direction in the first game of Bo Pelini's tenure as the squad rolled up a 23-point win over the Broncos at home. Signal-caller Joe Ganz, now a senior, hit on 20-of-36 for 345 yards and four touchdowns in the onslaught. With the effort Ganz logged his fourth straight 300-yard passing game in his fourth consecutive career start. Surprisingly enough, for such a venerable program, Ganz is the first quarterback in school history to have at least four 300-yard passing games in his career.

The primary target for Ganz proved to be Nate Swift who reeled in five passes for 121 yards and two scores. In 2007, Ganz was one of the biggest stories late in the Big 12 season as he stepped up and threw a total of 15 touchdowns in the last three games for the squad, including an incredible seven TDs and 510 yards, without a single interception, versus Kansas State in a 73-31 pasting of the Wildcats. Add to that 152 yards and three touchdowns on 20 rushing attempts a season ago and Ganz has already proven himself a valuable asset that needs to be spied on every snap.

Ahead by as many as 27 points in the third quarter, the Huskers did themselves a favor and forced Western Michigan to pass the ball a bit more. In fact, nearly two out of every three snaps for the Broncos ended up going through the air one way or another. In addition to the victory for the Huskers, they also have the luxury of knowing that they've started off the new season on the right foot in terms of giving up yards on the ground, permitting the Broncos a mere eight net yards on 25 attempts. Collecting four sacks for a loss of 28 yards certainly worked in the team's favor. Terrence Moore had just three stops in the contest, but two came up sacks, while Cody Glenn rolled up a team-best 12 tackles, of which 2.5 came behind the line of scrimmage and was joined by a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

Last season, the Huskers allowed at least 28 points in all but three games, surrendering a ridiculous 76 points to Kansas in early November. As a result of those soft efforts Nebraska now has to love down the fact that it permitted an unsightly 37.9 ppg, worst in the Big 12 Conference and 114th among all 119 teams in the FBS. The run defense a season ago was especially ugly, again last in the conference and this time 116th in the nation with a whopping 232.2 ypg allowed.

Unless the Spartans figure out a way to get more pressure on Ganz in the pocket, the visitors are going to be in for a long game, no matter how well the SJSU secondary may perform.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Nebraska 35, San Jose State 20

Saturday, September 6th, 12:30 p.m. (et).