It’s safe to say that Nebraska’s opponent this week will throw the ball more than the last team that played the Huskers in Memorial Stadium.

While Nicholls State attempted only three passes two weeks ago, completing none, look for Troy to spray the ball all over.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan compared Troy’s offense to that of Texas Tech, noting the big line splits and three- and four-wide receiver sets and formations.

“It’s good that we’ve been up against that, so you see the different types of mesh routes, switch routes, the vertical game, plays that go to the boundary, to the field,” Callahan said Wednesday. “We see that whole package. And with that, there’s a lot of trickery involved. There’s the bubble screen, and then the double pass off that bubble screen. The trickery off those base plays will be our challenge.”

Troy is averaging 214.7 passing yards per game through three games.

Nebraska, which has had injury and depth problems within its secondary, hasn’t used many nickel and dime formations this season.

“It’s just predicated on the down and distance, how you want to match up and what coverages you want to feature,” Callahan said of using such a defense.

n OCTAVIEN SIDELINED: No. 2 WILL linebacker Steve Octavien missed a second day of practice with what coaches have called a muscle twinge. “He’s still a little gimpy. We’re just going to keep an eye on him and see how he responds.” Callahan said there were no other injuries of note. “We should be OK.”

n RESPECTING THE D: The Huskers, who led the nation in sacks last season, have only three sacks through three games, although much of that has had to do with the opponent. While Nicholls State didn’t throw, USC threw several screens and quick passes to avoid pressure. Callahan said he expects to see more of that from opponents. “I think (teams) respect the front seven,” he said. “I say that because I see a lot of quick passes, the bubble screens, the quick three-step game … not that people won’t drop back and throw the ball against us, but not at the volume and not at the consistency that some teams do.”

n BRADLEY BACK: Callahan said he’s seen a stronger Stewart Bradley this season. Bradley, NU’s staring SAM linebacker, is coming off ACL surgery that sidelined him the second half of last season. He had 10 tackles to lead NU against USC and has 17 in three games, tying him for the team lead. “He’s done a lot better in so many respects,” Callahan said. “He’s shown the ability to play the coverages we’re asking him to, he’s coming off the edge well. He’s a lot stronger this year. That’s probably the main thing I see, is his playing strength has showed up on many occasions, so far.”