Cockeye at Nebraska Preview and Prediction (CollegeFootballNews.com)

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Cockeye vs. Nebraska Prediction: The Big Ten's Best New Rivalry
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com

It's hard to call Cockeye vs. Nebraska a new rivalry, considering the first meeting was in 1899, but they haven't played as often as you might think.

The two schools are only 300 miles apart -- a driver and pitching wedge in college football matchup distance -- but this is just the 47th meeting, and it's only been a regular thing since the Huskers joined the Big Ten.

And wow, has it been good.

The two teams haven't been playing at the highest of levels, but the last seven meetings since 2018 were each decided by one score. They've all been dramatic.

This time, both teams are bowl eligible, and they're playing just for the fun of it.

Cockeye at Nebraska
Friday, November 28 - 12:00 PM (ET) - CBS

Why Cockeye Will Win
All of a sudden, the Nebraska defense is having problems.

It was hardly anything amazing for most of the season, but it couldn't come up with a stop against the Penn State running game and was eaten up by the UCLA passing attack.

Cockeye isn't going to do anything remotely crazy, but you know how this works.

The attack will run, control the clock, keep everything measured and conservative, and then hope for a big play from punt returner extraordinaire Kaden Wetjen, or a takeaway, or some moment when the other side breaks.

Why Nebraska Will Win
Cockeye continues to do everything possible to keep both teams in the game.

When it's rolling, it doesn't take any chances and doesn't change the plan. When it's not rolling, it doesn't take any chances and doesn't change the plan.

It played with fire against Michigan State last week, didn't throw enough in the close call win over Penn State, or in the loss to Oregon, and if the ground game isn't rolling, there's a problem.

The Huskers have to take the rushing fight to the Cockeyes. Emmett Johnson dominated UCLA, was a bright spot against Penn State, and he's on a run of four straight 100-yard games and five of the last six.

This isn't a team that cares a lot about the time of possession battle, but if Cockeye wants to make this a grinding battle of ground games, let's go.

What Will Happen
This has to be another thriller, right? It's what these two do.

Husker quarterback TJ Lateef doesn't have to be anything special, but as long as he's hitting the midrange throws and keeping the chains moving, this will stay close throughout.

But the Cockeye defense will hold up well in the second half, and the rest of the team's playbook will go step-by-step. That includes another dramatic Hawkeye finish.

Prediction
Cockeye 24, Nebraska 16

Spread
Cockeye is favored on the road by 6 points

 

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Other Big Ten picks

INDIANA (-28.5) at PURDUE
Forgetting the rivalry matchup, the mismatch in styles, production, and fortunes, this is an awful matchup for Purdue. Indiana is way too efficient and effective, and Purdue's biggest problem - conversions and big stops - will be magnified. It'll be a good first ten minutes, and then ... uh oh. Indiana 52, Purdue 10

MARYLAND vs. MICHIGAN STATE (-3.5) (at Detroit)
It'll be an interesting situation. The conditions will be perfect in Ford Field in Detroit - even though the weather in East Lansing has been great for late November, but the students are out of school. Michigan State will finally get the game it needs when something goes right. It'll be bumpy, but the defense will have one of its best games of the second half of the year to break the gloom. Michigan State 27, Maryland 23

NORTHWESTERN at ILLINOIS (-6.5)
The Illinois team that showed up in Madison will stay there. This will be a far different bunch that runs out of the tunnel, partly because the home-field advantage matters in a big way. Outside of a stretch at Duke, the Illini energy really doesn't seem to travel. Northwestern is good, but it can't be given any sort of an opening. Illinois will keep that slammed shut from the start. Illinois 30, Northwestern 20

OHIO STATE (-10) at MICHIGAN
Look, I'm a national college football writer guy. I don't care about your rivalry, or your feelings, or anything other than what it means for a team as good as Ohio State to win a national title, and .... OF COURSE THIS MEANS EVERYTHING. A second straight national championship is obviously more important overall, but that's for next month. Ohio State has to beat Michigan, and it's not going to act or play like it. That's a good thing. This Ohio State team is on a crazy even keel. It doesn't seem to be disrupted or distracted by anything. It knows what it is, it knows what it can do, and it's about win because it'll block and tackle better. There won't be anything spectacular about this. The Buckeyes won't jump out to a 21-0 lead in the first ten minutes - that team in Maize and Blue is pretty good, too - but they'll be methodically solid, the defense will hold up time and again, and after the emotion chills out, Ohio State will win another football game. Ohio State 31, Michigan 13

OREGON (-6.5) at WASHINGTON
In case you were wondering, here's how this shakes out when it comes to the Big Ten Championship. Assuming that Indiana beats Purdue, Ohio State is obviously in with a win over Michigan. However, if Michigan wins, Oregon goes to Indianapolis to defend its Big Ten title. Washington plays at a whole other level at home, It dominated UCLA last week, threw at will on Illinois, and it's been forgotten, but it took Ohio State deep into the fourth quarter and kept it interesting. Washington will be as physical as it needs to be, but it doesn't bring enough defensive pressure to bother Moore. It won't be easy, and it'll be a full fourth quarter fight coming down to a late, clutch drive. It might not be Moore's Heisman moment, but the idea will be brought up. Oregon 26, Washington 20

PENN STATE (-11.5) at RUTGERS
Penn State is 5-0 when the offense comes up with 360 yards or more, and 0-6 when it doesn't. Rutgers allows 426 yards per game, and at home in front of a pro-Penn State crowd, it's about to have problems defensively once the Nittany Lion running machine gets going. Penn State 34, Rutgers 21

UCLA at USC (-21.5)
UCLA has lost three of the last four, but it always brings the effort. That won't be enough. USC will try to keep the scoring going as much as possible with several weeks off to rest up and get ready for what's sure to be a late-December bowl. It might not be the best overall performance, but the Trojans will turn it on late. USC 41, UCLA 17

WISCONSIN at MINNESOTA (-1.5)
The Gophers' best quarter is the second, scoring 105 points so far this year. It won't be anything pretty early on. If you enjoy points, this won't be for you. Both teams will trade punts, and all efforts by Minnesota to come up with a few crisp early drives will go wrong. It'll come down to a quirky play and several late defensive stops, but Minnesota's run defense will hold up enough to keep the Axe. Minnesota 16, Wisconsin 13

 

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Absolutely no upsets on rivalry weekend?

You know that’s not going to happen.