FB: Nebraska at Minnesota Prediction and Preview (CollegeFootballNews.com)

[Alum-Ni]

https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/nebraska-vs-minnesota-prediction-game-preview

Nebraska vs. Minnesota Prediction, Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (0-0, 0-0) at Minnesota (0-0, 0-0)
Thursday, August 31 - 8:00 PM (ET) - FOX
Why Nebraska Will Win
How much better will the Huskers be right away under Matt Rhule?

The offense will be more productive and versatile, but the improvements in the ground game should be the biggest difference. Georgia Tech transfer QB Jeff Sims is a dangerous all-around playmaker, and the receiving corps is better, but any quick improvements overall will come with more production on the defensive side.

The secondary will be strong from the start, but the front six will need the new transfers to rise up and rock right away. Minnesota will pound, but keep the ground attack to under 200 yards -- the Huskers did that last year -- and this will stay close.

Minnesota doesn't have Mohamed Ibrahim around -- he ran for 128 yards and two scores in last year's 20-13 Gopher win -- and it should take a game or two before the line jells without star center and New York Giant John Michael Schmitz. However.....

Why Minnesota Will Win
.....Nebraska has a ton of work to do -- this isn't going to be fixed overnight.

The help for the Husker defensive line needs to be great fast, the offensive line should need a few weeks to be up to speed -- but both lines will be better than last year's versions -- and Minnesota has the lines to be better and more consistent in the early going.

The receivers are there with Chris Autman-Bell back from a leg injury, Western Michigan transfer RB Sean Tyler should be a statistical star, and the defense that finished eighth in the nation in total D and fourth in scoring D a season ago will be even better if the pass rush can do a bit more.

Who Will Win
Minnesota will grind its way to a win, but Nebraska fans will get a glimpse of what's coming.

The Husker offense will work on the first few drives, but the Gopher defense will settle in, the ground attack will take over the tempo, and the team that was third in the nation in time of possession will own the clock in the second half for -- sorry, Nebraska fans; I know you're used to this, and it'll all get better soon -- a close win.

Prediction
Minnesota 24, Nebraska 16

Spread
Minnesota is favored at home by 7 points; the O/U is at 46.5

 

[Jim14510]

https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/nebraska-vs-minnesota-prediction-game-preview

Nebraska vs. Minnesota Prediction, Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (0-0, 0-0) at Minnesota (0-0, 0-0)
Thursday, August 31 - 8:00 PM (ET) - FOX
Why Nebraska Will Win
How much better will the Huskers be right away under Matt Rhule?

The offense will be more productive and versatile, but the improvements in the ground game should be the biggest difference. Georgia Tech transfer QB Jeff Sims is a dangerous all-around playmaker, and the receiving corps is better, but any quick improvements overall will come with more production on the defensive side.

The secondary will be strong from the start, but the front six will need the new transfers to rise up and rock right away. Minnesota will pound, but keep the ground attack to under 200 yards -- the Huskers did that last year -- and this will stay close.

Minnesota doesn't have Mohamed Ibrahim around -- he ran for 128 yards and two scores in last year's 20-13 Gopher win -- and it should take a game or two before the line jells without star center and New York Giant John Michael Schmitz. However.....

Why Minnesota Will Win
.....Nebraska has a ton of work to do -- this isn't going to be fixed overnight.

The help for the Husker defensive line needs to be great fast, the offensive line should need a few weeks to be up to speed -- but both lines will be better than last year's versions -- and Minnesota has the lines to be better and more consistent in the early going.

The receivers are there with Chris Autman-Bell back from a leg injury, Western Michigan transfer RB Sean Tyler should be a statistical star, and the defense that finished eighth in the nation in total D and fourth in scoring D a season ago will be even better if the pass rush can do a bit more.

Who Will Win
Minnesota will grind its way to a win, but Nebraska fans will get a glimpse of what's coming.

The Husker offense will work on the first few drives, but the Gopher defense will settle in, the ground attack will take over the tempo, and the team that was third in the nation in time of possession will own the clock in the second half for -- sorry, Nebraska fans; I know you're used to this, and it'll all get better soon -- a close win.

Prediction
Minnesota 24, Nebraska 16

Spread
Minnesota is favored at home by 7 points; the O/U is at 46.5

Pete accidentally posted the scores backwards.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Other Big Ten picks from CFN

Central Michigan at Michigan State
Both teams were mega-disappointments, both are undergoing major talent overhauls, and both will come up with a chip on the shoulder to prove that 2022 was a bit of a fluke. Central Michigan might have been 4-8, but for all of its issues it was in most games. If it could’ve just stopped with the turnover margin problems it probably would’ve had a winning season. This isn’t going to be a breeze for Michigan State, but it’ll start to find a good offensive balance to push ahead and stay there even with a few scoring pushes from the MAC side. However, watch out for the Spartans to make a burst late to make the final score look worse than the game will be. Michigan State 37, Central Michigan 17

East Carolina at Michigan
As always, throw in the caveat that this isn’t last year, teams are always different, and good parts and bad from the previous season don’t necessarily carry over, but Michigan was ultra-stingy when it came to turnovers and penalties, too. East Carolina won’t get the easy breaks it’ll need, and it won’t have any answers for the Wolverine ground game. It’ll have a few moments offensively to make Michigan fans concerned just a wee bit in the first half, but there won’t be any drama in the fourth quarter. Michigan 47, East Carolina 13

Utah State at Cockeye
Cockeye won't start looking like Tennessee offensively, but the production from Cade McNamara and the passing game -- the Cockeyes were 112th in the nation at throwing the ball in 2022 -- will get everyone fired up. It'll be effective, the Big Ten's worst offense in third down conversions will be solid, and the defense will take care of the rest. Utah State is a restaurant quality bowl team -- the defense won't let the game get out of hand -- but after watching the offense sputter and cough so much over the last few years, this will feel like Christmas for Cockeye fans. Cockeye 34, Utah State 10

Fresno State at Purdoodoo
The pressure is on Walters to come out hot. He’s got a nice new quarterback in Hudson Card from Texas, enough experience up front to pave the way for a strong day from a ground attack that should be a wee bit better than Fresno State’s. Even without Haener this is still a Mountain West championship-caliber Bulldog team, but the Boilermaker defense will rise up when it has to in a fun, tough 60-minute game that won’t be quite as high-flying as everyone would like. Purdoodoo 30, Fresno State 24

Ohio State at Indiana
28 in a row since a tie in 1990. 29-1-1 since 1988. 60-2-2 since 1951. The Ohio State college football program has been pretty good against Indiana over the years. With that said, if you’re going to hang with Ohio State and all of this talent, the opening week is the best time to do it. Notre Dame played small ball last year, but at least it kept the game in range in the 21-10 loss. Minnesota had the Buckeyes in a wee bit of trouble in the 2021 opener until RB Mohamed Ibrahim was injured in the 45-31 defeat. Florida Atlantic was at least respectable in a 45-21 loss in 2019, Indiana fought the good fight in a 49-21 loss in 2017, Virginia Tech in 2015, Navy in 2014, Buffalo in 2013 all did just enough to not be totally annihilated. And Ohio State hung 77 on Bowling Green in 2016 and 77 more on Oregon State in 2018. The 1999 Kickoff Classic against Miami was the last time Ohio State - it went 6-6, by the way - didn’t win a season opener. Okay, enough stalling. Indiana will be plucky throughout the first half at home, a few scoring drives will get social media buzzing, and then the Ohio State offense will go on a run with three breathtaking big plays and that will be that. Ohio State 52, Indiana 17

Buffalo at Wisconsin
It’ll be an efficient and effective performance by the Badgers as #2ndChoice’s team shows off the new look early on before going to the old ground-and-pound in the second half to put the game away. Buffalo is good, but the O will have this well in hand by halftime with the defense taking over in the second half. Wisconsin 41, Buffalo 10

Towson at Maryland
Bad things happen when Maryland plays FCS teams. There have only been six games against the lower level since a 7-6 struggle to open the 2012 season, but the Terps have scored 50 or more in each of them, took out Towson 63-17 in 2017, and beat Howard in two meetings by a combined score of 141-0. Maryland will do whatever it wants as it treats this as a true preseason game. Maryland 55, Towson 6

West Virginia at Penn State
There won’t be any drama in the big debut for one of the hot teams coming into the season. West Virginia won’t roll over. It’s good enough offensively to keep up for a while, and the ground game really will have its moments, but the Penn State defense will be fantastic, and the explosion will come in an emphatic home statement to take the hype up a few notches. Penn State 41, West Virginia 20

Toledo at Illinois
Get ready to sweat this one out, Illinois fans. Just when it seems like the game is in hand, Toledo will go on a good scoring drive to hang around … hang around … hang around … and then it’ll be tight late. The Illinois offense won’t be sharp, but the overall style of the team will take over as the time of possession battle will matter in the fourth quarter. The offense will be on the field enough to let the defense rest, and then close it out. Illinois 27, Toledo 16

Northwestern at Rutgers
It’s Big Ten football. It’s the New York and Chicago markets. It’s two smart schools cranking it up early on a Sunday morning. Both teams should be just equal - to be nice - enough to make this … interesting? Be shocked if there are any sort of fireworks, and be pleasantly surprised if there’s anything aesthetically pleasing to be surprised about. The Northwestern attitude and attempt to be more physical up front on both sides of the ball will keep the team in the game, and the midrange passing attack that wasn’t there all of 2022 will show up. However, the Rutgers defense will take over with a whole slew of important third down stops to keep the momentum on the home team’s side in an entertaining and tense fourth quarter. Rutgers 23, Northwestern 17

 

[Poor_and_Stupid]

“Receiving corps is better”

What a fucking mongoloid.

 

[Mavsker]

Really bold predictions here.
Minnesota favored by 7.5, has them winning by 8.
Penn St favored by 20.5, has them winning by 21
Rutgers favored by 6.5, has them winning by 6.
Etc
In fairness he did go out on a limb on Cockeye. They're favored by 25 but he has them winning by just 24.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

“Receiving corps is better”

What a fucking mongoloid.

Mongoloid - not a word I hear as often as Brian "Mongo" Mongo.

Since I was the youngest in my family, my mom always said no more kiddos after me. "I was afraid my next would be a mongoloid" - BS67's mom.

Now to be fair, I can borderline act as one on occasion, but literally every time I hear that word I think back to what my mom said. 🤣