Michigan State at Nebraska Preview & Prediction (CollegeFootballNews.com)

[Alum-Ni]

Link: https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/michigan-state-vs-nebraska-prediction-preview-2025

Michigan State at Nebraska Football Preview and Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com

Nebraska and Michigan State aren't Ohio State. They aren't Oregon or Penn State, either. So where do they stand in the Big Ten pecking order below the league's elite?

There's still room for one of them to make a run and be a factor, but with each at 0-1 in the Big Ten, this is a must-win moment to avoid being cemented in also-ran status.

Nebraska gave Michigan a fight, beat Cincinnati, and it has a manageable slate after this. Going to Maryland and Minnesota isn't easy, but if the Huskers are good, they can win those, and then they get Northwestern.

Michigan State hasn't been great so far, but win this, get by UCLA next, and all of a sudden, it'll be a factor on the way to Indiana.

Michigan State at Nebraska
Saturday, October 4 - 3:30 PM (ET) - FS1

Why Michigan State Will Win
The run defense has to hold up.

This isn't the Nebraska of old. It wants to run and likes to pound away, but it's not great at it. There weren't any problems against Houston Christian or Akron, but Cincinnati and Michigan didn't allow much of anything.

The Spartans had a hard time with the USC ground attack that ripped off 40 carries, but it was still a bit of a game late after the defense came up with a few decent stops.

Get explosive, find a groove right away for quarterback Aidan Chiles -- the Spartans have the pop at receiver -- and play the field position game with the amazing punting team. However .......

Why Nebraska Will Win
.......Nebraska holds on to the ball forever.

It's not a ball-control attack, and it's certainly not deliberate, but the offense is great at moving the chains with quarterback Dylan Raiola looking more and more comfortable, and the defense is among the best in the nation on third downs.

USC was able to pick the Spartans clean. Jayden Maiava completed 77% of his throws, Boston College's Dylan Lonergan was all but unstoppable, connecting on 76% of his passes.

Raiola has been consistently sharp. He's hitting 76% of his throws, reading everything right, and .....

The Quarterbacks Will Put on a Show
.....Chiles will be great, Raiola will be fantastic, and there will be one difference. Chiles will be terrific trying to come back.

Neither team has a pass rusher, and neither one can keep the quarterbacks from getting popped, but Raiola will be better early on.

The Huskers will get a decent lead, Michigan State will make a charge, and the home side will hang on by keeping the ball for long late stretches.

Prediction
Nebraska 34, Michigan State 23

Spread
Nebraska is favored at home by 11.5 points

 

[Alum-Ni]

Other Big Ten picks for Week #6 from CFN

ILLINOIS (-9.5) at PURDUE
Purdue ran on Southern Illinois, but that's been about it. The ground hasn't worked in any of the three games against FBS teams, and it won't get going against the Illini. Illinois hasn't been great on the ground - it's been too good when Altmyer is rolling - but it'll rumble for well over four yards per carry to balance this out in a good fight of a win. It might not be like last year's crazy 50-49 Illinois win, but it'll be fun. Illinois 34, Purdue 24

LOUISIANA-MONROE at NORTHWESTERN (-10.5)
It's a small sample size, but for the most part, teams have thrown on ULM and haven't bothered to keep grinding with the run. Alabama rumbled for well over 200 yards, but that's Alabama. It's the only team to run more than 30 times, though. The Wildcats won't get crazy. They'll run at least 35 times, more like 40, and grind it out in a low-scoring win - because they don't do offensive firefights at Northwestern Medicine - without too many mistakes. Northwestern 27, Louisiana-Monroe 13

MINNESOTA at OHIO STATE (-23.5)
The last time Ohio State went five straight games without allowing double-digit points was.......In the 2007 season, it went four straight games in the midseason allowing seven points or fewer. It did the same in 2006. The 1979 Buckeyes went six straight games without giving up double-digit points -- they went on to lose a historic Rose Bowl, and the national title, to USC. Minnesota will get to double-digit points. But barely. Ohio State 34, Minnesota 10

PENN STATE (-25.5) at UCLA
It'll be a dominant performance defensively against a UCLA attack that really can't move. The Bruins haven't been hit hard by anyone's passing game, mainly because they haven't faced one. Penn State will run early, get a lead, and then let Allar let it rip. He's too experienced to have any major confidence issues, but after struggling last week, a few downfield throws will cleanse the palate. Penn State 38, UCLA 10

WASHINGTON (-6.5) at MARYLAND
What happened on the long road games last year for the Huskies? They weren't nearly as good as they are this season, but they lost at Rutgers, got whacked by Cockeye and Indiana, and got rolled by Penn State. Maryland is playing well, and they've had two weeks off to rest up. The Huskies will need a little while to get going, but in a defensive battle, they'll take over the last ten minutes to pull it out. Washington 28, Maryland 24

WISCONSIN at MICHIGAN (-16.5)
The Badgers have a pass rush, too. For all of the team's problems, it's good at getting into the backfield with enough toughness to bother Underwood and keep him from getting comfortable. That will last for a little while. The Badgers will keep it close in the first half with a lot of bending without a ton of breaking, but the Wolverine defense will clamp down in the second half with a suffocating pass rush. A few Wisconsin turnovers will turn a tight fight into a rout. Michigan 30, Wisconsin 13

BYE WEEK
Indiana
Cockeye
Oregon
Rutgers
USC