Nebraska vs. Illinois Game Preview and Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (2-3, 0-2) at Illinois (2-3, 0-2)
Friday, October 6 - 8:00 PM (ET) - FOX Sports 1
Why Nebraska Will Win
Illinois has been awful.
The offense can't move the chains, the defense can't stop anyone from going on good drives, the penalties are steady, the turnovers are flowing, and the team that was so good and so nasty last year is now dead last in the Big Ten in scoring and total defense.
The offensive line hasn't been able to get the job done. It's not keeping anyone out of the backfield, and that's where the Huskers have to pounce. No, the Big Red D hasn't been special, but there's a decent pass rush, the run defense has been solid, and the ground game leads the Big Ten. But......
Why Illinois Will Win
.....the turnovers and big mistakes might have slowed at Nebraska, but it's still been a struggle to get much of anything going.
The loss to Michigan is an outlier -- that's Michigan. But the Huskers didn't show any passing game against Louisiana Tech, the attack isn't moving the sticks with enough regularity, and there aren't enough takeaways.
No, Nebraska isn't turning the ball over in crazy bunches like it did in the first two games, but the defense only has four takeaways in five games and has yet to force multiple mistakes. The Husker O could use as many breaks as it can get, so as long as Illinois keeps this conservative, works on field position, and doesn't screw up......
Who Will Win
Don't expect anything beautiful.
Nebraska is scrapping. It's not very good, but if not for a colossal meltdown against Minnesota it would and should be 3-2 right now -- 2-3 isn't all that bad with losses to Colorado and Michigan.
Illinois isn't very good, either, and it desperately needs this to kickstart the season.
The Huskers will be a bit better on the ground, it'll control the clock and the offense will be better, and the Illini won't come up with the takeaways needed to help out the sputtering O.
Nebraska is a wee bit better, but........kicking.
Illinois can hit field goals, Nebraska can't.
Prediction
Illinois 23, Nebraska 21
Spread
Illinois is favored at home by 3.5 points. The O/U is set at 43 points.
