Rutgers at Nebraska Prediction and Preview (CollegeFootballNews.com)

[Alum-Ni]

https://collegefootballnews.com/col...rs-prediction-game-preview-betting-lines-2024

Rutgers at Nebraska Prediction, Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com

Nebraska was an overtime loss against Illinois away from being 5-0, and after the layup against Purdue, it's time to pull off a really big win......or else.

You'll have to forgive Husker fans for being a tad concerned -- they've been hurt before. After this is a trip to Indiana and a date at Ohio State. That, and with dates against USC and Cockeye on the road looming, and in need of two more wins to go bowling .......

They'll be fine. UCLA and Wisconsin are more than winnable home games, but beating the Scarlet Knights would allow everyone to exhale.

With wins over Virginia Tech and Washington, Rutgers is doing what it's supposed to under Greg Schiano and be on the right side of close games.

Three of the next four games are at home, so win this, and with Wisconsin and UCLA to follow, there's a shot at starting 7-0 before going to USC.

Rutgers (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (4-1, 1-1)
Saturday, October 5 - 3:00 PM (ET) - FS1

Why Rutgers Will Win
Embrace the grind.

Rutgers might not be pretty, and it doesn't do anything easy, but it continues to do just about everything right.

It's among the best teams in the nation in fewest penalties, the running game continues to pound away, and the offense has turned it over just twice so far. All of that, and the Scarlet Knights are No. 1 in the Big Ten and eighth in the nation in time of possession.

Nebraska's defense might not be statistically strong against the run, but it hasn't faced anyone who pounds away. However ........

Why Nebraska Will Win
.....the Huskers have to get that push rush rolling to stop Rutgers on third downs.

The defense is great at getting into the backfield with a pass rush that should stall the pedestrian Scarlet Knight passing attack. Dylan Raiola and the midrange Husker passing attack have to take over.

Nebraska is used to controlling the clock and tempo. It might be able to take Rutgers' big advantage off the table.

Who Will Win
Rutgers is about to pound and pound and pound.

Nebraska lost the one game against a team that could sort of run -- the Husker run D gave up a season-high 166 yards in the loss to Illinois -- and Rutgers is averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

The game will always seem within Nebraska's reach, and it won't be able to get there in a maddening loss.

Prediction
Rutgers 23, Nebraska 20

Spread
Nebraska is favored at home by 7 points. The O/U is set at 41.5 points

 

[Alum-Ni]

Other Big Ten picks for this week

INDIANA (-13.5) at NORTHWESTERN
Yeah, Northwestern's offense simply doesn't do enough to move the chains. Indiana won't get into a groove -- Northwestern has a weird way of keeping teams from settling in and doing what their game plan wants -- but the weather should be perfect in the most beautiful setting in college football. The Hoosiers will score early, and Northwestern won't be able to make up the stagger. Indiana 27, Northwestern 13

Cockeye at OHIO STATE (-20.5)
Cockeye will make the Columbus faithful a wee bit nervous for a while. It'll always seem like the big play for the Buckeyes is coming, but it won't happen enough to let anyone settle in. Ohio State will eventually break through -- the defense will take care of that Cockeye offense -- but it'll be a bit of a grind until late in the third quarter. Ohio State 31, Cockeye 13

MICHIGAN at WASHINGTON (-2.5)
Can Washington come through with a decent win? Beating Northwestern was okay, and the defense has been great so far, but moving the chains have been surprisingly tough considering how good Rogers has been. Michigan is going on the road for the first time all season. This will be when the lack of a passing game becomes exposed. The line and running game will take over for a while, but Washington's defense will pitch a gem in a low-scoring battle. Washington 21, Michigan 20

MICHIGAN STATE at OREGON (-24)
Boise State is good. Outside of superstar RB Ashton Jeanty, it doesn't have Michigan State's talent. Oregon State is okay, and UCLA is awful. In other words, Oregon might get tested. The Spartans will be in this for a while, but the mistakes will catch up to them. Going from playing in Boston, to dealing with Ohio State, to playing in Eugene in the span of 15 days will be too much. Oregon 35, Michigan State 17

PURDUE at WISCONSIN (-14)
The Badgers will go back to running over 40 times, just like they did over the first three games. But unlike the loss to Alabama -- and tough fights with South Dakota and Western Michigan -- things will pop wide open with the ground attack relatively early. Wisconsin 31, Purdue 16

UCLA at PENN STATE (-28)
Penn State might take a deep shot or two just to air it out a bit, but it won't take any crazy chances in this. Expect the score to stay relatively low for a while as the Nittany Lions keep things conservative, and then everything will open up. Don't expect a whole lot of stress after halftime. Penn State 37, UCLA 10

USC (-8.5) at MINNESOTA
Yeah, that Minnesota top-ranked pass defense thing is about to go bye-bye. Michigan can't throw, Cockeye doesn't/can't throw, and North Carolina didn't really do much after QB Max Johnson got hurt. Miller Moss and the USC passing game will be sharp from the start. Minnesota's lack of running game and balance will be costly in the second half. USC 30, Minnesota 21

 

[Cornicator]

If Nebraska and Rutgers is a 3 point game, then Rutgers will absolutely win the game.

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

If Nebraska and Buttgers is a 3 point game, then Buttgers will absolutely win the game.

It must be two tds two 2 pt conversations and two safeties.

 

[Jim14510]

It must be two tds two 2 pt conversations and two safeties.

Or just 3 tds and a missed extra point.

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

Or just 3 tds and a missed extra point.

That would require that they make 2 extra points.😬