Maryland at Nebraska Prediction & Game Preview
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Maryland (5-4) at Nebraska (5-4)
Saturday, November 11 - 12:00 PM (ET) - Peacock
Why Maryland Will Win
Okay, Maryland, enough is enough.
On a four-game losing streak with everything going into the tank, the Terps went from being the interesting team to watch out for to desperately needing one more win just to get bowl eligible. What's the problem?
Turnovers, to start.
They gave it up just three times over the 5-0 stretch to start the season, and over the 0-4 run they've turned it over nine times. Fortunately, the Nebraska defense doesn't do much to force mistakes with multiple takeaways in just two games.
Offensively, Maryland has to let it rip. The running game won't do anything in this, but the passing attack that's still connecting over this losing stretch has to get hot, score early, and force the Huskers to press a bit.
There's no Nebraska passing game to worry about on an offense that hasn't hit 280 yards of total offense in any of the last three games. But .....
Why Nebraska Will Win
....time to eat, defensive front.
This isn't the 1995 Husker D line or anything, but it's been amazing against the run with Michigan the only team to hit 100 yards. Granted, there haven't been too many good ground games to deal with, but Maryland works when it's able to grind.
The four worst Maryland rushing days this season came over the last four games in the four losses.
Last week was the biggest disaster against a Penn State pass rush that generated six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and kept the Terps to -51 rushing yards. Nebraska has one of the Big Ten's best pass rushes, and it's about to show up large.
Who Will Win
Here you go, Husker fans. Finally.
That sixth win and bowl eligibility should've happened last week against Michigan State, but the three turnovers killed that idea.
Why does Nebraska continue to lose the close games? Mistakes. The turnover bug that re-emerged over the last four games didn't prove too costly because the D was able to keep the turnover margin close.
Maryland's defense has just one takeaway in the last four games. Nebraska will grind its way to a sixth win, and it'll get it done with a victory by seven points or fewer......FINALLY.
(But everyone in the building will think the Huskers will blow it as the Terps drive deep late.)
Prediction
Nebraska 21, Maryland 17
Spread
Maryland is favored on the road by 2.5 points. The O/U is set at 45 points.
