Link: http://collegefootballnews.com/2017/09/nebraska-vs-oregon-prediction-game-preview
Nebraska at Oregon Preview & Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (1-0) at Oregon (1-0)
Saturday, September 9 - 4:30 p.m. ET - Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR - FOX
It was the unofficial beginning of the end of the Mark Helfrich era.
Oregon started out 2-0, but it was a shaky 2-0, and then came the trip to Nebraska and a 35-32 loss.
The Ducks went on to go 2-7 the rest of the way, Helfrich was canned, and now it's up to Willie Taggart to show that a year later, everything has changed for the better and the Ducks are back to normal.
It was almost the unofficial beginning of the end last week for Mike Riley and Nebraska, as his defense was given fits by a game Arkansas State team that had a late shot at pulling off the upset.
None of that matters if the Huskers can go into Eugene and come away with a win. The schedule ahead isn't all that bad -- Northern Illinois, Rutgers and at Illinois -- so there's a chance to put up a big win number on the board before hosting Wisconsin.
However, if Nebraska gets blown out, there will be issues.
It should be a high-scoring game that'll show just how far each program has come, and just how god they could be going into their respective conference seasons.
It's the eighth time the two have played, with Nebraska winning them all except for a 20-12 drubbing to open the 1953 season.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
The jury is still out on whether or not Oregon has a defense.
There was plenty of work to be done after last year's nightmare, but the D looked okay in the opener against Southern Utah after a rough first half. The Thunderbirds hung up 21 points on the board in an attempt to try keeping up the pace, and the passing game worked.
Nebraska has the quarterback in Tanner Lee to start bombing from the start -- he was off a bit, but he didn't throw any picks with 238 yards and two scores -- to go along with the new running back star of the show.
For the Huskers to have a big season, Lee has to be fantastic. But Tre Bryant carried the day against ASU, running for 192 yards and a score as Nebraska was able to hold on to the ball for over 32 minutes.
While the Husker O likes to work at a decent pace, controlling the clock against Oregon is never a problem.
One Reason Why Oregon Will Win
If the Oregon offense isn't back to big-time form, it certainly came into the season looking close to it.
Taggart's team was supposed to run the ball like it did at South Florida -- the Bulls had one of the nation's best rushing attacks last year -- and everything clicked from the start with Royce Freeman taking off for 150 yards and four scores, and Kani Benoit running for 107 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries.
But that's not Nebraska's problem.
Last week, Arkansas State QB Justice Hansen threw 68 times for 415 yards and three touchdowns, almost pulling the game out in the end with a throw in the end zone that went through his receiver's hands.
All Oregon QB Justin Hebert did last week was connect on 17-of-21 passes for 281 yards and a score.
What's Going to Happen
Allow me to reintroduce myself.
Oregon is about to put on a show on national TV with the offense coming out roaring from the start, working and scoring at will on a mediocre Nebraska defense.
However, Lee will have his moments, too.
The Husker offense will show up and put well over 30 points on the board, and it's not going to be nearly enough. It'll be the day of the Ducks as they show that, yeah, they're going to be a factor in the Pac-12 race.
Prediction
Oregon 48, Nebraska 37
Spread
Oregon is currently favored at home by 14 points
Nebraska at Oregon Preview & Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (1-0) at Oregon (1-0)
Saturday, September 9 - 4:30 p.m. ET - Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR - FOX
It was the unofficial beginning of the end of the Mark Helfrich era.
Oregon started out 2-0, but it was a shaky 2-0, and then came the trip to Nebraska and a 35-32 loss.
The Ducks went on to go 2-7 the rest of the way, Helfrich was canned, and now it's up to Willie Taggart to show that a year later, everything has changed for the better and the Ducks are back to normal.
It was almost the unofficial beginning of the end last week for Mike Riley and Nebraska, as his defense was given fits by a game Arkansas State team that had a late shot at pulling off the upset.
None of that matters if the Huskers can go into Eugene and come away with a win. The schedule ahead isn't all that bad -- Northern Illinois, Rutgers and at Illinois -- so there's a chance to put up a big win number on the board before hosting Wisconsin.
However, if Nebraska gets blown out, there will be issues.
It should be a high-scoring game that'll show just how far each program has come, and just how god they could be going into their respective conference seasons.
It's the eighth time the two have played, with Nebraska winning them all except for a 20-12 drubbing to open the 1953 season.
One Reason Why Nebraska Will Win
The jury is still out on whether or not Oregon has a defense.
There was plenty of work to be done after last year's nightmare, but the D looked okay in the opener against Southern Utah after a rough first half. The Thunderbirds hung up 21 points on the board in an attempt to try keeping up the pace, and the passing game worked.
Nebraska has the quarterback in Tanner Lee to start bombing from the start -- he was off a bit, but he didn't throw any picks with 238 yards and two scores -- to go along with the new running back star of the show.
For the Huskers to have a big season, Lee has to be fantastic. But Tre Bryant carried the day against ASU, running for 192 yards and a score as Nebraska was able to hold on to the ball for over 32 minutes.
While the Husker O likes to work at a decent pace, controlling the clock against Oregon is never a problem.
One Reason Why Oregon Will Win
If the Oregon offense isn't back to big-time form, it certainly came into the season looking close to it.
Taggart's team was supposed to run the ball like it did at South Florida -- the Bulls had one of the nation's best rushing attacks last year -- and everything clicked from the start with Royce Freeman taking off for 150 yards and four scores, and Kani Benoit running for 107 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries.
But that's not Nebraska's problem.
Last week, Arkansas State QB Justice Hansen threw 68 times for 415 yards and three touchdowns, almost pulling the game out in the end with a throw in the end zone that went through his receiver's hands.
All Oregon QB Justin Hebert did last week was connect on 17-of-21 passes for 281 yards and a score.
What's Going to Happen
Allow me to reintroduce myself.
Oregon is about to put on a show on national TV with the offense coming out roaring from the start, working and scoring at will on a mediocre Nebraska defense.
However, Lee will have his moments, too.
The Husker offense will show up and put well over 30 points on the board, and it's not going to be nearly enough. It'll be the day of the Ducks as they show that, yeah, they're going to be a factor in the Pac-12 race.
Prediction
Oregon 48, Nebraska 37
Spread
Oregon is currently favored at home by 14 points
