Nebraska at USC Game Preview, Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Put this game in the 1970s or 1980s and it would stop the college sports world in its tracks. These two superpower programs haven't been as strong as they should be, and the loser is in big, big trouble.
Nebraska has hit a wall. It was 5-1, all was well, and being in the Big Ten title chase was on the table. A bowl game was an afterthought and then the team started losing. Lose this one and the Huskers will need that sixth win against Wisconsin or at Iowa.
USC has lost four of its last five games because it can't close AT ALL. All five losses were by seven points or fewer -- USC is closer to being 8-3 than 3-6. But with at UCLA and Notre Dame to finish, this becomes a must win just to go to a bowl.
Nebraska (5-4) at USC (4-5)
Saturday, November 16 - 3:00 PM (CT) - FOX
Why Nebraska Will WIn
Here comes the offensive left turn. New offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was brought in to crank up the attack that's been a bit too stale and doesn't have enough explosion.
USC doesn't have the pass rush to be any sort of a problem. Dylan Raiola won't start bombing away deep now just because there's an OC change, but he'll start pushing things a little more -- he'll have the time. It also helps that he's playing.
Questionable after getting a bit banged up, it's all systems go in what should be a firefight. The Huskers want that -- they're good enough at controlling the clock and tempo to be in charge late, but .....
Whey USC Will Win
....the Nebraska offense has crashed, the defense -- while playing great -- hasn't been able to do enough, and the three-game losing streak has made everything really, really tight.
The program hasn't been to a bowl since 2016, rumors are spreading that transfer vultures from other teams are circling around Raiola, and after so much positivity early on the pressure is cranked up to another level.
That, and there's a shot USC finally has the right guy at quarterback.
It wasn't the fault of Miller Moss that the team struggled, but former UNLV star Jayden Maiava has been waiting in the wings and now gets his shot.
Last year for the Rebels Maiava threw too many picks, but he also bombed away for over 3,000 yards with 17 scores and ran well enough to matter.
What Will Happen
Here's the problem.
USC changing quarterbacks doesn't fix the defense. Nebraska changing offensive coordinators doesn't overcome the overall lack of talent.
There might not be two bigger pressure-packed teams playing each other, and not in a positive way, and both teams will press way too hard.
Raiola will go off -- watch this offense start to kick in big -- and the Huskers will get a few takeaways to make this a fight in the second half, but the Trojan offense will be a wee bit stronger late.
Prediction
USC 28, Nebraska 24
Spread
USC is favored at home by 7.5 points
