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 Iowa 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
