Northwestern vs. Nebraska
Nebraska fans have been waiting for their team to play up to its full potential. It finally happened last weekend when Nebraska dominated Michigan State. Northwestern had high hopes coming into the season, but the team is just 3-5 and they are in danger of not making a bowl game.
Memorial Stadium
Saturday November 5, 3:30 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Nebraska (-860) Northwestern (+650)
College Football Spread: Nebraska -17.5 (-110) Northwestern +17.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 63.5
These two will square off in Lincoln this Saturday afternoon.
Dan Persa is one of the best quarterbacks in college football when he is healthy. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Persa has been battling nagging injuries all year. Persa still has some great numbers this year, but the team has had to go with backup quarterback Kain Colter quite a bit because of Persa’s foot injury.
Persa is completing a very impressive 76% of his passes this year. Colter generally comes in for running situations, and he leads the team with 459 rushing yards. Jeremy Ebert is one of the most reliable receivers in the Big Ten. Ebert has 45 catches and seven touchdowns this year.
The Wildcats defense has really held them back this year. Northwestern is ranked 98th out of 120 teams in college football in total defense. The Wildcats have had trouble stopping both the run and the pass this year. How bad has this defense been in Big Ten play? They have allowed at least 34 points in every Big Ten game, and they have allowed more than 40 points twice. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez burst onto the scene last year and he has had another solid year in 2011. Martinez is one of the best running quarterbacks in the nation. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry, and he already has nine touchdown carries this season. Rex Burkhead may not be the fastest or strongest runner in the nation, but he runs just as hard as anyone in college football. Burkhead has already run for 883 yards this year. Martinez is not a very accomplished passer at this point, and no receiver on this team has more than 15 receptions.
The Nebraska defense has been a major disappointment this year. This unit is without its most dominant player, Jared Crick. Crick will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. This was a defense that most expected to be one of the best in the country this year, but until last week they were severely underperforming. Last week the Cornhuskers held Michigan State to just 187 total yards. The Nebraska secondary has been very good over the last few weeks. If the Cornhuskers are going to make a run at a Big Ten title, this defense will need to keep playing better.
Northwestern’s defense hasn’t shown they can stop anyone, and I don’t expect them to fare any better against a powerful Nebraska rushing attack. Persa and the Wildcats offense should be able to score their fair share as well. I think this one goes over the posted total.
Free College Football Pick: Over 63.5
Score Prediction: Nebraska 45 Northwestern 24
