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***2015 Game 7 "Expert" Picks: Nebraska at Minnesota***


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2015 Game 7 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska at Minnesota

 

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CollegeFootballNews.com

Why You Need To Care

Nebraska might be four plays away from being 6-0, but it’s 2-4 – you are what your record is. This is turning into a historically awful start for a program looking to make this a special year after firing Bo Pelini for not being able to take the program to a whole other level – among other things. Lose this, then you’re talking about the worst start to a Husker season since going 1-9 in 1957. Win this, and with Northwestern up next and Iowa still to play, there’s still time to catch fire, go on a run, and yeah, actually win the West. Lose, and then Northwestern and Iowa look daunting, and facing Michigan State won’t help, either.

Minnesota hasn’t been good, but it’s 4-2 and coming off a 41-13 blasting of Purdue. This isn’t anywhere near the same team compared to last year’s, and the season could fall off the map in a hurry with a loss. After this? Michigan, at Ohio State, at Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and needing to win two of the last five against them with a loss this week.

Why Nebraska Will Win

Don’t let the Purdue game fool you – the Minnesota offense still isn’t working. Yes, the running game was great, and yes, Mitch Leidner was efficient and effective with the passing attack, but the Gophers are struggling to put points on the board against decent defenses. Nebraska has a decent defense. The Huskers might be 106th in the nation in total defense, and the secondary has been a hot mess, but Malik Collins and the run defense have been terrific. No one has run for more than 150 yards yet on the Husker D that’s allowing just over three yards per carry. Minnesota needs to run to win – that’s going to be a problem.

Why Minnesota Will Win

What the hell has happened to the Nebraska passing game? Even with the return of De’Mornay Pierson-El, and even with some decent targets to play around with, Tommy Armstrong has struggled. Playing the Illinois and Wisconsin defense have had something to do with it, but Armstrong has completed 21-of-59 passes for just 234 yards with a touchdown and a pick over the last two games. Minnesota’s secondary is rock solid, ranking 15th in the nation and ninth in pass efficiency defense – the Nebraska air show isn’t going to take off this week.

Player Who Matters

No one expected much out of Shannon Brooks. The 6-0, 206-pound Atlanta native came to Minnesota as just a recruit, without any fanfare, and he didn’t do much over the first three games. He started turning heads against Ohio with 82 yards and two scores on just ten carries, and last week he took over with 176 yards and a score on just 17 carries, highlighted by a 71-yard dash. He’s got the speed, and he has the running mate in fellow freshman Rodney Smith to help share the load.

What’s Going To Happen?

Is Nebraska going to finally catch a break and finally get over the hump, or is this just the way the team is going to roll this year? Nebraska is a far better team than Minnesota with a far better offense, but the Gopher defense is set up the right way to pull off the home win. Nebraska will once again figure out how to lose.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 24- Nebraska 20

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SBNation/Football Study Hall

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2015/10/15/9533063/college-football-picks-projections-week-7-sandp

Minnesota 29 - Nebraska 22

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ESPN FPI

http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/fpi?id=158&year=2015

Nebraska - 53.1% chance of winning

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AP - Ralph D Russo

http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/pivotal-games-boise-st-memphis-be-best-group-5

At some point a ball has to bounce Nebraska's way, right?

Nebraska 28 - Minnesota 21

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BTN.com

http://btn.com/2015/10/14/hold-polls-its-time-to-pick-your-week-7-big-ten-football-winners/

Tom Dienhart: Nebraska 17 - Minnesota 14

Sean Merriman: Minnesota 24 - Nebraska 20

Brent Yarina: Minnesota 24 - Nebraska 20

JoeChristensen: Minnesota 16 - Nebraska 13

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ESPN Big Ten Blog

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/125205/big-ten-week-7-game-picks-can-sparty-knock-off-u-m-in-the-big-house

Brian Bennet: Minnesota 24 - Nebraska 21

Josh Moyer: Nebraska 24 - Minnesota 21

Dan Murphy: Nebraska 24 - Minnesota 14

Mitch Sherman: Minnesota 27 - Nebraska 21

Jesse Temple: Minnesota 13 - Nebraska 10

Austin Ward: Minnesota 24 - Nebraska 22

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Big Red Wrap-Up

http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/big-red-wrap-minnesota-prediction-2

Kevin Kugler: Minnesota 20 - Nebraska 17

Blake Lawrence: Minnesota 24 - Nebraska 21

Matt Davison: Nebraska 24 - Minnesota 20

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Daily Nebraskan

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/sports/dn-sports-desk-nebraska-v-minnesota-score-predictions/article_5b85a45a-7082-11e5-b379-6f9185713232.html

Josh Kelly: Minnesota 27 - Nebraska 23

Brett Nierengarten: Nebraska 17 - Minnesota 13

Nick Wilkinson: Minnesota 27 - Nebraska 17

Michael Dixon: Nebraska 20 - Minnesota 17

Vanessa Daves: Nebraska 20 - Minnesota 10

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Athlon Sports

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/predictions-every-college-football-game-week-7

Steven Lassan: Nebraska

Mitch Light: Minnesota*

David Fox: Minnesota

Braden Gall: Minnesota*

Mark Ross: Nebraska

* (Changed pick in podcast)

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  • Fire 5
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Man do we ever need a win. We needed one badly when we were 2-2 and 2-3, but if we lose again and fall to 2-5....I can't even imagine the heat that would be on Riley

About the same that's on him now. For two reasons:

 

1) It can't be much worse.

2) For it to break this threshold and actually become much worse, he'd have to get blown out. This is the Big Ten West, home of misfit offenses. To get blown out, someone has to actually score.

 

Minnesota is awful. Their defense keeps things respectful but their offense would have to punt against tackling dummies. No one should be fooled by the Purdue game, most of that was Purdue once again giving up turnovers like it's Halloween. And the tackling by the Purdue defense bordered on comical, especially on Minnesota's big runs.

 

Nebraska could certainly lose, after all none of the previous losses have bee to beauty queens, but not likely in a blowout. Not this week, not likely any week.

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Athlon has the Huskers getting back in the win column and ending the losing streak against Minnesota.

 

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/nebraska-cornhuskers-vs-minnesota-golden-gophers-preview-and-prediction-2015

 

With all due respect to Athlon, Jerry Kill has won the last two against the Huskers and has the 21st ranked defense in the country.

We all know how this one is going to go, LOL

Link to comment

 

Athlon has the Huskers getting back in the win column and ending the losing streak against Minnesota.

 

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/nebraska-cornhuskers-vs-minnesota-golden-gophers-preview-and-prediction-2015

 

With all due respect to Athlon, Jerry Kill has won the last two against the Huskers and has the 21st ranked defense in the country.

We all know how this one is going to go, LOL

 

 

We do?

Link to comment

 

 

Athlon has the Huskers getting back in the win column and ending the losing streak against Minnesota.

 

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/nebraska-cornhuskers-vs-minnesota-golden-gophers-preview-and-prediction-2015

 

With all due respect to Athlon, Jerry Kill has won the last two against the Huskers and has the 21st ranked defense in the country.

We all know how this one is going to go, LOL

 

 

We do?

 

Yes. I am going to get very drunk on Grain Belts and my wife will probably have to help me walk to the Light Rail to get home. Regardless of the score.

Link to comment

 

 

 

Athlon has the Huskers getting back in the win column and ending the losing streak against Minnesota.

 

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/nebraska-cornhuskers-vs-minnesota-golden-gophers-preview-and-prediction-2015

 

With all due respect to Athlon, Jerry Kill has won the last two against the Huskers and has the 21st ranked defense in the country.

We all know how this one is going to go, LOL

 

 

We do?

 

Yes. I am going to get very drunk on Grain Belts and my wife will probably have to help me walk to the Light Rail to get home. Regardless of the score.

 

 

 

oie_METfS5NgVOAu_zps65f625a5.gif

Link to comment

 

 

Athlon has the Huskers getting back in the win column and ending the losing streak against Minnesota.

 

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/nebraska-cornhuskers-vs-minnesota-golden-gophers-preview-and-prediction-2015

 

With all due respect to Athlon, Jerry Kill has won the last two against the Huskers and has the 21st ranked defense in the country.

We all know how this one is going to go, LOL

 

 

We do?

 

 

Game is away from Lincoln.

Team is 2-4 with last minute losses due to inept playcalling/poor execution.

Minnesota is a team that in the past few years has had Nebraska's number, especially in last minute situations.

Minnesota has a top 30 defense, no matter what Athlon says.

Penalties.

 

I think I know how this is going to go, don't you?

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