Saunders

2024 Game 9 “Expert” Picks: UCLA @ Nebraska ————— CollegeFootballNews.com At 5-3, Nebraska has been waiting for that sixth win and bowl eligibility for too long, and it might need to come here.The Huskers gave Ohio State a massive push a week after being steamrolled by Indiana. Now this could get really dicey really fast if the they whiff this at home with at USC, Wisconsin, and at Iowa to close. UCLA finally got its first win since the opener over Hawaii with a 35-32 stunner at Rutgers. The team is playing better - it pushed Minnesota the week before - and there’s still time to make more noise and close strong. At least for now, a win in Lincoln would make the season. Why UCLA Will Win So what did UCLA do right to get the win over Rutgers? The passing game was fantastic. The running attack doesn’t work. Forget about trying to get this thing going because the line just doesn’t generate a push, but Ethan Garbers went off hitting 84% of his passes for 383 yards and four scores. he interceptions weren’t there, the big plays cranked up, and the offense kept firing away. Nebraska has allowed 215 passing yards or more four times. Once was in the win over Colorado, and the other three times were in the losses to Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State. UCLA averages 238 yards per game, but … Why Nebraska Will Win Everyone … THE OFFENSE IS FINE. It’s as if the world forgot for a moment that Nebraska played the No. 2 defense in the nation in last week’s loss to Ohio State. The Buckeye talent showed up in the second half, the Huskers shut down a week after getting rolled by Indiana, and two weeks after only coming up with 261 yards in the win over Rutgers, but really, the O is okay … Fine. The line isn’t doing enough for the ground game, and scoring in the red zone is occasionally a rumor, but the third down conversions are there. Dylan Raiola continues to be a star despite the true freshman mistakes here and there, and in this, there’s no need to press. The UCLA defense is okay. Don’t get into a twist if the Huskers aren’t throwing 50 up on the board, but the UCLA offense - last week aside - is so mediocre that it shouldn’t take too much to get this done. So … Nebraska vs UCLA: Who Will Win As long as the Nebraska pass defense holds up, all is fine. It gives up a ton of midrange throws lately - four of the last five offenses connected for 72% or more of their passes - but there’s not a ton happening to anyone against the elite. UCLA will hang around for a while, and the Nebraska offense might even be booed - as much as it can be for the Husker crowd - but all will be okay in the second half as Raiola gets going late just as the defense clamps down. Nebraska 27 - UCLA 13 ————— ESPN FPI Nebraska - 67.9% Win ————— DRatings Nebraska 33 - UCLA 11 Nebraska - 92.9% Win ————— ESPN Bill Connelly SP+ Nebraska 29 - UCLA 14 Nebraska - 82.0% Win ————— Big Red Wrap Up Mike'l Severe: Nebraska 27 - UCLA 16 Jay Moore: Nebraska 24 - UCLA 13 Sean Callahan: Nebraska 27 - UCLA 17 ————— Lincoln Journal Star Amie Just: Nebraska 24 - UCLA 14 Luke Mullin: Nebraska 24 - UCLA 14 Nate Head: Nebraska 27 - UCLA 13 Chris Basnett: Nebraska 20 - UCLA 16 ————— Dallas Morning News Lia Assimakopoulos: Nebraska Scott Bell: Nebraska Corby Davidson: Nebraska Jamie Hancock: Nebraska Selby Lopez: Nebraska* Newy Scruggs: Nebraska Kevin Sherrington: Nebraska Brett Vito: Nebraska ————— Bleach Report Nebraska 31 - UCLA 17 —————

https://businessofcollegesports.com/college-football-playoff-payouts/

There's Million$ Of Rea$on$ for them to collude. If OSU loses to us, then one more (like PSU this weekend), they're on the outside looking in for the playoff. And that costs the conference a ton of money.

Nothing to see here.

The little things are the difference. And the officiating is so bad it's borderline criminal. IDK how it keeps happening to us, but it's not a coincidence.

2024 Game 8 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Ohio State Dear experts, does Nebraska have a chance? I went through my usual pick list, and who's picking OSU?

I'm 99% sure we haven't had an opponent OL called for holding this season.

2024 Game 7 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Indiana ————— CollegeFootballNews.com Okay, Indiana, it’s been fun, you got your six wins and bowl eligibility, and now it’s basketball season so … There’s a chance this doesn’t stop for a while - a long while. If the Hoosiers can beat the Huskers, they could go 9-0 with Washington to follow in Bloomington and a trip to Michigan State to follow. Michigan and at Ohio State follow, but for now, beating Nebraska to be 7-0 for the first time since 1967. That team started 8-0 and ended up in the Rose Bowl. Nebraska got over the loss to Illinois with a workmanlike win over Purdue followed by a 14-7 win over Rutgers that was better than it’ll ever get credit for. With two weeks off, the Huskers should be ready with this starting a run of three road games in four with Ohio State up next and USC in a few weeks. Why Nebraska Will Win Indiana’s offensive front has been great in pass protection, but it hasn’t faced anyone who can bring the heat. The Huskers have to get the pass rush going. They’re No. 1 in the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss, and they’ve cranked up the pressure a few notches with nine sacks over the last two games and nine tackles for loss in each of them after struggling to get into the backfield enough in the loss to Illinois. Yes, Indiana has been wonderful, and yes, it’s efficient enough to keep the fun going, but it has yet to play a team that’s a lock to get to a bowl game. Nebraska is easily the best team it has faced so far, but … Why Indiana Will Win And the great team Nebraska beat is … Colorado? The problem with beating Indiana right now is that you have to be almost perfect to do it. It’s not like the team is more talented than anyone else, but it’s playing well, there is talent there, and the team just isn’t screwing up. QB Kurtis Rourke is hitting the throws that are there, penalties aren’t a major problem, and the O has turned it over just four times. Win third downs - IU is No. 1 in the Big Ten in third down conversions - control the clock, make tackles. It all seems so easy, but the Hoosiers are doing all of that game-in-and game out. And … Nebraska vs Indiana: Who Will Win Nebraska has a slew of penalty issues, and there have been a few special teams breakdowns, but the team is tied with Indiana for the fewest turnovers in the conference.The Huskers will play well throughout, but at home the Hoosiers will be too efficient. IU will have a ten minute run in the second half when it all breaks through. Indiana 30 - Nebraska 24 ————— CFN Experts *Denotes win, not covering spread Big Game Ben, CFN: Indiana* E, CFN: Indiana Jackson Caudell: Nebraska Nathan Erbach, ND on SI: Nebraska Pete Fiutak, CFN: Indiana John Kennedy, ND on SI: Nebraska Andrew Margolick, CFN: Indiana Jeremy Mauss: Indiana Doug Millen, CFN: Indiana* Johnny Rosenstein: Indiana* Nick Shepkowski: Indiana* CONSENSUS PICK: Indiana* ————— ESPN FPI Indiana - 75.7% Win ————— DRatings Indiana 27 - Nebraska 22 Indiana - 67.0% Win ————— ESPN Bill Connelly SP+ Indiana 25 - Nebraska 20 Indiana - 63.0% Win ————— Big Red Wrap Up Mike'l Severe: Nebraska 34 - Indiana 27 Jay Moore: Nebraska 28 - Indiana 24 Damon Benning: Nebraska 31 - Indiana 27 ————— Lincoln Journal Star Amie Just: Nebraska 21 - Indiana 17 Luke Mullin: Nebraska 28 - Indiana 24 Nate Head: Nebraska 28 - Indiana 24 Matt Olberding: Indiana 28 - Nebraska 21 ————— CBS Sports *Denotes win, not covering spread Dennis Dodd: Indiana* Tom Fornelli: Nebraska Chip Patterson: Indiana Shehan Jeyarajah: Indiana* David Cobb: Indiana* Jerry Palm: Indiana* Brandon Marcello: Indiana* Richard Johnson: Nebraska ————— More to come!!!

A lot of favorites lost yesterday. Being able to run a bunch of the teams on your schedule of the stadium just by showing up isn't going to happen any longer.

2024 Game 6 “Expert” Picks: Rutgers @ Nebraska (-7) ————— 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 Washington and UCLA to follow, there’s a shot at starting 7-0 before going to USC. 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 O 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 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 pass 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. Nebraska vs Rutgers: 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. Rutgers 23 - Nebraska 20 ————— CFN Experts Big Game Ben, CFN: Nebraska* E, CFN: Nebraska* Jackson Caudell: Nebraska Nathan Erbach, ND on SI: Nebraska Pete Fiutak, CFN: Rutgers John Kennedy, ND on SI: Nebraska Andrew Margolick, CFN: Nebraska Jeremy Mauss: Nebraska Doug Millen, CFN: Nebraska* Johnny Rosenstein: Nebraska* Nick Shepkowski: Rutgers Joe Vitale: Nebraska CONSENSUS PICK: Nebraska ————— ESPN FPI Nebraska - 66.0% Win ————— DRatings Nebraska 24 - Rutgers 16 Nebraska - 76.1% Win ————— ESPN Bill Connelly SP+ Nebraska 25 - Rutgers 18 Nebraska - 66% Win ————— Big Red Wrap Up Mike'l Severe: Nebraska 24 - Rutgers 17 Jay Moore: Nebraska 21 - Rutgers 17 Damon Benning: Nebraska 26 - Rutgers 17 More to come!!!

Curious to see how the weather affects the game. I'm stuck at home while Helene is currently in the gulf, but remnants of it will be in the midwest come Saturday.

2024 Game 5 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Purdue ————— CollegeFootballNews.com Purdue is having a rough time. It got obliterated by Notre Dame, pounded on by Oregon State, and it’s going to be tough finding a win the rest of the way - the team will almost certainly be the underdog in the last nine games. Purdue has to figure out how to jump all over Nebraska right away. This is the first road game of the season for the Huskers, but they have to get over yet another close loss - this time to Illinois - that’s slowed the roll of the jacked up Nebraska fans. Why Nebraska Will Win There was a time not all that terribly long ago when Nebraska had the most fearsome rushing attack in all of college football. The Big Red Machine steamrolled over everything in its path, Husker running backs were superstars, and the brutally methodical way it all worked made the program a superpower among superpowers. If Nebraska decides to give that a try, it’ll look like that this week. It’s hard to keep running when you have a quarterback like Dylan Raiola under center, but the Huskers pounded away 47 times in the opener over UTEP. It got away from the ground game, only ran for 48 yards against Illinois in last week’s loss, and … Purdue has allowed 703 rushing yards over the last two weeks to Notre Dame and Oregon State. Give 15 the day off by letting him hand off. Why Purdue Will Win For all of the issues and concerns with the Boilermakers, the plays in the backfield are there. They have a decent pass rush, and they come up with tackles for loss - they just can’t hold up against the run on a consistent basis. But with the Huskers it’s more than that. It’s the first Nebraska road game of the season. As much as they all like to say the past is the past, what did the team do last week? It dropped a close game. The first three - including the win over Colorado - were breathers. If Purdue can get a little bit of the time of possession back on its side, keep this close, the later it gets that Husker collar will get … Nebraska vs Purdue: Who Will Win There won’t be any problems for Nebraska. It’ll run, but it’ll come up with a good offensive mix to offset a few Purdue first half scoring drives. There will be moments when Purdue will have a shot to take over in the second half and make this a game, but will stall. The Nebraska running game will take over from there. Nebraska 34 - Purdue 17 ————— CFN Experts Big Game Ben, CFN: Nebraska E, CFN: Nebraska Jackson Caudell: Nebraska Nathan Erbach, ND on SI: Nebraska Pete Fiutak, CFN: Nebraska John Kennedy, ND on SI: Nebraska Andrew Margolick, CFN: Nebraska Jeremy Mauss: Nebraska Doug Millen, CFN: Nebraska Johnny Rosenstein: Nebraska* Nick Shepkowski: Nebraska Joe Vitale: Nebraska CONSENSUS PICK: Nebraska ————— ESPN FPI Nebraska - 79.6% Win ————— DRatings Nebraska 25 - Purdue 16 Nebraska - 77.6% Win ————— ESPN Bill Connelly SP+ Nebraska 31 - Purdue 17 Nebraska - 81% Win ————— More to come!!!

Weird seeing a ranked matchup, been a long time since I've done one like this.