Saunders

I learned that yesterday's officiating crew is rewriting the laws of physics, and that Sir Isaac Newton is a bum.

10 minutes ago, DefenderAO said:

The sharpest Damon has been since his playing days:

 

Damon Benning: Nebraska 34 - Illinois 20

 

 

lol, fixed.

2021 Game 3 “Expert” Picks: Buffalo @ Nebraska

—————

CollegeFootballNews.com

https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/09/nebraska-vs-buffalo-prediction-game-preview

Why Buffalo Will Win

The Bulls came up with a nearly perfect performance in the first game under Maurice Linguist. They ripped through Wagner 69-7 – getting up 62-0 before giving up a late score – and they’ve got the ability to pull this off against a very, very shaky Nebraska. Buffalo needed to get the passing game tuned up. Kyle Vantrease hit 15-of-19 passes. The running game had to show it could go on without Jaret Patterson. The 312 yards and seven scores weren’t a problem. The pass rush was dominant, there weren’t any turnovers, and the team was in total control. Yeah, it was against Wagner, but there wasn’t even the slightest bit of a blip. The team is ready. Nebraska had its own nearly-perfect performance last week in a 52-7 win over Fordham, but the playmakers still have to prove they can produce against a decent D.

Why Nebraska Will Win

Nebraska sure as shoot could’ve used the Fordham game before playing Illinois, instead of the other way around. That was the Husker team everyone has been waiting for, and it’s possible it just took a little bit to get the timing down and the live practice time in place. Again, yeah, it was Fordham, but the running game was great, Adrian Martinez was nearly perfect, and the downfield passing game clicked.

Buffalo might have been great last week, but now it has to deal with Martinez – even with the loss to Illinois, he’s coming into his own. The Husker receiving weapons have started to emerge, RB Markese Stepp should get going early, and …

What’s Going To Happen

Be very, very careful with this, Nebraska. Yeah, the win over Fordham was a breeze, but the Rams came up with a few good runs, the Huskers probably won’t hit five yards per carry against the UB D, and this is going to be way more of a grind than the home faithful might like. It’s going to come down to the mistakes. Nebraska shot itself in the foot against Illinois, and it turned it over twice against Fordham. It’ll screw up just enough for Buffalo to stay in this late, but Martinez will bail the team out with one good late scoring drive to finally put it away.

Nebraska 34 - Buffalo 27

—————

ESPN FPI

http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/fpi/_/id/158/year/2021

Nebraska - 61.2% Win

—————

DRatings

https://www.dratings.com/predictor/ncaa-football-predictions/8df5aa1f-f2f3-54f6-af75-49d0f9754503

Nebraska 33 - Buffalo 28

Nebraska - 57% Win

—————

Fox Sports

https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/boxscore?id=34810

Nebraska - 80% Win

—————

Big Red Wrap-Up

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-media/big-red-wrap-up/standalone-video-15847/buffalo-prediction-50016154/

Mike’l Severe: Nebraska 34 - Buffalo 24

Damon Benning: Nebraska 34 - Buffalo 20

—————

ESPN Bill Connelly SP+

https://twitter.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1435583527689535491

Nebraska 31 - Buffalo 23

Nebraska - 69% Win (nice)

—————

Athlon Sports
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-picks-expert-predictions-every-game-week-2-2021#:~:text=buffalo at nebraska

Steven Lassan - N
Mark Ross - N
Ben Weinreb - N

—————

More to come!!!

It should be available on the Fox app. 

Added a bunch more picks.

Glad to see Matt Millen back in the booth.

Im all about a boring opener.

My Pick... Nebraska 27 - Illinois 17

2021 Game 1 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Illinois

—————

CollegeFootballNews.com - https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/08/nebraska-vs-illinois-prediction-game-preview

Why Nebraska Will Win

The ground game should be able to take over right away. The passing attack might be a tad iffy until a few new playmakers emerge, but the Huskers have a good group of backs around QB Adrian Martinez, and the offensive front will be fine despite losing the two top parts from last year’s line. This isn’t going to be a top Illinois defense quite yet – if at all. There’s talent on the Illini side, but after finishing dead last in the Big Ten in total defense, there’s an overhaul being done. However …

Why Illinois Will Win

New head coach Bret Bielema and new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters should be able to crank up the pass rush and the pressure into the backfield. Nebraska has some good offensive parts, but most of them are untested and Martinez has yet to show any real consistency. The Illinois linebacking corps will be a massive plus and the line should be far, far stronger. On the other side, Illinois has a few good receiving transfers to bother the Husker secondary, and it should have a decent enough running game to at least keep things moving.

What’s Going To Happen

Nebraska might be having its issues under Scott Frost, but it won four straight over the Illini before last year’s 41-23 shocker in Lincoln. Both teams are going to come up with an ultra-intense effort in what should a game full of plenty of energy. It’s going to be ragged, full of mistakes, and there won’t be too much coming from the respective passing games, but it’s going to be a fun opener to the season and the Bielema era. Can the Nebraska passing game come up with the big plays needed to overcome a solid effort from the Illinois balanced attack? Martinez will have a hard time breaking free from the Illini linebacking corps, but Nebraska will be good enough on the ground in the second half to come up with the program’s first season-opening road win since rocking Iowa 42-7 in 1999.

Nebraska 30 - Illinois 24

—————

ESPN FPI - https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401282714

Nebraska - 64.8% Win

—————

DRatings - https://www.dratings.com/predictor/ncaa-football-predictions/9bd354a3-f6b0-5c8e-bfb5-52060f179cff

Nebraska 29 - Illinois 25

Nebraska - 63.3% Win

—————

Fox Sports - https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/boxscore?id=34673

Nebraska - 70.7% Win

—————

Big Red Wrap-Up - https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-media/big-red-wrap-up/standalone-video-15847/illinois-prediction-50016152/

Mike’l Severe: Nebraska 34 - Illinois 20

Jay More: Nebraska 32 - Illinois 21

Sean Callahan: Nebraska 27 - Illinois 21

—————

The Athletic: Nebraska at Illinois odds, expert selections, betting trends
https://theathletic.com/2781368/2021/08/24/nebraska-at-illinois-odds-expert-selections-betting-trends-can-adrian-martinez-sour-bret-bielemas-illini-debut/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

Expert Selection

Last year’s meeting between these two was the low point of Nebraska’s season and the high points of Illinois’. It was also the last start for Luke McCaffrey before Adrian Martinez took over the rest of the way. McCaffrey threw three interceptions against Illinois and Martinez was 3-for-4 for a touchdown in his limited playing time. With McCaffrey now at Rice and Martinez the unquestioned started for Nebraska, don’t expected a repeat of 2020. — Dan Santaromita

Pick: Nebraska -7

—————

Illini Inquirer - https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/Article/Nebraska-Huskers-football-opponent-breakdown-Illinois-Illini-game-prediction-169559692/

I honestly think this is a pretty even matchup. I think Nebraska will have trouble containing the Illini running game, and I think Illinois has tough matchups with Nebraska’s talented (though a bit unproven) wide receiver and Martinez’s ability to run always poses a problem. I go back and forth on this one — and I may change my pick by Friday — but I’d probably side with Nebraska as a slight favorite, maybe something like 32-28. But it truly is a blind pick because I’ve barely seen Bielema’s Illini team practice.

Nebraska 32 - Illinois 28

—————

Hail Varsity - https://hailvarsity.com/football/mailbag-game-week-predictions-for-nebraska-illinois-alliance-talk-and-more/

Brandon Vogel: Nebraska 34 - Illinois 24

Erin Sorensen: Nebraska 30 - Illinois 21
Jacob Padilla: Nebraska 31 - Illinois 21 

Greg Smith: Nebraska 31 - Illinois 30 

Steve Marik: Nebraska 27 - Illinois 24

Drake Keeler: Nebraska 24 - Illinois 20

Mike Babcock: Nebraska 35 - Illinois 31

———

Bill Connelly's SP+ - https://twitter.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1430613309552795650

Nebraska 32 - Illinois 22

———

Athlon Sports - https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-picks-expert-predictions-every-game-week-0-2021
Steven Lassan - N
Mark Ross - N
Ben Weinreb - N

———

More to come!!!

1 hour ago, Hilltop said:

You can tell the majority of this group of "experts" pays a lot more attention to the East.  Anyone picking NW to finish 2nd in the west just isn't paying attention and Illinois at 3rd??  With a brand new everything?  Dude is just trying to generate clicks.  I think I would line up with Chip's predictions more than the rest.  

I listened to Tom's reason on the CBS podcast, and the other guys dragged him for it. Basically, he believes in Fitz' magic.

If you're wrong, you're IP banned for life.

Quote

 

Big Ten expert picks 2021: Most overrated and underrated teams, projected order of finish, bold predictions

After a delayed start to play one year ago, the Big Ten is back in the swing of things entering 2021 with some intriguing storylines leading the way. Ohio State is again expected to dominate conference play, but Penn State is looking for a bounce back campaign in the East, while Wisconsin aims to again control the West. There's as much heat as ever on Michigan to live up to the lofty expectations of Wolverines fans, or else Year 7 may be the last for Jim Harbaugh.

It should come as no surprise that the Buckeyes enter as -220 favorites to win the Big Ten, according to Caesars Sportsbook, with no other team a close second. The Nittany Lions and Badgers are both next in line at +900. Illinois is projected to finish last in the league, but with new coach Bret Bielema leading the program, perhaps he and the Illini find a comfort level with one another that leads to immediate success.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-expert-picks-2021-most-overrated-and-underrated-teams-projected-order-of-finish-bold-predictions/

 

23 minutes ago, ColoradoHusk said:

Northwestern has a pretty easy start to their schedule, but I do see them to have a major regression vs. last season.

Maybe, maybe not. They could lose to MSU, Duke, and Ohio before they come to Lincoln. Then, they could lose 3 of 4 in October before they get Iowa and Wisconsin back to back.

My brother tried to get me to fly up from FL to the game with him for a birthday weekend trip, but on short notice I decided against it. Instead I'll probably be BBQ'ing and yelling at the TV.

My favorite part is NW going 7-5. I know Fitz is a demigod, but they have the least amount of production returning in the entire country. And his whole philosophy is about staying old on the roster, and not making mistakes. They lost their #1 RB for the season, and #2 & 3 transferred during the offseason. And they just named Hunter Johnson their starting QB... who was named the starting QB in 2019, bombed horribly (worst QBR in D1), and got benched.

They could easily have 6 losses before November.

Quote

 

Stewart Mandel’s Big Ten conference predictions: Ohio State is still Ohio State but watch out for Wisconsin

The common perception for years has been that the Big Ten East Division is stronger than the Big Ten West Division. In 2021, it’s more accurate to say Ohio State is stronger than the rest of the Big Ten — but its two strongest challengers might come from the West.

 

https://theathletic.com/2781811/2021/08/23/stewart-mandels-big-ten-conference-predictions-ohio-state-is-still-ohio-state-but-watch-out-for-wisconsin/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

 

LET'S GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Quote

 

We asked our Magic 8-Ball to predict Nebraska's football season

Typically we have our staff of expert Husker writers predict each game of Nebraska's season.

But this year we turned to something even more wise — a Magic 8-Ball.

Yes, the children's toy with all its infinite wisdom already knows what will happen each time the Huskers take the field in 2021.

So let's find out what it has to say — unless it wants us to "ask again later."

https://huskerextra.com/news/football/we-asked-our-magic-8-ball-to-predict-nebraskas-football-season/article_f2cbba4f-35e2-5318-b427-df519a7a2231.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_

 

TL;DR Version
Nebraska 31 - Illinois 21

Nebraska 48 - Fordham 17

Nebraska 38 - Buffalo 13

Oklahoma 43 - Nebraska 24

Nebraska 28 - Michigan State 20

Nebraska 24 - Northwestern 13

Nebraska 24 - Michigan 20

Minnesota 27 - Nebraska 16

Nebraska 35 - Purdue 27

Ohio State 38, Nebraska 21

Wisconsin 17 - Nebraska 13

Nebraska 27, Iowa 24

Final Record: 8-4

 

1 hour ago, The Dude said:

Meh.

 

After Penn State's slap on the wrist the NCAA can take any punishment they dream up and stuff it up their a$$.

Or Baylor, or LSU for the past, oh... 10 years.

The more I think about this, the less I care about the actual "scandal" here. Like, last year I know for a fact that USF invited boosters to check out “backyard pickup football” after the lockdown. There were even invited via email. Everyone was doing stuff like this to keep their program field ready. So dumb.

Our program sucking bothers me more.