Rivalry Week "Expert" Picks: Iowa at Nebraska

[Saunders]

Yahoo! Sports - http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1298103

THE BUZZ: This is the first meeting since 2000 in what should develop into a good rivalry (we can see it now, the schools playing for the "Corn Cob Trophy"). This is big in terms of Big Ten bowl positioning. Iowa's run defense has been shaky, and the Huskers need to exploit that if they're to win.

THE LINE: Nebraska by 9.5 THE PICK: Nebraska 27 - Iowa 20

 

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Phil Steele - http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2011/Nov11/DBNov23.html

 

The schools dubbed this “The Heroes Game” when NU joined the B10 and they’ll play for the Corn Bowl trophy. NU is 4-9 ATS (1-2 TY) as a conf HF under Pelini and are 3-9 ATS in their home finale but have won the L/6 SU by 20 ppg. Iowa has been a DD dog (line opened at 9’) just once in 4Y (‘09, +16’ OSU, 24-27 OT) but have 2 DD losses (at PSU and MSU) in a ssn for the 1st time S/’07. The last meeting was in ‘00 and Iowa lost 42-13 (+41’). This is Iowa’s 2nd straight road gm where they are 3-6 SU/2-7 ATS the L/2Y although they ended their 6 gm road losing streak by beating Purdue 31-21 LW. UI outgained the Boilers 408-282 but also were aided by PU TO’s at the Hawks 41, 1, 29 and out of the EZ for a TB. Hawks have B10’s #2 rusher Coker (1297, 5.0) and #1 rec McNutt (1240, 16.8). Hawks allow 166 rush ypg (4.0) in B10 play. NU blew their last shot at a trip to Indy in a 41-17 loss at Mich where they were outFD’d (24-11) and outgained (418-260). RB Burkhead (1108, 5.0) was held to a ssn low 36 yd vs the Wolves and trailing just 17-10 at HT the normally stout Huskers ST imploded fmbl away the 3Q KO and a blk’d P which set up TD drives of 33 and 50 yds. Huskers allow 188 rush ypg (4.1) in B10 play. This one goes to the wire.

 

PHIL’S FORECAST: NEBRASKA 24 - IOWA 21

 

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CBS Sports - http://www.cbssports...rs/expert/picks

 

Dennis Dodd (N) - Bruce Feldman (N) - Brett McMurphy (N) - Tom Fornelli (I)

Jerry Hinnen (N) - Adam Jacobi (N) - Chip Patterson (N)

 

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Collegefootballnews.com - http://cfn.scout.com/2/1130250.html

 

Iowa (7-4) at Nebraska (8-3) Nov. 25, 12:00, ABC

 

Here’s The Deal … Welcome to one of the best new rivalries in college football.

 

The two neighbor-state schools are only about 300 miles apart and an easy drive for the always-mobile fan bases, and because of where the game looks like it’ll be positioned on the schedule, it’ll be a big deal.

 

The Legends division already has Michigan vs. Michigan State, and Michigan vs. Nebraska will be an annual thing, but this matchup should take on a unique life of its own. The two fan bases are similar in temperament, the geographic location is right, and at the moment, the two programs are similar in talent and stature.

 

Michigan State has already won the Legends, and Michigan appears to be set for an at-large BCS game if it can beat Ohio State, so this game might be for a key New Year’s Day bowl. For one, it’ll be to close out the regular season with some momentum that hasn’t been there for a while.

 

Iowa hasn’t been able to establish any sort of a groove. The early loss to Iowa State doesn’t look to bad now, and the Penn State loss was tough, but the Minnesota gaffe was a killer and the clunker at home to Michigan State offset good wins over Michigan and Northwestern. The Hawkeyes haven’t been able to do anything on the road outside of last week’s win over Purdue, and beating Nebraska would be a really big deal. 8-4 looks a lot better than 7-5.

 

And 9-3, with a chance for a ten-win season, looks a lot better than 8-4. The Huskers have lost two of their last three games, and while the record is nice, two of the losses to Wisconsin and Michigan were by a combined score of 93 to 34. It’s been a hit-or-miss team with great wins over Ohio State, Michigan State, and Penn State to go along with the blowout defeats, and a win over Iowa would prove that the team really is great despite all the inconsistencies and all the concerns at times on both sides of the ball.

 

Why Iowa Might Win: Nebraska’s defensive line just doesn’t get into the backfield and it just doesn’t make enough big plays. The loss of Jared Crick midway through the regular season has been part of the problem, but overall, the line just doesn’t hit the quarterback and it just isn’t disruptive. Iowa’s offensive line has been wildly inconsistent and it hasn’t been strong in pass protection, but that might not be a problem this week.

 

The Hawkeye defense has hardly been anything special, but it’s done a good job against mobile quarterbacks. The linebackers and ends were able to get up the field enough on the outside to make Michigan’s Denard Robinson a pocket passer, keeping him to 55 rushing yards while holding Fitzgerald Toussaint to 58 rushing yards. Nebraska has a far worse passing attack than Michigan and has nothing to fall back on, so if the Iowa formula used against the Wolverines can be applied to the Huskers, it could be a low scoring game.

 

Why Nebraska Might Win: The Hawkeyes have the weapons, but even when they do show up and shine it doesn’t always mean production. Marcus Coker ran for 252 yards against Minnesota and the team only came up with 21 points in the loss. Marvin McNutt caught eight passes for 130 yards and a score against Michigan State and the Hawkeyes were blown out. James Vandenberg has been as mistake-free and as decent a quarterback as any passer in the Big Ten outside of Russell Wilson and Dan Persa, but his good games haven’t always meant wins. Basically, the offense can work, it can move up and down the field, and it still might not mean the points will come against a Nebraska defense that does a nice job of not breaking too often after bending.

 

Nebraska has had a huge problem this year when it comes to time of possession even though the offense is geared towards a ground game that’s supposed to be able to keep the clock and the chains moving. Iowa is almost as bad thanks to an offense that’s mediocre on third downs and a defense that can’t come up with a big stop. Getting off the field has been an issue for the Husker defense, but it’s really been a problem for the Hawkeyes, ranking 101st in the nation in third down D.

 

What To Watch Out For: Vandenberg really has been good. He hasn’t been great, he hasn’t been Wilson, Persa, or Kirk Cousins throwing it, and Denard Robinson and Taylor Martinez have been more effective at times in their own way, but he’s been good. He has only thrown one pick in the last five games and his only two interception game of the season came against Penn State. That was the only game he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass. In most years, a 23-touchdown, five-pick quarterback with eight 200-yard games would be in the mix for all-star honors, but those might have to wait until next year.

 

This is Lavonte David’s chance to make a final statement for the Butkus. Boston College’s Luke Kuechly might have it locked up, but David has been just as much of an anchor for a Nebraska defense that hasn’t done enough up front. He was more of a tackling machine last year, but he’s been just as effective this year and he’s stepping up his play over the last few weeks with 17 tackles against Michigan and 11 against Northwestern. Against Iowa, he needs to become personally acquainted with Marcus Coker early.

 

What Will Happen: Nebraska will be brutally effective. The running game won’t be spectacular, and there won’t be much of a passing game, but Martinez and Rex Burkhead will combine for an effective 175 rushing yards, and the defense will keep the score manageable. The Huskers haven’t lost a home finale since 2004, and they’re going to close out their inaugural Big Ten season with a great performance.

 

CFN Prediction: Nebraska 27 - Iowa 21

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ESPN Bloggers - http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/53961/predictions-big-ten-week-13

 

Brian Bennett: Nebraska needs a hero in the Heroes Game to avoid a dispiriting finish to the season, and I think it will be the guy who gets called Superman.Rex Burkhead goes off for 150 yards and a couple of TDs as the Huskers stalk it to their neighbors. ... Nebraska 28 - Iowa 20

 

Adam Rittenberg: Nebraska plays better with a chip on its shoulder, and the edge is back after last week's humiliating loss at Michigan. Iowa's high-powered offense makes this very interesting as RB Marcus Coker racks up two touchdowns, but Huskers QB Taylor Martinez has been very good at home this season and comes up with four touchdowns (2 rush, 2 pass) as the Huskers prevail. ... Nebraska 31 - Iowa 24

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