*** 2019 Game 2 "Expert" Picks: Nebraska at Colorado ***

[Saunders]

2019 Game 2 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Colorado

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CollegeFootballNews.com

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/09/nebraska-vs-colorado-prediction-game-preview

Why Nebraska Will Win

The defense took what appeared to be a big step forward in the 35-21 win over South Alabama with five takeaways and four sacks. It’s not going to be a brick wall of a D, but as long as it’s generating big plays against Colorado, and if the special teams can come up with a few strong moments, the offense should take care of the rest – at least in theory.

The Huskers got the tune-up out of the way. The O might have been tentative and didn’t operate with the sharpness and tempo expected, but it was good on third downs. There were too many turnovers, the attack didn’t control the tempo, and there were struggles to get going – how is that a plus? That’s as mediocre as the Nebraska offense will likely be, and it was still a 14-point win. That’s why you schedule South Alabama to start the season. Against a Colorado defense that got hit hard through the air by Colorado State, now it’s time for Adrian Martinez and company to kick it all in.

Why Colorado Will Win

Now THOSE are the Buffs that rocked and rolled throughout the first half of last season. WR Laviska Shenault only caught three passes against Colorado State, but he scored. QB Steven Montez missed a few key throws, but he was good enough, and the offensive line destroyed the Ram defensive front as Alex Fontenot ripped off 125 yards and three scores. Can the defense hold up if Nebraska’s offense wakes up? The Huskers were tentative, ineffective, and shockingly ineffective against South Alabama, coming up with just 276 total yards, averaging just 2.2 yards per carry, and getting next to nothing out of Adrian Martinez. The firepower is there, but it didn’t show up against USA. Now it has to prove it can keep up in a shootout.

What’s Going To Happen

Nebraska’s offense will make the trip to Boulder, and it still won’t be enough. Last year’s 33-28 Colorado win over the Huskers had a slew of wild mood swings and momentum changes, and this one will be the same way. Both quarterbacks will go off, both offenses will hit plenty of home runs, and in the end, Colorado will be a bit better and more consistent late. The Buff defense that came up with four takeaways against Colorado State will step it up in the second half, slowing down two key Husker drives.

Colorado 37 - Nebraska 34

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CBS Sports (* denotes not covering spread of -3.5) 

https://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/features/writers/expert/picks/against-the-spread/2

Dennis Dodd: CU

Jerry Palm: N*

Tom Fornelli : CU

Chip Patterson: N

Barton Simmons: CU

Barrett Sallee: CU

Ben Kercheval: CU

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ESPN FPI

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401112239

Colorado - 51.2% Win

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FOX Sports

https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/boxscore?id=30449&type=8

Nebraska 31 - Colorado 30

Nebraska - 55.4% Win

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Sporting News - Bill Bender

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/college-football-week-2-picks-against-spread-upset-alerts-every-top-25-game/1xdw0zi25znwz1dovg0eow8hk3

Nebraska needs to win this one on the road against a Colorado team that has talent on the perimeter. Get ready for an entertaining shootout between Adrian Martinez and Steven Montez that could come down to the last drive again.

Nebraska 33 - Colorado 30

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Bill Connelly SP+

https://twitter.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1169333623155298304

Colorado - 56% Win

Colorado 42 - Nebraska 40

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247 Sports

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Texas-Longhorns-LSU-Tigers-football-Clemson-Tigers-Texas-AM-Aggies-Trevor-Lawrence-predictions-Week-2-135164427

Hummer: Nebraska was far from impressive last week in its opener against South Alabama. And while I think that’s a bit of an aberration – the Huskers will get better as the season goes along – I’m perfectly happy to take the points here with Colorado at home. The Buffaloes have an offense capable of keeping up with Nebraska, and Mel Tucker’s first-year defense showed to be opportunistic last week with four turnovers forced.

Colorado 38 - Nebraska 34

Crawford: Nebraska is a better team than it looked in Saturday's game vs. South Alabama ... I think. Consider Adrian Martinez's Heisman campaign officially over with a loss here though after he failed to score in Week 1.

Nebraska 38 - Colorado 31

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Athlon Sports

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-picks-expert-predictions-every-game-week-2-2019

Steven Lassan: N

Mitch Light: CU

Mark Ross: N

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Big Red Wrap-Up

http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/big-red-wrap-colorado-prediction-0

Mike’l Severe: Nebraska 31 - Colorado 30

Jay Moore: Nebraska 38 - Colorado 24

Steven M Sipple: Nebraska 34 - Colorado 31

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The Athletic - Stew Mandel

https://theathletic.com/1185240/2019/09/05/stewart-mandels-week-2-college-football-picks-2/

The Huskers’ opener against South Alabama did not exactly inspire confidence. Maybe it was just Week 1 rust, but the grand improvement we’ve been expecting from Scott Frost Year 1 to Scott Frost Year 2 was not evident. Colorado meanwhile laid 52 on Colorado State in Mel Tucker’s debut. Tough call, but …

Colorado 34 - Nebraska 31

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AP - Ralph D Russo

https://collegefootball.ap.org/huskermax/article/college-football-picks-texas-and-am-try-win-breakup

Tommie Frazier and Kordell Stewart aren't walking through that tunnel, but the former Big 8 and Big 12 rivals played a thriller last year in Lincoln. Maybe they can repeat it in Boulder

Colorado 31 - Nebraska 28.

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Dallas Morning News

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2019/09/04/our-week-2-college-football-expert-picks-predictions-for-clemson-am-lsu-texas-smu-unt-and-more/

Scott Bell: N*
Sam Blum: N

Chuck Carlton:N*
Corby Davidson:N*
Ric Renner: N*

Jose Rodriguez:N*

Newy ScruggsN*
Kevin Sherrington:N*
Brett Vito:N*

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FootballScoop
https://footballscoop.com/news/footballscoop-pick-em-week-2-5/
FootballScoop: CU
Coach Samz: N
Zach Barnett: N

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More to come....

[swmohusker]

Week 1 left a sour taste in everyones mouth.  Thought Nebraska would be the favorite by most publications.  It will be a long year if we don't take care of Colorado.  

[hskrfan4life]

We will take care of Colorado. I am not worried.

[knapplc]

9 minutes ago, Saunders said:

Now THOSE are the Buffs that rocked and rolled throughout the first half of last season. WR Laviska Shenault only caught three passes against Colorado State, but he scored. QB Steven Montez missed a few key throws, but he was good enough, and the offensive line destroyed the Ram defensive front as Alex Fontenot ripped off 125 yards and three scores. Can the defense hold up if Nebraska’s offense wakes up? The Huskers were tentative, ineffective, and shockingly ineffective against South Alabama, coming up with just 276 total yards, averaging just 2.2 yards per carry, and getting next to nothing out of Adrian Martinez. The firepower is there, but it didn’t show up against USA. Now it has to prove it can keep up in a shootout. 

 

This is what concerns me after USA. If the offense wasn't just mysteriously "off" for some reason, we could get blown out.

[teachercd]

Dang some high scores!

 

I am starting to think that this might not be that close of a game.

[Apathy]

I got Colorado winning by 6

 

Sorry but the poor showing against a lesser opponent, not practicing hard last week and the line inconsistency is giving me flashbacks to what has plagued this football program for over a decade 

[Redux]

Maybe if I parlay Colorado to win it will be enough mojo to get us a win

[WyoHusker56]

3 minutes ago, Dewiz said:

I got Colorado winning by 6

 

Sorry but the poor showing against a lesser opponent, not practicing hard last week and the line inconsistency is giving me flashbacks to what has plagued this football program for over a decade 

 

So, poor practicing last week overshadows great practicing this week by all accounts?

[Husker Poyer]

9 minutes ago, Redux said:

Maybe if I parlay Colorado to win it will be enough mojo to get us a win

 

This is a tried and true strategy that has worked well for me over the years (not so much for my bank account).  Though last week it didn't motivate them to demolish South Alabama, so maybe I've lost my bad luck mojo...

[Comish]

Totally believe it was an aberration. Huskers win and cover....

[CapoValley]

I’m actually surprised at the disparity.

 

Well that, and scared. A lot of people earlier this week were all in on Nebraska covering.  

 

 

[Apathy]

4 minutes ago, WyoHusker56 said:

 

So, poor practicing last week overshadows great practicing this week by all accounts?

Talk is cheap

 

Every year we hear the same old BS (We had a great week of practice or we made some mistakes and we’ll get those corrected for nexts weeks game but nothing gets fixed, etc). 

 

All fall camp we’ve been hearing how hungry this team is and how hard they’ve been practicing and then to come out and play like dog poop against South Alabama is embarrassing. It’s the same ol’ tune we’ve been hearing for how many years with how many different coaches? 

 

Im tired of all the talk. It’s now time to walk the walk.  

[The Dude]

A week ago (and most of the offseason) I was confident we'd blowout the Buffs.  Now I'm just hoping we can squeak out a win.  I think it means a little more to us western Nebraska guys.  I definitely care a lot more than this game than I care about Iowa.

[knapplc]

Just now, The Dude said:

us western Nebraska guys

 

You from Milford?

[GSG]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

A week ago (and most of the offseason) I was confident we'd blowout the Buffs.  Now I'm just hoping we can squeak out a win.  I think it means a little more to us western Nebraska guys.  I definitely care a lot more than this game than I care about Iowa.

 

Western Nebraska or Western, Nebraska?