The Northwestern Wildcats (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) and Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-3, 0-2) clash in a Saturday night Big Ten West battle in Lincoln, Neb. Kickoff for the contest at Memorial Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Northwestern vs. Nebraska odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Northwestern is coming off a 35-6 home win over the Ohio Bobcats. The Wildcats piled up 7.3 yards per carry in bolting for 373 rushing yards in that game. For the season, NU has rushed for 214.0 yards per game and 5.1 YPC; both figures rank fourth in the Big Ten.
The Cornhuskers are coming off back-to-back one-score losses against ranked foes. Nebraska was undone 23-20 by then-No. 21 (AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports) Michigan State last week. The ‘Huskers outgained the Spartans, 440 yards to 254, in that game.
The Wildcats won last year’s meeting 21-13, battling back from a 13-7 halftime deficit in the process. Northwestern won four of the last six meetings between the two Big Ten West foes. The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series, 8-6.
Northwestern at Nebraska odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Northwestern +340 (bet $100 to win $340) | Nebraska -475 (bet $475 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Northwestern +11.5 (-112) | Nebraska -11.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Northwestern at Nebraska odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nebraska 31, Northwestern 17
Money line
PASS on the juice-obscured true odds in this play. Nebraska is the lean but not at a price heavier than -400.
Against the spread
The Cornhuskers are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six games following a straight-up loss.
Nebraska has outdistanced three of four foes in yardage by a wide margin. Its performance against a talent gap in the Sept. 18 loss at Oklahoma was a building block. Both Nebraska and Northwestern have been steady on defense and the ‘Huskers have displayed enough drive-efficiency upside to be worthy of a near-two-touchdown figure here.
TAKE NEBRASKA -11.5 (-108).
Over/Under
Look for both teams to lean on the run and a moderate exchange of scoreless drives wouldn’t be a surprise either. Neither would some red-zone stalls.
It all spells decent value on the UNDER 51.5 (-107).
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