The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Northwestern Wildcats are ready to square off on the grass at Ryan Field. Fans can catch the action live on ABC and kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Betting Preview
Nebraska is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 6 points in this Big 10 game. The Cornhuskers are also receiving +185 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are -230. Some decent live betting opportunities should exist during the game.
The opening line was originally set at -9 and general public has been siding with the Cornhuskers.
The hapless Cornhuskers are 1-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 8.8 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-2. The Wildcats are up 1.6 units this season. The team is 3-2 ATS and also has an O/U record of 3-2.
The Cornhuskers are 0-5 straight up (SU), including 0-3 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Wildcats are 2-3 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Cornhuskers lost to Wisconsin 41-24 in a thumping where Adrian Martinez completed 24-of-42 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns. Martinez (57 yards on 13 rush attempts, one TD) also led the ground attack in the loss. JD Spielman (nine receptions, 209 yards, one TD) and Stanley Morgan Jr. (eight catches, 93 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Northwestern enters this one after just earning a 29-19 win over Michigan State. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Spartans to air it out for 329 yards. Felton Davis III was a bright spot in the loss, posting 50 rushing yards and a score on two attempts, along with 96 yards on seven catches for Michigan State. For Northwestern, Clayton Thorson completed 31-of-47 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Solomon Vault (six rushing yards on 10 attempts) spearheaded the ground game in the win as Flynn Nagel (10 receptions, 111 yards) and Cameron Green (nine catches, 76 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps.
Nebraska has run the ball on 54.0 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 45.8 percent across possessions in conference play. Northwestern has a rush percentage of 41.9 percent, and has kept it on the ground 45.9 percent of the time against Big 10 opponents. The Cornhuskers have run for 185 yards/game (including 136 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have seven touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Wildcats are totaling 77 rush yards per game (67 in conference) and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Cornhuskers offense has averaged 247 yards in the air overall (274 per game versus conference opposition) and has seven passing scores so far. The Wildcats have recorded 294 pass yards per contest (260.7 in the Big 10) and have six total pass TDs.
Defensively, Nebraska should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 206 yards and pass for 232 yards per game. The Northwestern defense has given up 255.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 133.0 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Cornhuskers have given up an ANY/A of 6.24 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats are yielding an ANY/A of 6.53.
Passing-wise, Martinez is up to 593 yards on the year. He’s completed 46-of-77 attempts with three passing scores and two interceptions. He’s got a 5.88 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.17 over the last two outings.
JD Spielman, Devine Ozigbo and Stanley Morgan Jr. have combined for 736 total yards and five touchdowns as a trio over the last couple of outings.
Clayton Thorson has connected on 102-of-163 passes for 1,126 yards, six TDs and five INTs for Northwestern. His ANY/A sits at 5.79 for the year and 5.70 over his past two games.
Look for Thorson to distribute the football early and often in this one. Flynn Nagel (337 receiving yards), Kyric McGowan (122 receiving yards, one receiving TD), and Bennett Skowronek (232 receiving yards, one TD) have collectively recorded 353 receiving yards over the last couple of games.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, Northwestern knocked Nebraska off by a touchdown 31-24.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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SU Winner – Northwestern, ATS Winner – Northwestern
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Nebraska defense has sacked opposing QBs 13 times this season. Northwestern has registered eight sacks.
Northwestern has lost one fumble this season while Nebraska has lost five.
The Cornhuskers offense has produced two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Wildcats have put up three such plays.
The Nebraska defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Northwestern has given up four such plays.
The Nebraska offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Northwestern has created three such runs.
The Cornhuskers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Wildcats have given up seven such runs.
Northwestern was favored by 11 points in its last outing and the O/U going into it was 44. The over cashed and Northwestern did not cover in the 29-19 win over Michigan State.
Over its last three games, Northwestern is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matchups, Nebraska is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Nebraska was favored by 19 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 59.5. The over cashed and Nebraska failed to cover in the 41-24 loss to Wisconsin.
Nebraska has produced 4.39784946236559 yards per carry across its last three contests and 5.9 over its last two.
Northwestern has averaged 1.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 0.7 over its last two.
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