The Purdue Boilermakers (-3) and Nebraska Cornhuskers will face off on the turf at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. BTN is scheduled to televise the action and the opening kickoff for this Big 10 showdown is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. When these two teams faced each other last year, Nebraska got the victory 25-24.
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview
Nebraska is the home underdog in this Big 10 matchup and is currently getting 3 points. The Boilermakers are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Cornhuskers are +135. If one side can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it’ll likely create a worthwhile in-game betting scenario.
The Boilermakers are 2-2 against the spread (ATS) and are down 8.7 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-2. The Cornhuskers have lost 6.8 units this season. The team is 0-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-2.
The Boilermakers are 1-3 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against conference opponents. The Cornhuskers are 0-3 SU overall and 0-1 SU in conference play.
The Boilermakers are coming off a resounding 30-13 win over Boston College last week where David Blough completed 21-of-28 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns. D.J. Knox (51 rushing yards on 20 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack. Rondale Moore (eight receptions, 110 yards, two TDs) and Isaac Zico (six catches, 84 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Nebraska just lost a 56-10 game to Michigan. The defense allowed the Wolverines to kill the clock by rushing for 285 yards on 45 attempts, including four rush TDs. Karan Higdon had a productive outing in the win, recording 136 rushing yards and a score on 12 attempts for Michigan. As a group, the Cornhuskers collectively completed 13-of-24 passes for 93 yards and one interception. Adrian Martinez went seven-for-15 for 22 yards and one interception while Andrew Bunch was six-of-nine for 71 yards. Martinez (-12 rushing yards on seven attempts) spearheaded the running game as JD Spielman (four receptions, 5 yards) and Stanley Morgan Jr. (three catches, 61 yards) led the Nebraska pass-catchers in the loss.
Purdue has run the ball on 44.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Nebraska has a rush percentage of 62.3 percent. The Boilermakers have rushed for 165 yards/game and have five touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cornhuskers are logging 185 rush yards per game and have four total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Boilermakers ought to hold an advantage when it comes to RB efficiency, as their running backs has produced 5.3 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 3.6 YPC to opponents. The Cornhuskers have registered 4.2 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 4.1 to opponents.
The Boilermakers offense has tallied 318 yards/game in the air overall and has eight passing TDs so far. The Cornhuskers have produced 169 pass yards per outing and have three total pass scores.
Purdue has allowed opponents to run for an average of 138 yards and pass for 275 yards per game. The Nebraska D has allowed 222.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 157.3 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Boilermakers have given up an ANY/A of 5.60 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers are allowing an ANY/A of 5.36.
Passing-wise, Blough is up to 418 yards on the year, and has completed 72 percent of his 54 attempts with three passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He has a 7.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 10.08 over the last two outings.
Look for Blough to distribute the football early and often in this one. Rondale Moore (69 receiving yards and three touchdowns), Isaac Zico (101 yards) and Brycen Hopkins (69 yards) have all been heavily involved recently.
In the home locker room, Andrew Bunch has completed 10-of-18 passes for 120 yards, zero TDs and zero INTs. Bunch’s ANY/A sits at 6.67 for the year and 4.49 over his last two games.
We’re expecting the Cornhuskers to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to Stanley Morgan Jr. (136 receiving yards), Maurice Washington (36 rush yards) and Greg Bell (107 rush yards) have brought significant production to the Nebraska offense.
NCAA Tip: Purdue Boilermakers at Nebraska Cornhuskers
SU Winner – Purdue, ATS Winner – Purdue
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Notes
Betting Trends
Each team defense has created 11 sacks this year.
Both teams have lost four fumbles this year.
The Boilermakers offense has tallied five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cornhuskers have accounted for one such play.
The Purdue defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while Nebraska has given up two such plays.
The Purdue offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Nebraska has created eight such runs.
The Boilermakers defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cornhuskers have given up six such runs.
Nebraska was favored by 18 points in its previous matchup and the O/U was 53.5. The over cashed and Nebraska failed to cover in the 56-10 defeat to Michigan.
Over its last three matchups, Nebraska is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matchups, Purdue is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Purdue was the underdog by 6 points in its previous game and the O/U was 62.5. The under cashed and Purdue covered in the 30-13 victory over Boston College.
As a team, Purdue has averaged 2.1 yards per carry over its last two games.
Nebraska has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last two.
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