Is this a broken record? How can this game against Northwestern be as important as the game on the road against Illinois? How come Nebraska can’t just rest and know that being 11-point favorites at home is enough and that they can handle this game, grab a win, and move on to Purdue? (Predictions are at the end if you don’t want to read the rest!)
History.
If we have learned anything the last eight years, we have learned that the Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue games have been the Achilles heel for the Huskers.
Purdue was Jeff Brohm and his ability to scheme our defense into giving up touchdowns at will when the Boilermakers needed one to win. The quarterback, be it starer or third string, would make a completion when the game mattered most, often times to a wide-open receiver, because Nebraska would be caught with its pants down.
Illinois has always had talent, but in the last 8 years, they have beaten Nebraska as the underdog multiple times, stolen victory from the Huskers from sure defeat (2015 Tommy Armstrong still needs to just run the clock out).
And now, Northwestern. Probably the one team in Nebraska’s time in the Big Ten, that the Huskers are as equally adept at making a game changing play at the end (a Hail Mary) as making an onside kick up eleven points and then watching that lead vanish as an otherwise good defense turns into boat with holes in it.
Nebraska’s inability to consistently beat these three teams, and let’s throw Minnesota in there too, has kept them from being bowl eligible for 6 seasons.
Now that the Huskers have crossed Illinois off the list, comes the team that consistently gives Nebraska the craziest, closest games. Northwestern is a program that has been held together with bailing wire, twine, and some duct tape this season. Nebraska should take advantage of a porous run defense from the Wildcats. And yet, Northwestern on offense completes third downs at a rate top ten teams are envious of, to go along with a good passing game. Again, it will be up to the Blackshirts to get off the field.
See, just when you think Nebraska has cleared their hurdles, another one pops up. Someday Matt Rhule will have us all feeling comfortable about beating a team like this. Right now, it still feels like second verse, same as the first.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Illinois 27, Nebraska 21. The actual score was Nebraska 20, Illinois 7. When the Illini moved the ball down the field on their first possession, I wondered if the game would be another Michigan. The Blackshirts blowing up the Illinois offense on consecutive goal to go plays at or inside the one-yard line completely flipped the script. Illinois never recovered. Nebraska bludgeoned them to death. The only hold back on a 5-touchdown win was ghastly turnovers in the red zone and penalties on the offensive line. There is still a LOT for the Huskers to work on, but man, beating up on a team like that on the road felt really good.
Quick Notes:
Marcus Washington…In case you thought losing Zavier Betts and Isaiah Garcia-Castenada wasn’t quite enough, the injury bug took out Marcus Washington for the rest of the season as well. Washington was Nebraska’s best deep threat and was a big weapon for the Husker passing offense. Nebraska will need to lean on Billy Kemp and Thomas Fidone a little heavier the remainder of the season. Malachi Coleman has moved into the starting spot as a true freshman. The former Lincoln East player needs to get his confidence going this week to help keep the offense from becoming that much more one dimensional.
John Bullock…The walk on from Omaha Creighton Prep continues to make plays for the Huskers. With Luke Reimer out the last two weeks, Bullock has played well enough that Nebraska hasn’t skipped a beat. Nebraska continues to be ranked in the top ten defenses in the country against the run. With players like Bullock, Javin Wright, and Mikai Gbayor stepping in when needed, the depth at linebacker has been one of the more impressive performances of the season.
Jimari Butler…Butler is blossoming into a dog on the defense. Butler came to Nebraska, having limited football experience. He was a better high school basketball player. However, coaches could see his potential as a defender and Butler is starting to come alive. If Butler can continue to put pressure on the quarterback on obvious passing downs, the pass defense will continue to improve. He is the one Blackshirt, not named Cam Lenhardt, that is starting to hit on all cylinders getting to the quarterback.
Anthony Grant…Matt Rhule made it very clear during the bye week, that Grant simply cannot fumble in crucial moments any more this season. It may be the difference between going to a bowl game or not. The latest fumble against Illinois didn’t hurt Nebraska, but it put them in a position that the game was never truly put away until the final horn blew. Grant can be the man on offense, but he can no longer be the goat.
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Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Northwestern 14
If you would have told me Nebraska would dominate Illinois offense as much as they did, I’d probably have said Nebraska could still win 8 games. Without Luke Reimer and Deshon Singleton, the Blackshirts didn’t miss a beat. Illinois simply could not run the football. I don’t see another team on the schedule that should be able to bully Nebraska on the ground. This especially is true with Northwestern. The Huskers have to respect their passing game, but if they get the lead and make the Wildcats one dimensional, the flood gates should open, and Nebraska should cruise to a win and GBR!!!
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