Two schools that prefer to keep it on the ground, Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern Wildcats (+7) are set to pay a visit to their in-conference foe No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (-7) at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. This daytime game will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET and FOX will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Nebraska has been projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to spend $300 in order to win $100 back on the Cornhuskers (-300). The Wildcats are getting +220 moneyline odds. Some good live betting possibilities might exist during this game, and Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 50 points.
This game’s opening line was -7. The total hasn’t changed after it was initially set at 50.
The Wildcats are down 1.0 unit this season and 1-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 1-3.
The Cornhuskers are down 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. They’re 1-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-3-1.
The Wildcats have gone only 1-3 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Cornhuskers are 3-2 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Wildcats hope to get back in stride after a 24-15 loss to Wisconsin last week where the Wildcats completed 18-of-41 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Hunter Johnson went 10-for-21 for 59 yards while Aidan Smith completed eight-of-20 for 99 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Drake Anderson (68 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Johnson (eight yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack in the loss. Riley Lees (five receptions, 59 yards) and JJ Jefferson (three catches, 38 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Nebraska just dropped a demoralizing 48-7 game to Ohio State. The defense allowed the Buckeyes to run for 368 yards on 53 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. J.K. Dobbins had a productive showing for Ohio State, accounting for 177 rushing yards on 24 attempts. For Nebraska, Adrian Martinez completed eight-of-17 passes for 47 yards and three interceptions. Martinez (81 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and Dedrick Mills (67 yards on 11 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Maurice Washington (two receptions, 10 yards) and Austin Allen (two catches, seven yards) led all Nebraska pass-catchers.
Northwestern has run the ball on 56.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 52.1 percent across possessions in conference play. Nebraska has an overall run percentage of 63.3 percent, and has rushed the ball 66.9 percent of the time against Big 10 opponents. The Wildcats have rushed for 151.3 yards/game (including 118 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have five scores via handoffs this year. The Cornhuskers are totaling 209 rush yards per game (265 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
The Wildcats offensive scheme has logged 141.5 yards/contest in the air overall (142 per game versus conference opposition) and has two passing scores so far. The Cornhuskers have recorded 226 pass yards per contest (188 in the Big 10) and have seven total pass TDs.
Defensively, Northwestern seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 145.3 yards and throw for 173.5 yards per game. The Nebraska defense has allowed 234.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 167.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Wildcats have given up an ANY/A of 5.18 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers are allowing an ANY/A of 5.12.
Martinez has been more efficient than Johnson of late. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 5.33 for the year and 4.74 across his past two outings while Johnson’s ANY/A is 1.42 and 1.18 over his last two.
When these two teams met last year, Northwestern knocked off Nebraska by a field goal 34-31.
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Pick
SU Winner: Nebraska, ATS Winner: Nebraska, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Nebraska defense has sacked opposing QBs 15 times this season. Northwestern has registered 10 sacks.
- Nebraska has lost nine fumbles in 2019 while the Northwestern offense has lost four.
- The Wildcats offense has recorded one pass play of 40 yards or more, while the Cornhuskers have put up five such plays.
- The Northwestern defense has allowed zero pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Nebraska has given up two such plays.
- The Northwestern offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Nebraska has created 11 such runs.
- The Wildcats defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Cornhuskers have given up eight such runs.
- The Over/Under for Nebraska’s last match was set at 65.5. The under cashed in that 48-7 loss to Ohio State.
- In its last three matches, Nebraska is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three matches, Northwestern is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Northwestern’s last game was 46. The under cashed in the team’s 24-15 loss to Wisconsin.
- As a team, Northwestern has rushed for 3.8 yards per attempt across its last three games and 2.8 over its last two.
- Nebraska has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
