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Husker Football: Nebraska Fan’s TV Guide for Week Five

By Andrew Bienka

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Another week, another late night for Husker football fans. Worry not, though! I have your always-optimized viewing guide right here for the entire weekend.

As tasty as next week’s viewing will be, this week may be a bit on the dull side. That said, there are still some important games to be played, many of them having Big Red implications.

So with that, as I say each week: fire up the grill, grab your beverage of choice and allow me to guide your college football viewing this weekend.

(All times are CDT)

Thursday, September 25

6:30 p.m. – Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN)

Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys of Stillwater play host to coaching heartthrob Kliff Kingsbury and his Red Raiders to open the week’s viewing pleasure. It’s a game between two 2-1 teams who have gotten to where they are two very different ways.

Oklahoma State lost a close one to Florida State and then proceeded to go on a two-game win streak versus Missouri State and UT-San Antonio. Texas Tech started 2-0, but was smacked by Arkansas last week leading to defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt’s firing.

Can Tech keep pace with the Cowboys? I find it unlikely, but conference rivalry games are always fun.

9:00 p.m. – No. 10 UCLA at No. 12 Arizona State (Fox Sports One)

The likely Game of the Week happens early, much like last week’s Auburn-Kansas State game. Arizona State is reportedly doing their own version of a “Blackout” and will wear special uniforms.

Of note for UCLA: quarterback Brent Hundley’s status is majorly in question. An elbow injury pulled him out of the game last week and Jim Mora has been quiet about his status.

Keep an eye to this one Thursday night…and don’t forget to set your alarm for Friday morning!

Friday, September 26

7:00 p.m. – Fresno State at New Mexico State (ESPN)

Friday night doesn’t provide a lot of options, so I decided to focus in on the match-up featuring a team Nebraska played.

Fresno State is ranked No. 80 in scoring offense, averaging 28.8 points per game while its defense is an absolutely awful No. 125 nationally, surrendering 45.5 points per game.

New Mexico State is better, but still not great defensively, giving up 30 points per game. This could be high scoring and a chance for the Bulldogs to garner their first FBS win of the season (they beat an FCS school last week).

Other notable games:

  • Middle Tennessee at Old Dominion (7:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, September 27

11:00 a.m. – Wyoming at No. 9 Michigan State (ESPN2)

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

To set up the premier Big Ten matchup between the Spartans and Huskers next weekend, two things must happen.

The first will be Michigan State handling Craig Bohl’s Wyoming Cowboys. The Spartans absolutely demolished Eastern Michigan 73-14 last weekend after a bye week and a loss to Oregon in Eugene 46-27.

If you want to compare common opponents, Wyoming lost to the Ducks 48-14. Let’s just say I fully expect Sparty to uphold their end of the bargain and take care of the Cowboys.

12:30 p.m. – Maryland at Indiana (Big Ten Network)

Suddenly, this game looks really good. Tevin Coleman leads an Indiana offensive rushing attack that upset Missouri on the road last week and he’s is the top rusher in the nation when looking at average yardage per game (189.67).

It was a big win for the conference, probably the biggest of the young season. Maryland comes calling in their Big Ten debut, fresh off of their own road win against Syracuse.

Quarterback C.J. Brown has been solid both running and throwing for the Terps. He’s their leading rusher with 244 yards on the season while passing for 833 yards and six touchdowns.

I expect quite a bit of offense this game, and as I said before, Coleman is a rushing machine. Enjoy watching another one of the conference’s great backs before you get to see the elite later on.

2:30 p.m. – Arkansas vs No. 7 Texas A&M in Arlington (ABC/ESPN2)

The line for this one opened up at -15 in favor of the Aggies. Now? A&M is only favored by seven. Arkansas bullied Texas Tech and showed major physicality.

If either team is going to take the SEC West, this is a must-win. Arkansas would still need help after suffering its only loss of the season, to Auburn.

I think it is safe to say that the Aggies will put up points (the lowest they’ve scored in a game this season is 38), but can Arkansas find a way to keep pace? Honestly, I doubt it. A&M is only giving up 11 points per game, good for No. 8 in the country.

2:30 p.m. – Minnesota at Michigan (ABC/ESPN2)

I think “dumpster fire” is too extreme. Maybe this should be considered like a train wreck where you can’t look away. Michigan is reeling after a home loss to Utah. They’re also struggling to sell tickets.

If there is one coach on the hot seat, it’s Brady Hoke. On the other hand, Minnesota is 3-1 and coming off of a win. They haven’t played great, but they’ve been efficient.

Can they take advantage of the horrific minus-10 turnover margin of Michigan’s? That’ll be the key for a Gopher victory.

More from Nebraska Football

The Wolverines best win this one, because if not, they may see their coach fly out the door. This one is getting the !UPSET ALERT! call. If Michigan does fall, I’d call it an upset if Hoke is the coach of the Wolverines any longer than early Sunday morning.

5:00 p.m. – Cincinnati at No. 20 Ohio State (Big Ten Network)

Ohio State used a beating of Kent State to “get right” after a loss to a very average Virginia Tech team. Cincinnati is 2-0 after two byes in the first three weeks of the season.

The Bearkats have transfer Gunner Kiel who has played very well, averaging 344.5 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. As Kiel goes, the ‘Kats will go.

The Buckeyes are favored by 15 points as of this writing, and will be looking to prove that they are better than the team that played Virginia Tech.

It’ll be their young backfield that will determine their success, especially quarterback J.T. Barrett. If he turns the ball over (he’s thrown five interceptions this season), this could become a very even match-up.

I won’t put this game on upset alert, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cincy won, either. This will definitely be worth a watch.

8:00 p.m. – Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska (BTN)

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

I mentioned earlier on about two things that must happen before next week’s major Big Ten matchup between Nebraska and Michigan State. Assuming Sparty takes care of business, all eyes will shift to Lincoln to see if the Huskers can hold serve.

This is a classic ‘trap game’ with the Big Red coming off of an emotional win against Miami, and a week out from the Michigan State game. Illinois brings in transfer quarterback Wes Lunt who has thrown 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

It’s not the Illini’s offense that is the problem, however. They rank No. 103 in scoring defense with 32.5 points surrendered on average per game. As far as rushing defense goes, they’re giving up 172.5 yards per game.

Can Bo Pelini keep his Huskers focused against an outmatched opponent? I have a feeling he and his senior leader Ameer Abdullah will do just fine. Enjoy another chance to watch a Heisman contender do work.

Other notable games:

Iowa at Purdue (11:00 a.m., Big Ten Network)

Northwestern at Penn State (11:00 a.m., Big Ten Network)

No. 14 Stanford at Washington (3:00 p.m., FOX)

Missouri at No. 15 South Carolina (6:00 p.m., ESPN)

No. 8 Notre Dame at Syracuse (7:00 p.m., ABC)

Oregon State at No. 22 USC (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

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