After a near-victory over Indiana, Nebraska football fans want to see Matt Rhule's squad prove they can hang with the big boys. The best chance for that comes on Saturday night in the late game against the Oregon Ducks.
So can the Huskers cash in? Not only would a win well past dark be a statement that Matt Rhule's program is finally turning a corner but it would also mean the sixth win of the season, clinching a bowl bid this early in the season for the first time since 2016. With the shakeups going on in the Big Ten, a win could also mean the Huskers are dipping their toes in a potential College Football Playoff with a couple Top 25 matchups coming after their bye week.
Final Nebraska vs Oregon: Odds, spread and total
Despite Nebraska nearly knocking off the defending national champion Hoosiers, oddsmakers still don't seem convinced the Huskers are for real. DraftKings Sportsbook considers them solid underdogs, h Oregon as 7-point favorites heading into the 10 pm local time matchup against the Big Ten rival.
That spread isn't that shocking, considering the Ducks still came into the season with enough talent to be one of the favorites to win the national title this year. However, with starting quarterback Dante Moore out and Oregon starting a former walk-on, third-stringer on Saturday night, it's a bit odd that the line hasn't moved more toward NU.
As for the total, the oddsmakers seem to expect a decent number of points. Given Nebraska's struggles against the pass, that shouldn't be much of a surprise. The total is currently set at 51.5 for the late-night battle.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Nebraska football vs. Oregon prediction
Quite a few Nebraska fans think the Huskers should be the favorites, since Oregon isn't just out its starting quarterback, but could also be missing its top wide receiver on Saturday. Toss in the walk-on starting at quarterback for the Ducks, and it's hard to go against the Huskers.
I'm going to do it, though. I believe Oregon's defensive line will be a big problem for a Cornhuskers run game that has been far less effective since the Big Ten schedule started. NU outplayed Indiana for three quarters last week, but NU's offensive struggles are why Indiana was able to come back from a 17-6 deficit. Unfortunately, we might see a repeat tonight, since the Huskers will be without two of their top safeties.
Prediction: Oregon 24, Nebraska 21
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