Nebraska failed its first big test of the season on Saturday against Indiana. Can it pass the make-up exam against an Oregon team that isn't nearly as intimidating as it looked at the start of the season?
Oddsmakers seem to believe that the Huskers going on the road against the Ducks will make the task quite difficult. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Huskers open the week as 6.5-point underdogs as they prepare to travel to Eugene.
FanDuel also pegs the game as fairly high scoring as the total is set at 52.5 points. That tracks with the way Nebraska's games have gone of late. While Rob Aurich's defense has been solid, it's allowed plenty of points to Michigan State, Maryland and Indiana.
The big question for Nebraska is who it will have to defend against as Oregon's quarterback. The team's top starter, and at one time the guy considered the best quarterback in the class, is still in limbo. Dante Moore suffered a concussion in the Ducks' win over USC two weeks ago and wasn't available on Saturday in the loss to UCLA.
Dylan Raiola got the start for Oregon against the Bruins after playing well off the bench against the Trojans and in mop-up duty against Portland State. However, Raiola played truly abysmal football in Oregon's 17-15 loss, completing just 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards and throwing 2 interceptions. He also fumbled, accounting for half of his team's 6 turnovers.
Nebraska football gets second Top-25-caliber test against vulnerable Oregon team in Eugene
Raiola was benched in the second half and replaced by third-string quarterback Brock Thomas. The fourth-year player nearly led Oregon to a come-from-behind victory, completing 11 of 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Had the Ducks completed the two-point conversion, they would have at least sent the game into overtime. Did that performance elevate Thomas to the top backup and the guy who will go if Moore still can't?
Oregon, who was ranked No. 13 at the time, nearly beating then-No. 21 UCLA is likely why the Ducks are favored over Nebraska by almost a touchdown. The Huskers also had a close loss to a Top 25 team, 20-17 to Indiana. That likely means the 6.5-point spread is mostly because Eugene is a tough place to play. The unique West Coast start time of 10 p.m. Central (8 p.m. local) could also be a factor.
Oregon's loss dropped them out of the Top 25, and they now technically sit at No. 27 in the AP Poll. Nebraska, meanwhile, gained 17 votes and moved up to what would technically be No. 29 in the poll. Next week's "Battle of the Barely Unranked" will likely put one of the teams in the Top 25 next week.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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