Nebraska football's bowl chances get better ahead of UCLA

The Nebraska football team is 5-3 for the second year in a row. After losing their last four games of the season a year ago, it’s safe to say that head coach Matt Rhule would very much like to avoid that sort of thing for two straight years.

The good news is that at least one set of analytics shows the Huskers have a very, very good chance of winning six games. And of course, once they do that, they all but assure themselves of going to a bowl game.

There is a bit of bad news though too. Though considering the Nebraska football team is going bowling, no one may care. Kford ratings currently has NU sitting at 89% probability of winning 6 games but the probabilities go down from there.

Nebraska football has great chance at going bowling

Interestingly enough, while you might think that all of that 89% is based on the Huskers beating UCLA, Kford only gives the Cornhuskers a 67% chance of winning that contest. Granted it is still the most likely 6th win of the season.

The same analytics shows that Nebraska has just a 20% chance of beating USC, a 40% chance of beating Wisconsin and 30% chance of winning their final game of the season over Iowa.

Obviously, all four games are winnable, but their contest against the Trojans is almost a sure loss.

That would explain why while there’s an 89% chance of winning six games, there’s just a 51% chance of getting to seven wins. Anyone who hopes Nebraska football will win three of its last four games looks like they’re dreaming, as NU only has a 15% chance of getting at least eight wins.