A new era for the Nebraska football team begins on Saturday night as the Huskers take on the UCLA Bruins. No, that's not what marks the start of the new era. It's that a quarterback not named Dylan Raiola will get the start tonight for the first time since 2023. Considering how many times Raiola has been hit the last two years, this is the first time the backup has gotten a start.
Nonetheless, TJ Lateef gets the nod against a Bruins team that is better than it was to start the season, especially at the quarterback position. Nico Iamaleava led one of the worst offenses in Power 4 for the first three weeks of the season. Then DeShaun Foster was fired, and suddenly, UCLA is a force to be reckoned with.
Nebraska vs UCLA final odds
The line for this game has had some wild swings this week. At any given point, both teams have been listed as the favorite. It's a safe bet the uncertainty of Lateef under center in his first collegiate start is the biggest factor in those swings.
As of Saturday morning, the Bruins are -1.5 against Nebraska according to FanDuel Sportsbook, essentially making the game a toss-up, with UCLA getting the nod because the game is in California.
The oddsmakers also expect the game to be a fairly high-scoring affair, with the total sitting at 45.5. Considering both teams are expected to run the ball, it's not a surprise to think both teams will score 20+ points.
Nebraska football vs UCLA final prediction
While the Huskers have one of the best pass defenses in the country, there are only two teams in the Big Ten that are worse against the run. As it turns out, UCLA is one of those two teams, ranking dead last in the conference and allowing nearly 200 yards per game via the rush.
Emmett Johnson is coming into his own, already passing 1,000 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He'll get a heavy workload but Lateef will likely run the ball a bit too. Add in several Huskers talking about how they want revenge from last year and NU could be fired up for the Big Ten After Dark.
Nebraska football beats UCLA, 27-24.