NCAA picks: Nebraska is ready for big stage

Sep. 19—I didn’t want to jump the gun last week and talk about Nebraska “too soon,” so to speak. But, what the heck. Let’s talk Cornhuskers.

Dylan Raiola is emulating Patrick Mahomes in his pregame work and he has the haircut to match. This isn’t anything new in the sports world. We’ve all tried to play like our favorite athlete at some point in our lives. Raiola — the Huskers quarterback — is just doing it on the college football stage.

The young freshman sensation is getting notice just three games into his collegiate career.

Nebraska is playing well as a whole and this was all the program was missing over the last few seasons. It had a good defense and good coaching. It just needed a quarterback to keep the offense in rhythm.

The defense is playing well only allowing 20 points in three games. That’s less than 7 per game. The offense is doing a job at 102 total points and an average of 34 ppg.

Now, that plus-27 scoring margin per game is thanks to playing some low-end competition teams like Texas-El Paso, Colorado and Northern Iowa but, this team is good and will prove it on Friday night against Illinois.

Nebraska comes in at No. 22 and Illinois at No. 24. Nebraska is at home and will have a chance to prove itself here. If the Cornhuskers win, I will go on a limb and say they will be 7-0 on Oct. 26 when they meet the currently third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.

Here are my Week 4 picks:

FRIDAY

No. 24 Illinois (3-0) at No. 22 Nebraska (3-0): It’s going to be a good game. Illinois defeated Kansas in Week 2 for a solid win — better than any win Nebraska has. But winning on the road against a team I think is better overall than KU will be tough. Nebraska wins a close game behind its defense.

SATURDAY (11 a.m. games)

No. 3 Ohio State (2-0) vs. Marshall (1-1): If you’re an Ohio State fan, you can finish up chores before getting back inside on Saturday morning to watch the game. This one will be a blowout.

No. 21 Clemson (1-1) vs. North Carolina State (2-1): NC State just isn’t that good. Tennessee proved that two weeks ago. Clemson rolls.

AFTERNOON GAMES (1-3:15 p.m. start times)

No. 20 Iowa State (2-0) vs. Arkansas State (2-1): Arkansas State may have tested Michigan last week and might keep it interesting this week but the Cyclones will win by 10 or more.

No. 10 Penn State (2-0) vs. Kent State (0-3): Watch anything but this game on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Flashes are going to see Penn State blue flashing past them all game long. LOCK PICK.

No. 11 USC (2-0) at No. 18 Michigan (2-1): This is the second of four ranked-versus-ranked matchups this week and they’re all tough to pick. Michigan let me down against Texas but I’m going right back to the same well for another game. This USC team won’t be half the team Texas is. Michigan in a close one.

No. 16 LSU (2-1) vs. UCLA (1-1): UCLA has struggled to find it this year. They won’t solve it all in this one. LSU takes care of business.

No. 17 Notre Dame (2-1) vs. Miami (Ohio) (0-2): No upset alert for the Fighting Irish in this one. Miami isn’t going to shock anyone like Northern Illinois did.

No. 19 Louisville (2-0) vs. Georgia Tech (3-1): Some may think this is an opportunity for an unranked team to steal a win over a ranked team this week. In the words of the famous Lee Corso, not so fast. Louisville wins at home.

No. 23 Northern Illinois (2-0) vs. Buffalo (2-1): This one could be interesting but NIU isn’t going to slip up yet. Huskies win by a touchdown.

No. 12 Utah (3-0) at No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0): This one will be fun at 3 p.m. on FOX. Neither team has been overly impressive but both have won games you expect them to win. OSU sneaks away at home.

No. 7 Missouri (3-0) vs. Vanderbilt (2-1): Missouri should have no trouble here. Its the SEC opener for the Tigers but I think they’re going to come in prepared. Mizzou by multiple scores.

EVENING GAMES (6 p.m. start or later)

No. 8 Miami (3-0) at South Florida (2-1): Miami has been extremely good this year. We will see if a road test against a team that’s scored near 50 points twice this year can slow them down. I don’t think so. ‘Canes win again.

No. 6 Tennessee (3-0) at No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0): ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Norman, Oklahoma, for this one. And for good reason. Remember, I admitted these ranked-versus-ranked games were hard to pick. Biased or not, it’s hard to win in Gaylord Memorial Stadium and this is Tennessee’s first true competition. OU edges out Tennessee by a few. BIG GAME.

No. 25 Texas A&M (2-1) vs. Bowling Green (1-1): The Falcons tasted an upset against Penn State last week. They’re coming for the whole thing this time. Look out Aggies. UPSET.

No. 5 Ole Miss (3-0) vs. Georgia Southern (2-1): Southern is no slouch. But, Ole Miss won’t make any mistakes. Rebels win.

No. 1 Texas (3-0) vs. Lousiana Monroe (2-0): It doesn’t matter if you or I play quarterback for the Longhorns. This team is too good to lose this game.

No. 13 Kansas State (3-0) at Brigham Young (3-0): Kansas State might have its hands full on the road. But I don’t think BYU can last for four quarters. Wildcats continue undefeated start.

RECORDS

Overall: 52-9; Last week: 15-1; Big game: 2-1; Upset: 1-2; Lock pick: 3-0.