Predictions: Huskers vs. Hoosiers – Corn Nation

Mike: This has to be a week where Nebraska’s offense breaks through with something. Right? Right? Right?

Jill: We know the offense has all the pieces to be really good. I am with Mike – I hope this is the week they gel a little more.

Jarek: The offense hopefully isn’t as bad as it was against Rutgers. Conditions should be great in Bloomington, so no excuses in this one.

Andy: Two days ago, I was driving through Wolf Creek Pass in southwest Colorado on the way back to Omaha on a wet Highway 160 in temps around freezing as the first snow settled into the San Juan mountains and salt bounced off the car. As I white-knuckled up and down the road replete with steepness warnings and runaway truck ramps…well let’s just say I’m expecting a similar experience for today’s game.

Wisconsin (-7.5) at Northwestern

Patrick: University of Wisconsin 27 Northwestern University 10

Mike: This one is a sneaky good matchup. Wisconsin has turned their season around after the debacle against ‘Bama, while Northwestern is playing two levels above their high-school playing field the last couple of weeks. Badgers 38, NW 34

Jill: I had also written Wiscy off early on. Northwestern also likes to do this thing where they play better than they really are at times. I wouldn’t call this one sneaky good. I don’t intend to watch. But I do think Northwestern’s secondary is tailor made to give Wisconsin’s Air Raid (I can’t believe I am typing that phrase) a big day. Badgers 31 NW 21

Jarek: Wisconsin has gone back to the pre-Fickell days and decided that running the ball can be a good thing. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the Big Ten. Wisconsin woke up feeling the cheesiest. Cheese heads 31 Kittens 20

Andy: Wiscy’s had a nice little 2-game run, but we didn’t soften up those decadent lakeside perverts for them the way we did Rutgers and Purdue. Most think a -7 line is a little light after those two blowouts, but it’s a strange year and Halloween is approaching. Cheeseheads 28 Locker Room Weirdos 24

UCLA (+5) at Rutgers

Patrick: Rutgers University 32 University of California Los Angeles 12

Mike: Rutgers offense has disintegrated faster than an Alka-Seltzer tablet. But how will UCLA handle what is effectively a 9 am kickoff for the Bruins? Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Bruins 24, Buttgers 10

Jill: I am beginning to believe Nebraska broke Rutgers. How, I don’t know but they haven’t looked very good since their visit to Lincoln. However, I think UCLA could be a get-right game for them. Knights 24 Bruins 21

Jarek: Oregon notwithstanding last night, it has been a massive struggle for anyone who has gone multiple time zones to play a game this season. Add the fact UCLA isn’t good, and the Bruins lose again. Buttgers 27 We’re in LA 17

Andy: After a rough start, UCLA finally ge-

No, I’m shitting you, the Bruins are a disaster and Rutgers comes out swinging after what I’m pretty sure has been a miserable week of practice under excellent coach but notorious hothead, Greg Schiano. Rutgahs 27 UCLA 13

Michigan (-3.5) at Illinois

Patrick: University of Illinois 21 University of Michigan 17

Mike: Illinois melted down last week against the Boilermakers, squandering a 24 point halftime lead and hanging on to win in overtime. Michigan has had two weeks to chew on a loss to Washington, and I suspect they’ll be plenty pissed off. Weasels 24, Illini 20

Jill: I’m not sure what we’ll get from either team. They’ve shown themselves to be above-competent and they’ve also had some meltdown moments. My “go with the home team” rule is in effect. Illini 24 Michigan 21

Jarek: This is prime upset territory for Bielema and company. They’ve played pretty well against the “tougher” Big Ten teams they’ve faced, so I expect them to win here. Bert and Ernie’s 27 Connor Stallions old employers 24

Andy: As far as Michigan still being ranked, I would call it “inexplicably”, but the fact is, it’s just out of habit. They’ve lost 9 starters on offense, 5 NFL draft picks on D. Jack Tuttle’s presence is considered crucial. And there’s no longer the benefit of knowing what the other team will run. However, we all know whom the dirtiest refs in the game will openly favor and, like 2022, that will probably be the difference. Weasels 23 Illinois 21

Iowa (-6) at Michigan State

Patrick: University of Iowa 24 Michigan StateUniversity 13

Mike: Wait, Iowa’s scored 31 or more points three out of the last four games? Even if the Hawkeyes defense has been misfiring as of late, that’s enough to win most weeks. Well, maybe not if they are playing a ranked opponent. (Checks schedule, and… well, Sparty NOOOOOOOO.) Squawkeyes 35, Sparty NOOO more than 13.

Jill: I don’t like this pick at all but the Hawkeyes seem to have removed the force field that previously kept them out of the end zone. Hawkeyes 32 Sparty 18

Jarek: Maybe Brian Ferentz was the problem with the Iowa offense after all. Cade McNamara has decided he can throw a football and the Hawks have the second leading rusher in the nation. Try again next week Sparty. Squawks 38 Spartacus 13

Andy: Sparty has been a little better than expected, but that still isn’t quite good as their offense can only generously be called “challenged”. And Iowa has show occasional glimpses offense behind the legs of Kaleb Johnson and the ball dispenser abilities of Cade “Just Hand It Off” McNamara. Their coaches and fans are still the dirt of the earth, however. Iowa 29 Sparty 7

Nebraska (+6.5) at Indiana

Patrick: University of Nebraska 28 Indiana University 23

Mike: Indiana is the shiny new team in the B1G limelight with an undefeated record. But who have they beaten? FIU, Charlotte and Western Illinois? You’d better have beaten those teams. UCLA? Well, everybody in the continental United States beats the Bruins. Maryland? Ummm… Northwestern? Well, OK. So there are two points to this game: (1) Indiana hasn’t played much of anybody and (2) Nebraska hasn’t played well on offense for a month. Both teams are coming off a bye. Nebraska could address the #2 point during the break; Indiana couldn’t do anything about #1. I think this week favors the Hoosiers unless the Blackshirts pull off a Colorado-level performance on the road. And I can’t get behind that one yet. Hoosiers 27, Huskers 21

Jill: I think the Huskers are perfectly capable of beating Indiana. Do I think they will? I’m not sure the ghosts of close games past are gone. When in doubt, go with the home team, right? I can’t do it. My head says the Hoosiers win. I’m picking the Huskers anyway. Nebraska 24 Indy 23

Jarek: I really don’t know what to think here. Indiana is clearly a good team, but haven’t played anyone. Nebraska has played a tougher schedule, but looks pedestrian at times. The Blackshirts crack one too many times. Hoosiers 34 Nebraska 30

Andy: The last decade or so, this is the type of game I try to talk myself into, then steel up for bitter disappointment. Eight bowl-free years and 25 straight losses to ranked teams seem to indicate it’s not an illogical approach.

Indiana’s currently 114th ranked schedule tells me they could be readying for a 1970’s – early 80’s Huskers experience of lighting up the scoreboard for several games then being humbled by an Oklahoma defense with us playing the part of Oklahoma.

Our schedule is only 92nd, so it’s free of true signature wins as well, but I don’t care. The defense does its job, Raiola will have his best game of the year leading a balanced attack and two sore streaks fall. However, that part of me from the first paragraph is a little worried about special teams. Just a little, but – Huskers 30 (4 TD’s and a safety) Indiana 27