The Northern Illinois Huskies (+14) are set to pay a visit to the No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (-14) at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. FS1 is scheduled to broadcast the action and the game gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
In this Saturday game, Nebraska has been labeled as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 14 points. The Huskies are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Cornhuskers are -735. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 54.5 points. There will likely be multiple good live betting possibilities during this game.
The O/U has not changed after it was set initially at 54.5. Having said that, the opening line was -15 and square bettors have been siding with the Huskies.
The Huskies have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 2-0 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 1-1.
The Cornhuskers have lost 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 0-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-1-1.
The Huskies have gone 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Cornhuskers are also 1-1 SU.
The Huskies are trying to get back in stride after a 35-17 loss to Utah last weekTheir defense allowed the Utes to run for 193 yards on 37 rush attempts, including four rush TDs. Zack Moss posted a productive day for the Utes in that one with 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. Offensively, Ross Bowers completed 20 passes for 229 yards, as well as one score and a pick. Jordan Nettles (37 yards on 10 rush attempts) spearheaded the ground attack. Spencer Tears (five receptions, 112 yards, one TD) and Tyrice Richie (five catches, 42 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Nebraska narrowly fell 34-31 to Colorado. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Buffaloes to air it out for 375 yards and two touchdowns. K.D. Nixon had a good showing for Colorado, accounting for 148 yards on six catches. For Nebraska, Adrian Martinez completed 16-of-26 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Martinez (66 rushing yards on 19 attempts, two TDs) and Maurice Washington (77 yards on 15 carries) mounted the running game as JD Spielman (five receptions, 112 yards, one TD) and Washington (four catches, 118 yards, one TD) led all Nebraska pass-catchers in the loss.
Northern Illinois has run the ball on 48.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Nebraska has a rush percentage of 65.2 percent. The Huskies have produced 78.5 rush yards per game and have one touchdown on the ground this year. The Cornhuskers are totaling 138.5 rush yards per game and have four total rushing TDs.
If 2019 results can translate to this game, then it seems like the Cornhuskers ought to hold an edge in terms of effectiveness in the ground game, since their running backs has generated 3.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 2.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Huskies have rushed for 2.6 yards per carry while allowing 3.8 YPC to opponents.
The Huskies offensive scheme has averaged 267 yards in the air overall and has three passing TD so far. The Cornhuskers have put up 234 pass yards per game and have two total pass scores.
Defensively, Northern Illinois seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 122 yards and pass for 200.5 yards per game. The Nebraska defense has given up 303 yards per game to opposing passers and 86.0 yards per game on the ground. The Cornhuskers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.41 to opposing QBs, while the Huskies have allowed a 7.52 ANY/A.
Martinez has managed to complete 16-of-26 passes for 290 yards, two TDs and one INT. Martinez’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 7.88 for the season and 6.57 over his past two games. In the other huddle, Bowers has put up 229 passing yards this year, and has completed 20-of-29 attempts with one passing touchdowns and one interception. Bowers has a 5.30 ANY/A, including 6.54 over the last two outings.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Nebraska, ATS Winner: Nebraska, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Nebraska defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks seven times this year. Northern Illinois has registered just one sacks.
- The Nebraska offense has lost four fumbles in 2019 while the Northern Illinois offense has not lost any.
- Both teams have produced three pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Huskies have have made four pass plays of 30+ yards while the Cornhuskers have created three such plays.
- The Northern Illinois defense has allowed one pass play of 40 yards or more, while Nebraska has given up two such plays.
- The Northern Illinois offense has created zero rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Nebraska has created one such runs.
- The Huskies defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cornhuskers have given up zero such runs.
- The O/U for Nebraska’s last outing was set at 65. The O/U pushed in the 34-31 defeat to Colorado.
- The O/U for Northern Illinois’ last game was 44.5. The over cashed in the team’s 35-17 loss to Utah.
