3 bold predictions for Nebraska football against Oregon

Nebraska football’s loss against Indiana last week was a gut punch. However, the road game against Oregon is just as significant.

The Oregon game looks different than it did at the start of the season. Oregon has lost twice, and the Ducks are ranked 25th in the coaches poll. In the AP Top 25, they’re on the outside looking in, just like Nebraska.

If the Huskers win this game, it would be the best win of the Matt Rhule era. Coming on the road, it would be a true sign of progress. It would also be sweet with Dylan Raiola on the other sideline.

Heck, Raiola could be the starting quarterback. Dante Moore has been ruled out, and Evan Stewart, one of Oregon’s best receivers, has also been injured. Nebraska will be without Jamir Conn and likely Riley Van Poppel again.

Rhule said the Huskers were “angry” after blowing their opportunity against Indiana. A win over Oregon would get this season right back on track.

Here are three bold predictions for Nebraska vs. Oregon.

Anthony Colandrea has a three-touchdown day

If the Huskers are going to win this game, Anthony Colandrea will need to be the best player on the field. Colandrea is averaging 294 total yards per game to go along with 2.6 touchdowns per game.

The Oregon defense has allowed 27 points or more three times this season. Drew Mestemaker threw for more than 300 yards and rushed for more than 100 against the Ducks.

It feels like Colandrea will need to rush for close to 100 yards to win the game. However, he will need more touchdowns than he had last week. Thanks to more quarterback runs in the red zone, where the Huskers scored touchdowns on just one of three trips last week, he will get there with three total touchdowns passing and rushing.

Dylan Raiola will start and play fine

Dan Lanning and Oregon are playing it close to the vest with the quarterback decision. I feel like it will be Dylan Raiola because he has the most upside. If things go badly, Brock Thomas will be waiting in the wings.

If Oregon is going to win this game, though, it feels like it will be because the running backs, offensive line and receivers make things happen after the catch.

Nebraska will intercept Raiola once. He still struggles under pressure. He will throw a touchdown pass and look more like the quarterback people expected when he transferred.

Raiola won’t throw for 289 yards and two touchdowns like he did against USC. He also won’t turn the ball over three times like he did against UCLA.

Colandrea will be the better quarterback, though.

This game hits the over

Just because Colandrea has a big game doesn’t mean the Huskers will win. Oregon is scoring 41 points per game, even with its rough outing last week.

Oregon looked terrible last week. It feels like the Ducks will get off to a fast start this week. Maybe Nebraska falls behind and Colandrea needs to bring the Huskers back.

It just feels like there will be more points and more plays than last week. Nebraska should have scored more than 17 points. It will need to score more than that this week to win.

The Huskers might be a 6.5-point underdog, with the over/under at 51.5. This game feels more like a 50-50 matchup to me. However, I’m not sure the special teams are stable enough.

Oregon will win a tight one, 30-27. Nebraska covers, but the Ducks win. The same story as Indiana.

Prediction: Oregon 30, Nebraska 27

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