3 keys for Nebraska football to beat Colorado

We are two days away from Nebraska football and Colorado. Husker fans probably feel like they have been waiting longer than the past year.

Rivalry losses seem to linger. This one will linger for a long time because Nebraska football and Colorado aren’t scheduled to continue their series.

They scheduled this four-game series when the two teams left the Big 12, and Colorado has won all three. Last season’s game wasn’t all that close.

This one should be. Nebraska football is a 7.5-point favorite. I’m confident in their ability to win this game but here are three keys in order to make it happen.

Protect and affect the quarterback

One of the things Matt Rhule said at his first Nebraska football press conference was the Huskers needed to “protect and affect the quarterback.”

Colorado had two sacks last week. So did Nebraska. Both teams have elite passers at quarterback and plenty of weapons at wide receiver.

It’s not going to be easy to stop Dylan Raiola or Shedeur Sanders. The best way to do that is to affect the quarterback with sacks and pressure. Nebraska did that last season against Sanders, just not well enough on third down.

The Blackshirts will need to affect Sanders. The Huskers also need to protect Raiola and winning that battle will be huge for both sides.

Don’t lose the turnover battle

Turnovers doomed Nebraska football last season and it can’t allow turnovers to ruin the game on Saturday night.

The Huskers need to win the turnover battle or at least have it be even. Nebraska is the better team, at least that’s what I think going in, but if Nebraska is -2 in turnover margin, it’ll be a tall task.

Play keep away by pounding the rock

Colorado allowed 157 yards on the ground to North Dakota State last week. The Buffs allowed just 3.7 yards per attempt, but still, Nebraska should be able to take advantage.

One of the best things you can do for a defense is reduce the number of plays they need to defend. It’s easier to defend 43 snaps than 60.

Winning on third down will help keep Sanders on the sideline, but so would a solid day from the rushing attack. Somewhere between 150-200 yards should allow Nebraska to attack with play-action passes, control the clock and limit Sanders time on offense.

A good running game can be the best defense and Nebraska should remember that on Saturday.

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