5 predictions for Nebraska football against Indiana

The Nebraska football team might not be ranked in the AP Poll like Indiana but the two teams are ranked in the Coaches Poll. Regardless, it’s a chance for the Huskers to end their losing streak against ranked teams.

That goes back to 2014. But Saturday, even as a 6.5-point underdog, you can sense a quiet confidence coming from the Huskers. Maybe we are all overthinking things but you just get a sense that Nebraska is ready for this game.

Indiana shouldn’t be underestimated though. They have won all six of their games by at least 14 points, including three wins in Big Ten games.

Nebraska has faced explosive offenses this season such as Colorado and even Illinois. Indiana hasn’t faced a defense in the same universe as Nebraska. That means something in my opinion and here are five predictions (and a score) for the Huskers against Indiana.

Nebraska holds Indiana under 100 yards rushing

People seem to forget this about Indiana but they can do more than pass the ball. The Hoosiers average over 200 yards per game on the ground. They also average 5.1 yards per attempt.

Yet, Nebraska has one of the best run defenses in the country. Nebraska football allows 2.6 yards per attempt and I think they are going to push around the Hoosiers, holding them under 100 yards rushing.

Kourtis Rourke gets hit…a lot

Sacks are always difficult to predict. Nebraska is averaging exactly four sacks per game though and honestly, I think they will hit that number against Indiana.

Indiana is tougher in the trenches than some Huskers fans are giving them credit for. They are going to battle, but that doesn’t mean they can block Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson, James Williams, and Princewill Umanmielen.

My prediction is the Huskers have 3-4 sacks but more importantly, get a lot of pressure beyond sacks on Rourke. We saw what that could do against Colorado after all and how a lack of pressure made things tough on the secondary against Illinois.

Indiana might win but the QB is going to feel it the next day.

Huskers run for 150 yards

The rushing numbers haven’t been great this season but Indiana isn’t a great rushing defense. Their numbers are skewed a bit. Northwestern and Maryland each ran for over 100 yards against the Hoosiers.

Maryland’s Roman Hemby was getting 10 yards a pop. The problem is that Indiana opened a lead and Maryland that the Terps couldn’t stick with the ground game.

I don’t see Indiana winning this game by a lot if they do. It will be a close game and think with Jacory Barney included, Nebraska football will rush for 150 yards.

Emmett Johnson, Barney, and Rahmir Johnson all hit some explosive plays in the running game, while Dante Dowdell grounds out the tough yards as he did against Rutgers.

Dylan Raiola has his best game of the season

It’s hard to define exactly what this will look like in passing yards. Raiola could throw for 300 and Nebraska football could lose.

Yet, Northwestern and Maryland torched the Indiana pass defense. The two teams averaged more than 260 passing yards per game and had five total touchdowns.

Nebraska can take advantage of the Hoosiers, especially if they are able to the run the ball. The offensive line has been shaky at times, but is down to its third-string tackle. Henry Lutovsky isn’t the preferred starter at guard either, but it is what it is.

As I wrote earlier this week, Nebraska won’t win this game without a special performance from Raiola and we get it on Saturday with approximately 250 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Defense holds Indiana to season low

The Hoosiers are second in college football in scoring offense (47 ppg). They average over 500 yards of total offense and have weapons everywhere.

Their offensive line has allowed just six sacks. That’s one per game, while Nebraska averages four sacks per game. The Huskers are also getting 1.7 takeaways per game — a stat that correlates to the pass rush.

They’ll put Rourke under pressure and make the Indiana offense one-dimensional. We saw how this defense rattled Shedeur Sanders and they’ll rattle Rourke, holding Indiana to 20 points exactly.

Nebraska fooball wins outright.

Prediction: Huskers 27, Indiana 20 

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