5 predictions for Nebraska football against UCLA

You don’t normally associate playing a 2-5 team with a big game. But the UCLA game on Saturday absolutely meets the definition of a big game for Nebraska football.

The Huskers are playing for bowl eligibility. This will be the third straight game with it on the line and there are three more chances if they fail on Saturday.

But one week after nearly beating fourth-ranked Ohio State, Nebraska football should be able to beat a 2-5 team at home. The schedule gets more difficult down the stretch and no one wants to go into the bye week wondering if this program will finally get over the hump.

It’s time to do it. Here are five predictions.

Dylan Raiola ends his TD drought

The five-star freshman quarterback hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in three games. UCLA allows 267 passing yards per game and two touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks. Raiola has struggled a little in Big Ten play and an ankle injury might not be helping.

But at home, against a poor pass defense, the kid throws at least one touchdown pass on Saturday.

The Blackshirts force multiple takeaways

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers leads the Big Ten in interceptions (9). UCLA also turns the ball over 1.7 times per game. Nebraska football is forcing 1.5 takeaways per game.

Gabers torched the Rutgers defense to the tune of 389 yards and four touchdowns. That’s how UCLA won its last game. But the Nebraska pass rush is a different animal than Rutgers and under pressure, Garber will make a couple of costly mistakes.

Nebraska football will stuff the run

The Huskers held the vaunted Ohio State rushing attack just 64 yards and barely more than two yards per rushing attempt. If the Blackshirts can do that Saturday, they should win this game.

UCLA averages just 2.5 yards per carry and 64 yards per game. TJ Harden is their leading rusher with 180 total rushing yards. Keegan Jones is the only back on the roster who averages five yards a carry, which is on just 20 attempts.

The Nebraska defense is different when it stops the run and this might be the biggest key to a victory. 

Nebraska will have its best rushing performance in Big Ten play

One reason that Nebraska football is 2-3 in the Big Ten, outside of not being able to close out fourth-quarter leads against Illinois and Ohio State, is the fact that the Huskers have been held under 100 rushing in three of five Big Ten games.

Last week’s total of 121 rushing yards against Ohio State was the second-best number the Huskers have had during Big Ten play. The season-high during conference play for Nebraska is 161.

The Bruins‘ defense has been solid against the run, allowing 3.4 yards per attempt. But Ohio State was allowing just 2.7 and Nebraska was productive. UCLA’s defensive line is much less daunting too.

Dante Dowdell and Emmett Johnson left a lot of meat on the bone last week. They missed some chances for big runs and my guess is they hit a couple on Saturday and Nebraska rushes for over 161 yards.

Nebraska goes bowling

The Huskers will prove to be the tougher team. They will run the ball better, make life hell on Garbers, take the football away a couple of times, and get a solid showing from Raiola.

Nebraska is a 6.5-point favorite but I feel like they win this one by double-digits.

Nebraska 27, UCLA 17. 

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