5 predictions for Nebraska football vs. Ohio State

Nebraska football is fresh off a beat down at the hands of Indiana. Yes, Indiana. However, there is no reprieve this week as an even more difficult test awaits in the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State is coming off a loss, too. Yet, it was to the No. 1 team in the country, on the road. And if Ohio State had one more second on the clock, it would probably be undefeated.

The Buckeyes have an elite defense. They rank third in points allowed (11) and sixth in points scored per game in all of college football (43). There is elite talent everywhere you look — the kind of talent Nebraska football can only dream of right now, and to top it all off, Chip Kelly left his job as UCLA head coach to be the OC.

This is the best college football team money can buy, which is a scary proposition for the 5-2 Huskers who were exposed in a 56-7 loss last week. Will the result be the same? I hope not.

But here are five predictions for the Huskers against Ohio State.

It will be a closer game

Ohio State is a juggernaut. But you’re never as good or as bad as you seem. Nebraska football isn’t as bad as it looked last week. Ohio State is just as good as Indiana — better in fact.

I think the Buckeyes would beat the Hoosiers by two touchdowns if they played. That shows how poorly Nebraska played last week.

Unless this team is much worse than I thought and it is worse than I anticipated at the start of the season, Nebraska won’t lose 56-7 again. It will be lopsided at the end, but somewhat competitive (2-3 scores) most of the way.

The Blackshirts play better

Nebraska isn’t going to stop Ohio State. The Buckeyes average nearly six yards per rushing attempt and have the best running-back tandem in college football. Will Howard has been steady and has no shortage of wideouts highlighted by fantastic freshman Jeremiah Smith (32 receptions for 556 yards and 7 TDs).

If you’re not a five-star, it’s hard to get on the field as an Ohio State wide receiver. The talent really is on another level. But Iowa held OSU to 35 points at the Shoe and Nebraska can do something similar — keeping the Buckeyes under 40.

Oregon, Michigan State, and Iowa did it. So if this Nebraska defense is anywhere close to what we thought, it should be able to do the same.

Nebraska football doesn’t rush for 100 yards

As much as I want the running game to get going this week, Ohio State’s defensive line is elite. Indiana had an average run defense and the Huskers got nowhere.

I don’t see them having success against a team allowing 2.7 yards per attempt. Not only will be it more difficult to create running lanes, but the Buckeyes are going close those up quickly. Nebraska has struggled with explosive runs (10 yards or more) all season and against a quick defense like OSU, I don’t see that changing.

A mixed bag for Dylan Raiola

Without a rushing attack, the Ohio State defense will tee off on Dylan Raiola. I do think Nebraska will be able to run it some in the first half, but the score of the game will force a shift to the passing attack.

Marcus Satterfield said he needs to commit to it, and he does. Even if Nebraska is trailing by multiple touchdowns, it can’t afford to abandon the run.

Getting Raiola back on track should be another top priority. I think he’ll make some throws and toss a touchdown pass, but also an interception, in the second half, similar to last week.

Ohio State covers in the fourth quarter

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but a “pissed off” Nebraska football team is going to battle on Saturday. The Huskers aren’t going to pull an upset. However, I don’t see them getting blown out quite like they did last week.

Ohio State will score a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final margin look more lopsided and help them cover the spread, but Nebraska fights and hangs around for most of the game.

Prediction Ohio State 38, Nebraska 10.

Record: 5-2 (against the spread) 

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