5 things to know about Nebraska vs. Rutgers as Huskers need a win

After four straight losses, Nebraska football will hit the road for the second week in a row and the third time in four weeks.

Despite outgaining its opponents in each of the last four games — actually, in every game this season — Nebraska’s season has come crashing down over the past month.

What could have been a playoff berth will now hopefully end in a bowl bid. Saturday’s game might determine that, as the Huskers need six wins. A winning regular-season record is one last goal to reach, along with beating a ranked team (maybe Ohio State) and Iowa.

There are still things to achieve, but the Huskers are running out of ways to call this season a success. Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, here are five things to watch.

How to watch Nebraska vs. Rutgers in Week 11

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
• Time: 11:30 a.m. CST
• Venue: SHI Stadium
• How to watch (TV): Big Ten Network
• Streaming: fuboTV or Fox Sports App
• Radio: Huskers.com
• Nebraska record: 5-4 (2-4)
• Rutgers record: 2-7 (1-5)

Nebraska vs. Rutgers odds

Nebraska is a 13.5-point favorite. The over/under is 51.5. The moneyline is -610 for the Huskers and +450 for Rutgers.

A must-win game for Matt Rhule

After the Rob Aurich extension, it feels almost guaranteed that Matt Rhule will be back for a fifth season. He does need to win this game, though. It would clinch a third straight bowl game and provide some positive momentum heading into the Ohio State game, especially if Nebraska can win convincingly.

Rutgers shouldn’t challenge Nebraska football

This is a November game before noon in New Jersey. The weather might be good. Nebraska can’t make the playoffs. Motivation will be a factor. Justin Evans and Luke Lindenmeyer met with the media and said the players need to play better.

That’s the truth. Dana Holgorsen took the fall, but the penalties, dropped passes, etc., aren’t all on the coaches. As far as the Rutgers defense is concerned, it is in a class by itself in terms of being horrible.

Nebraska football

Rutgers is ranked 15th or worse in the Big Ten in the top four defensive categories: rush defense, pass defense, scoring defense and total defense. The offense isn’t much better. There is talent with KJ Duff (774 receiving yards, nine TDs) and Antwan Raymond (789 rushing yards, six TDs), two preseason All-Big Ten selections.

However, AJ Surace is the quarterback now for a team that ranks 14th in scoring offense and 14th in total offense in the Big Ten. Rutgers is ninth in rushing offense and 12th in passing offense.

Still, Nebraska has been as good down to down as any team in the country. The Huskers are among four teams — Georgia, Notre Dame and UCLA — to have outgained their opponent every week. That should continue this week, and it should finally start to show on the scoreboard.

No home-field advantage

Besides the fact that there might be more Nebraska fans in Piscataway on Saturday, the Scarlet Knights haven’t played well at home, especially on defense. UMass scored 37 points against Rutgers. USC and Indiana each put up more than 40. Even Michigan, the worst offense in college football, scored 28 points there on the road.

Tommy Carr, who could barely complete a pass against Michigan State, threw for 266 yards on 22-of-27 passing. He ran for 54 yards, too, giving him 310 total yards and three touchdowns.

Anthony Colandrea should tear this defense up. Jamal Rule should get right, and the Huskers should cruise through the game with a breakout performance from the offense … the key word being should.

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