3 bold predictions for Nebraska football against Minnesota

After a week of hearing about Matt Rhule possibly leaving for Penn State, the Nebraska football team will travel to Minnesota on Friday night for an important Big Ten game.

Make no mistake, there is plenty on the line for the 5-1 Huskers. Nebraska can clinch a bowl berth tonight for the second year in a row — in game seven.

The fact that’s not even a storyline tells you how far Matt Rhule has brought his program already. He said they would celebrate bowl eligibility last season, but never again. He was right.

This team has much bigger aspirations, as in playoff aspirations. Before Nebraska can get serious about being called a playoff contender, it needs to win the next three games, which include this road game against Minnesota, a home tilt vs. Northwestern, and a showdown against USC.

Win those games and Nebraska would be 8-1. First, though, the Huskers have to win a second consecutive game on the road, something they haven’t done in 20 years (2005). Will that happen? Here are three bold predictions for Nebraska vs. Minnesota, and a score prediction.

Emmett Johnson hits 200 total yards

Last week, Emmett Johnson ran for 176 yards on a Maryland run defense that was allowing just 2.6 yards per attempt coming into that game. He ran like a man possessed. Johnson leads the Big Ten in rushing attempts (107) but is second in the league in rushing yards (650).

The former three-star from Minnesota is averaging 6.2 per carry and 108 yards per game. Johnson has averaged over six yards per attempt in four different games this season. Michigan was the only team to hold under four yards per carry and under 78 rushing yards. The junior has three 100-yard games.

Minnesota’s run defense looks solid on paper, allowing 3.6 yards per attempt. Yet, the Gophers have allowed 170 rushing yards per game in Big Ten play. They also surrendered 243 rushing yards to Purdue last week.

Johnson will do some damage as a receiver this week, and adding to what he does as a runner, he’ll get 200 yards against the program that didn’t recruit him from his home state.

Dylan Raiola has multiple TDs, zero interceptions

One way Minnesota can stay in this game is by taking the ball away. The Gophers have excelled at that under P.J. Fleck and are averaging 1.7 takeaways per game this season.

Last week, Nebraska was minus-3 in turnover margin, thanks to three Dylan Raiola interceptions. The one off the back foot was unacceptable. The others felt more like miscommunications and misreads.

That’s four interceptions in two games for Raiola. The sophomore responded with a game-winning drive last week. But he needs to respond with a clean game. I believe he will. Raiola will also throw multiple touchdown passes in a game for the sixth time this season and will finish with three.

Multiple interceptions for the Blackshirts

Minnesota has been good about taking care of the ball with just five turnovers in six games. Drake Lindsey, the quarterback, has just three interceptions.

He’s also been throwing the ball a lot. In the past four games, Lindsey has been throwing an average of 36 passes per game. Twice, he has attempted more than 40 throws.

That’s not the Minnesota offense we are used to seeing. However, Darius Taylor was injured earlier this season and hasn’t found his form, rushing for just 34 yards on 14 carries last week. The offensive line isn’t very good.

It’s easy to see Nebraska making this offense one-dimensional. Lindsey has some talent. He’s inconsistent but might have the best arm of a Minnesota QB since Tanner Morgan. He only throws interceptions on 1.6 percent of his throws, but Nebraska will ramp up the pressure, and the Blackshirts will get a couple of picks Friday night.

Eventually, all those pass attempts will catch up to Minnesota.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota score prediction

To win this game, Minnesota has to run the ball. The Gophers haven’t done it well all year, but it’s been an issue for Nebraska football. Maryland was struggling to run the ball and had 130 yards last week.

Stop the running game, and Nebraska should be able to hold Minnesota under 20. Johnson will dominate, Raiola will be efficient, and Nebraka will win by double digits.

Nebraska 31, Minnesota 16. 

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