3 bold predictions for Nebraska’s Friday night game against Illinois

You can feel the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Matt Rhule and this Nebraska football team.

It was there last weekend, when the Huskers failed to close out another fourth-quarter lead, this time against Washington. There was a missed field goal, three turnovers and a game-winning drive with less than two minutes to go by the visiting team at Memorial Stadium.

Nebraska football fans have seen that story over and over the past 10 years. The Huskers had a 34% chance to make the playoff before that loss. Now, you just have to hope Nebraska can finish with a winning record, although eight or nine wins would be nice.

First, the Huskers need to do something they haven’t under Matt Rhule: win a road game in November against a team with a winning record.

Illinois has a dynamic offense with Katin Houser back in the fold. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report. Houser has 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Collin Dixon has 781 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Aidan Laughery has rushed for more than 100 yards against Oregon and Ohio State.

The Fighting Illini are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Nebraska is also 5-3 but is 2-3 in the Big Ten. Bowl eligibility awaits the winner. Here are three bold predictions.

Nebraska offense will score more than 20

After the past three weeks, this feels like a bold prediction. Nebraska has five touchdowns in the past three games. Opponents have scored six points or fewer in the first three quarters of each of those games.

No team has lost three of those games in a row in the past 25 years. That’s a Nebraska specialty. Dana Holgorsen is moving up to the booth. I’m not sure how much that will matter.

Illinois allows 240 passing yards per game. The Illini are 17th in the Big Ten in pass defense, 17th in third-down defense and 18th in red-zone defense.

Colandrea seems poised to bounce back. That will lead to a strong showing and more than 21 points offensively.

Illinois will run for less than 100 yards

The Fighting Illini ran for more than 100 yards against Ohio State and Oregon. Yet, the Huskers rank even higher than those two teams, at least in Big Ten games, at stopping the run.

Big Ten teams are getting just three yards per carry on the ground against Nebraska football. Owen Stoudmire, Riley Van Poppel and Jasear Whittington have been stout. The linebackers have been spectacular, and I really don’t see the Fighting Illini having a ton of success on the ground.

The Illinois offensive line is good, but this Nebraska front will play better.

Jamal Rule rushes for 100 yards

This team needed an attitude adjustment. Nobody is going to feel sorry for them. Jamal Rule ran 13 times for 72 yards last week. It was criminal that he didn’t get more carries.

Matt Rhule said the freshman is close to becoming the full-time starter. It feels like that should happen on Friday night. Rule has never carried the ball more than 15 times in a game.

He will Friday night and rush for more than 100 yards against a mediocre run defense.

Final score: Nebraska 27, Illinois 17

(The Huskers keep it from being a one-score game so they don’t lose it in the end.

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