Illinois vs. Nebraska: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday

Both Nebraska (3-4, 2-2) and Illinois (6-1, 3-1) are coming off their bye week as they get ready for today’s game in Memorial Stadium.

The No. 17 ranked Illini are currently led by the nation’s leading rusher Chase Brown and also have the top overall defense in yards (221.1 ypg) allowed and scoring (8.86 ppg) in all of NCAA FBS football.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are the keys to victory for Nebraska and the HuskerOnline Saturday score predictions. The Illinois vs. Nebraska game is set for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC. The Illini currently sit as a 7.5-point favorite.

Click here for a limited time, register and get an unprecedented 12 months for only $10.00. 

---

KEYS TO VICTORY: Illinois vs. Nebraska

KEY 1: Keep Chase Brown under 150 yards

This will be no easy task, but if the Huskers can limit Brown’s breakout runs in the second level and keep him under 150 yards rushing, they will have a chance to win this football game. If Brown busts a few runs early, it could be a long Saturday.

KEY 2: Find ways to free up Trey Palmer

With two weeks to prepare, you have to expect Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters to be fully ready for Nebraska wide receiver Trey Palmer. What new wrinkles will Mark Whipple throw at Illinois to free Palmer downfield?

KEY 3: Handle Illinois’s physicality on defense

The Illini have the top defense right now in college football. They average just six missed tackles per game according to PFF, along with 20.3 QB pressure plays per game. They have 23 sacks on the season. Can the Huskers handle their physicality?

KEY 4: Play assignment sound defense

621 of Brown’s rushing yards have come after contact. He has 33 runs of 10+ yards on the season – nearly five per game. NU has to play sound up front and not allow yards after contact and runs of 10+ yards due to assignment misses.

KEY 5: Finish drives in the red zone

Illinois is allowing less than 9 points per game. 23 is the most they have allowed all season in their lone loss against Indiana. NU has to find ways to maximize their scoring opportunities, which they have been good in this area all season. The Illini have also not seen a QB and passing attack anywhere near as talented as Nebraska’s. The Huskers need to make a few big plays early to set the tone and get Walters guessing on defense.

---

EXPERT TAKE: Illinois vs. Nebraska

Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher

This game will go back and forth with a couple of different lead changes. In the end, Chase Brown will get the last word, and Illinois’s defense will get the key stops down the stretch to leave Lincoln in the clear driver’s seat to win the Big Ten West.

Illinois 27 Nebraska 23

---

Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist

Illinois will get the ball last, and Nebraska won’t keep Chase Brown from the end zone as the Illini narrowly avoid an upset. Logic dictates that Illinois is the pick because Bret Bielema quickly has put a formula in place designed to win in the rugged Big Ten. Meanwhile, Mickey Joseph is trying his best to make it work with a less-than-desirable situation. In this case, he’ll come up just short.

Illinois 27, Nebraska 20

---

Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer

Illinois will present some of the most daunting challenges on both sides of the ball that Nebraska has faced this season. However, I think the same could be said for what the Fighting Illini will see from the Huskers, especially with NU’s offensive firepower at the skill positions. All the attention will be on stopping Trey Palmer, but I see others taking advantage of the increased one-on-one opportunities. That said, the defense stopping Chase Brown and Illinois’ running game might be a totally different story.

Illinois 28 Nebraska 24

---

Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha

Can Nebraska stop the run?  The Huskers are dead last in the Big Ten in rushing defense (190 yards/game) facing the nation’s leading rusher in Chase Brown without one of their best run stoppers in Nick Henrich.   That’s the matchup.  Nebraska will be able to score some points somehow some way the question is can the Huskers slow down the Illini’s rushing attack?   I’m not sure they can.

Illinois 27 Nebraska 21

---

Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha

Illinois brings the nation’s top defense to Lincoln with an asterisk:  They’ve yet to see big-play athletes like Thompson, Palmer and Grant on the same team at the same time.  So the Huskers will move the ball.  But Illinois has underrated weapons too:  RB’s, OL, WR’s and a serviceable QB.  Plus a defense that might bend but strike you.  Throw in the best coaching staff in the B1G and the Huskers come up just a little short.

Illinois 28, Nebraska 20

---

Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up

I could see this game going one of three ways. 1) Illinois dominates the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and wins by two TDs or more. 2) The best offense that Illinois has played this year hits several explosive plays and it’s a close one late into the 4^th quarter. 3) Both teams come out sloppy off their bye weeks, and it’s one of those Big Ten West grinds which would benefit the Huskers.

Illinois 23, Nebraska 17

---

HuskerOnline Week 9 Score Predictions

Week 7	Sean Callahan	Steven Sipple	Robin Washut	Andy Kendeigh	Jim Rose	Mike’l Severe
Illinois at Nebraska	27-23 Illinois	27-20 Illinois	28-24 Illinois	27-21 Illinois	28-20 Illinois	23-17 Illinois
Ohio State at Penn State	41-24 Ohio State	31-24 Ohio State	41-24 Ohio State	37-20 Ohio State	31-17 Ohio State	38-20 Ohio State
Northwestern at Iowa	20-7 Iowa	17-7 Iowa	10-6 Iowa	6-3 Iowa	21-6 Iowa	23-7 Iowa
Notre Dame at Syracuse	34-27 Syracuse	24-22 Syracuse	28-21 Syracuse	28-24 Notre Dame	27-17 Syracuse	31-28 Notre Dame
Oklahoma State at K-State	37-34 Okla. State	37-21 Okla. State	33-27 Okla. State	27-24 Okla. State	42-28 Okla. State	30-27 K-State
Ole Miss at Texas A&M	31-30 Texas A&M	38-28 Ole Miss	48-17 Ole Miss	34-30 Ole Miss	45-42 Texas A&M	21-20 Texas A&M

HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings

Expert picker	Straight Up	vs. The Spread	Cumulative Total
Jim Rose KFAB/iHeart Radio	24-13	22-15	46
Mike’l Severe Big Red Wrap-Up	28-9	14-23	42
Sean Callahan HuskerOnline	23-14	17-20	40
Andy Kendeigh KETV ABC-Omaha	22-15	17-20	39
Steven Sipple HuskerOnline	20-17	17-20	37
Robin Washut HuskerOnline	20-17	15-22	35