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

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Can Nebraska win three games in a row for the first time since 2016 today at Purdue?

The Huskers (3-3, 2-1) take on the Boilermakers (4-2, 2-1) today at Ross-Ade in a crucial Big Ten West showdown.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for Nebraska over Purdue, along with the HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday. NU enters today’s game as a 14-point underdog. Tonight’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on the BTN.

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KEYS TO VICTORY: Nebraska vs. Purdue

KEY 1: Develop an offensive plan to protect Casey Thompson and the offensive line

Nebraska needs to develop a plan that protects both their offensive line and quarterback Casey Thompson. If they play like they did last week at Rutgers, they will have a hard time winning this football game.

KEY 2: Communication on the defensive back seven

Purdue’s Jeff Brohm is one of the best in the business. Defensive coordinator Bill Busch and secondary coach Travis Fisher have their work cut out today. Brohm is a master at crossing you up in coverage. The Huskers need to communicate at a high level on the back end.

KEY 3: Pop a couple of 20+ yard runs with Anthony Grant

Last week’s running back Anthony Grant’s long run was just 7 yards on 20 carries. Grant finished with 47 yards rushing, with 45 coming after contact. That is not going to get it done on most Big Ten Saturdays. Grant needs to pop a couple of 20+ yard runs to take some pressure off both Thompson and the offensive line.

KEY 4: Force Aidan O’Connell into a mistake

Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell is elite, but at the same time, he also is prone to make mistakes. We saw it earlier this year at Syracuse. NU needs to force O’Connell into some bad decisions and take advantage of them.

KEY 5: Handling the atmosphere

Last week’s game at Rutgers was an announced sellout, but as we know, it was far from full. Tonight the Big Red will face a packed house at Ross-Ade Stadium. How NU manages the crowd noise will be a big factor in the game’s outcome.

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EXPERT TAKE: Nebraska vs. Purdue

Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher

Nebraska’s offensive line will play better this week because they will have a smarter plan vs. Purdue than a week ago at Rutgers. It still will not be enough on the road. Aidan O’Connell will be too much down the stretch and the Huskers will fall short.

Purdue 34, Nebraska 24

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Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist

Nebraska can’t afford to dilly-dally around in the first half like it did last week at Rutgers. Purdue has outscored opponents 50-10 this season in the first quarter, and if the Boilermakers surge early, the sold-out stadium will get that much louder and feel all the more daunting. Because Purdue lacks a strong running game – and really doesn’t beat teams with deep passes very often – Nebraska can hang around and pose a threat. But the home team’s quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, will put up big enough numbers for a reasonably comfortable Boilermaker win.

Purdue 35, Nebraska 20

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Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer

For the first time in far too long, Nebraska enters a Big Ten game riding two straight weeks of good vibes and winning energy. But tonight will pit the Huskers against one of their most challenging tests of the season. Going on the road in a sold-out Ross-Ade Stadium under the lights against a Purdue team with its sights set on staying in the West Division race, there will be shortage of adversity for NU. Mickey Joseph and Co. have done a great job of keeping the team together, but tonight might be too much to overcome.

Purdue 27, Nebraska 21

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Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha

From a fake sellout to fake first place, this week is the week the Huskers can prove they are for real.  However, so can Purdue.  The Boilermakers have a seasoned quarterback, one of the best receivers in college football but most importantly Purdue is solid up front and will likely win the line of scrimmage.   Huskers cover but fall short.

Purdue 31, Nebraska 27

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Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha

Maybe the most complete team Nebraska has played this year.   Vet QB, at home, at night with a scheme that is almost impossible to consistently stop spells trouble.   Aiden O’Connell finds receivers quicker than most and almost never misses the guys’ hands.  The Huskers will need turnovers and punch above their weight on offense. Toughie.  

Purdue 35, Nebraska 28

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Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up

It’s not like I think Purdue is a great team, I watched the entire game vs Maryland and the Terps gave that thing away. I worry more about the health of Nebraska with Luke Reimer, Quinton Newsome and Travis Vokolek all seeming to be game-time decisions. I think the Huskers can get to Aiden O’Connell if the secondary hold up long enough. I think the biggest keys will be catching the INTs when O’Connell gives NU chances and if the Huskers can establish a successful early down run game. Also NU has to handle the atmosphere in Ross-Ade, it will be electric.

Purdue 38, Nebraska 20

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HuskerOnline Week 7 Score Predictions

Week 7	Sean Callahan	Steven Sipple	Robin Washut	Andy Kendeigh	Jim Rose	Mike’l Severe
Nebraska at Purdue	34-24 Purdue	35-20 Purdue	27-27 Purdue	31-27 Purdue	35-28 Purdue	38-20 Purdue
Penn State at Michigan	27-17 Michigan	28-24 Michigan	30-20 Michigan	20-10 Michigan	28-20 Michigan	27-21 Michigan
Minnesota at Illinois	24-17 Minnesota	20-17 Minnesota	21-14 Minnesota	20-13 Minnesota	24-17 Minnesota	24-23 Illinois
Oklahoma at TCU	38-34 TCU	38-35 TCU	54-49 TCU	34-31 Okla. State	42-38 TCU	35-31 TCU
Kansas at Oklahoma	41-31 Oklahoma	41-38 Oklahoma	35-31 Oklahoma	31-28 Oklahoma	24-21 Oklahoma	35-28 Oklahoma
Alabama at Tennessee	37-34 Alabama	38-30 Alabama	28-17 Alabama	34-31 Alabama	28-24 Tennessee	34-24 Tennessee

HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings

Expert picker	Straight Up	vs. the Spread	Cumulative Total
Jim Rose KFAB/iHeart Radio	19-12	19-12	38
Mike’l Severe Big Red Wrap-Up	22-9	12-19	34
Sean Callahan HuskerOnline	19-12	13-18	32
Andy Kendeigh KETV ABC-Omaha	19-12	13-18	32
Steven Sipple HuskerOnline	16-15	15-16	31
Robin Washut HuskerOnline	16-15	13-18	29