Nebraska vs. Purdue: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Nebraska (3-1, 0-1) will try to bounce back today against a Purdue (1-2, 0-0) team that has lost its last two games.
As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for the Huskers against the Boilermakers.
NU enters Saturday’s match-up as a 10-point favorite over Purdue. Today’s game is set for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on Peacock.
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KEYS TO VICTORY: Nebraska vs. Purdue
KEY 1: Huskers must establish the run
Purdue is ranked 132nd nationally and dead last in the Big Ten in stopping the run, allowing 269 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry. NU must attack this weakness and establish a ground game.
KEY 2: Tackling and setting the edge on defense
On the flip side, we’ve seen NU struggle to set the edge on defense and have very little to no impact from its two hard-hitting safeties, Isaac Gifford and DeShon Singleton. NU needs to play with discipline on the edge, and Singleton and Gifford must make their presence known.
KEY 3: Protecting Raiola in the pocket
With possibly no Micah Mazzccua again on the offensive line and redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula at left tackle, NU could be down three of its seven top offensive linemen they began the season with. The line needs to be locked in, as Purdue will blitz the house at Dylan Raiola, trying to get him uncomfortable in the pocket.
KEY 4: The kicking game
The kicking game is somewhat of a mystery heading into today. Purdue has not attempted a field goal on the season, and NU will again go with walk-on transfer John Hohl at kicker. With wind and potential rain, all bets are off on how this phase of the game might look for both teams.
KEY 5: Play four quarters
Nebraska must show up and play four quarters today at Purdue. Even if the Huskers get off to a fast start, they need to finish and get off the field defensively on third down. You cannot give the Boilermakers any early opportunities to build momentum.
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EXPERT TAKE
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher
Purdue will come into this game desperate for a win after two straight losses. Nebraska will be motivated to stop the run after two questionable weeks in a row of play up front. The difference will be the arm of Dylan Raiola. The Huskers will figure out a way to close out the Boilermakers today in West Lafayette.
Nebraska 27, Purdue 20
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist
This can’t be a difficult game for Nebraska, right? Purdue is a mess. Purdue is headed for a 2-10 season. But Purdue does feature two good running backs, and if you’ve seen Nebraska’s tackling the last two weeks, you have to figure the Boilermakers can do some damage. But it won’t be nearly enough.
Nebraska 35, Purdue 23
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer
It might seem strange to label a Week 5 trip to struggling Purdue as a must-win game for Nebraska, but that’s quickly become the reality. The Huskers come into West Lafayette as heavy road favorites, but they’re also carrying plenty of questions and concerns with them. If the defense can get back to its old self and the running game can keep drives on schedule, NU should right the ship against the Boilermakers.
Nebraska 28, Purdue 17
Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
Get a lead and hold that lead. Don’t give Purdue any life on an early homecoming kickoff Saturday. The key will be winning the line of scrimmage, something the Huskers failed to do against Illinois. Nebraska has trailed just 12 minutes out of 240 minutes of football in regulation this season, and taking control early is paramount. Nice bounce back effort is expected in West Lafayette.
Nebraska 31, Purdue 14
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
Well, that Illinois game didn’t exactly follow the script. Hopefully, the Big Red learned a few things about the value of being the most physical team on the field. Purdue was raided by other schools in the off-season so the roster is a little thin. The Boilers can move the ball between the 20’s but they can’t stop anybody between the tackles. If the Huskers commit to the run, give Dylan’s arm a day off, this won’t be close.
Nebraska 38, Purdue 20
Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
I would guess that Purdue is going to see a pretty pissed off bunch when Nebraska comes to town. It doesn’t take a lot of film study to see how much Purdue struggles stopping the run. So far this year they have allowed 32 runs of 10+ yards, the next worse in the B1G is 17, and that’s in three games. I think we will see some Haarberg QB option run as well. The one plus for the Boilers is its special teams, which is pretty solid. NU should wear down Purdue in the second half.
Nebraska 38, Purdue 10
HuskerOnline Week 5 Score Predictions
| Week 5 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l Severe |
| Nebraska at Purdue | 27-20 Nebraska | 35-23 Nebraska | 28-17 Nebraska | 31-14 Nebraska | 38-20 Nebraska | 38-10 Nebraska |
| Wisconsin at USC | 34-20 USC | 38-21 USC | 34-21 USC | 37-21 USC | 31-17 USC | 31-17 USC |
| Illinois at Penn State | 34-20 PSU | 34-21 PSU | 28-10 PSU | 35-20 PSU | 28-20 PSU | 42-21 PSU |
| Oklahoma State at K-State | 31-30 OSU | 31-28 K-State | 38-31 K-State | 27-20 K-State | 35-31 K-State | 33-24 K-State |
| Wash. State at Boise State | 38-31 BSU | 41-37 BSU | 34-30 BSU | 34-21 BSU | 42-35 WSU | 35-31 WSU |
| Georgia at Alabama | 31-27 Georgia | 34-31 Alabama | 20-16 Georgia | 31-28 Georgia | 31-30 Alabama | 27-21 Georgia |
HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings
| Picker | Straight Up | Vs. Spread | Cumulative |
| Robin Washut | 17-7 | 15-9 | 32 |
| Sean Callahan | 15-9 | 16-8 | 31 |
| Andy Kendeigh | 16-8 | 15-9 | 31 |
| Mike’l Severe | 16-8 | 13-11 | 29 |
| Steven Sipple | 14-10 | 12-12 | 26 |
| Jim Rose | 14-10 | 9-15 | 23 |
Sean Callahan can be reached at [email protected] and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.
