Wisconsin vs. Nebraska: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday
Nebraska (5-5, 2-5) will try to beat Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4) for the first time since 2012 when the two teams square off today in Memorial Stadium for the Freedom Trophy.
Both the Huskers and Badgers are also trying to become bowl-eligible. As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for NU against UW.
Nebraska is a slight 2.5-point favorite today. The game is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on the Big Ten Network.
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KEYS TO VICTORY: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
KEY 1: Stopping the Badger run game
The strength of this Wisconsin Badgers team is its offensive line and running game. Nebraska needs to win up front and set the tone early with their run defense.
KEY 2: Winning vs. man coverage
On defense, the Badgers have a very physical secondary. They will try to lock the Huskers down with man coverage. NU needs to win vs. man in this game.
KEY 3: Limit breakdowns and missed tackles on the back end
In its last three football games, Wisconsin’s offense has scored no more than 13 points in losses to Penn State, Iowa and Oregon. Nothing has come easy for them. NU needs to make tackles on the back end and not give the Badgers big plays with coverage busts.
KEY 4: Find a tempo on offense
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen has now been here for three weeks and has one game under his belt. You would think he’ll come out with a better handle on things and what the Huskers want to do on offense.
KEY 5: Want it more
Nebraska’s bowl-less streak dates back to 2016. It’s been a brutal stretch for the program. NU has not played in a bowl game in 2,885 days. The team has to want this. Attack the game like it means something.
Expert takes
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher
Nothing will come easy in this game for Nebraska, but it’s a good match-up for the Huskers. Wisconsin does not have the passing game or receivers to win consistently in one-on-coverage like we’ve seen in past weeks against the Blackshirts. Dana Holgerson will draw up a few new wrinkles that will work on offense. The Memorial Stadium crowd will also play a factor, willing the Big Red to bowl eligibility.
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Nebraska 23, Wisconsin 17
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist
Who wants it more? Let’s face it, it largely comes down to that element. I have to think Nebraska’s veteran players recognize that they can steer the narrative about the program in a much more positive direction with just one win. The key will be Nebraska’s defense limiting the Badgers’ ground game and putting the game in the hands of a UW quarterback who’s prone to picks. At any rate, gird for a game that goes down to the wire.
Nebraska 21, Wisconsin 17
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer
Nebraska has missed so many golden opportunities over the years to finally end its embarrassing bowl game drought. If there was ever a chance to do it, today is it. The Huskers have all the incentive in the world to win this one. It’s Senior Day against a rival Wisconsin that dealing with its own drama at the moment. Most importantly, qualifying for the postseason is critical for the growth and development of Matt Rhule’s program. The Huskers must get it done today, and I believe they will.
Nebraska 23, Wisconsin 20
Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
It all lines up for Nebraska this week. Second game and third week for Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator vs first week and first game for Wisconsin’s new OC. Nebraska’s lost 10 straight to Wisconsin and wouldn’t it be fitting for the Huskers to snap that losing streak to the Badgers and snap another streak to gain bowl eligibility. A Senior Day to remember at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska 19, Wisconsin 16
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
This game may have all of the fireworks of a tractor pull. Both offenses have struggled, especially against quality defenses, which each team also possesses. The Badgers gave it everything they had against Oregon but couldn’t make a first down in the second half, which cost them a stunning upset. This game will boil down to a couple of chunk plays, and I think Nebraska will get them all.
Nebraska 13, Wisconsin 6
Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
On paper, this is as close of a matchup as NU has played all season. Heck, the teams have scored and allowed the exact same number of touchdowns. The biggest difference might be the accuracy of the two QBs. Braylon Locke is just a 55% passer, while Dylan Raiola completes it at a 65% clip. Add that to being back at home on senior day and the improvement in terms of tempo we saw under Holgerson, lowering the seconds per play to 26.0. I have the Huskers blocking an extra point to win the game.
Nebraska 20, Wisconsin 19
HuskerOnline Week 13 Score Predictions
| Week 13 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l Severe |
| Wisconsin at Nebraska (-2.5) | 23-17 Nebraska | 21-17 Nebraska | 23-20 Nebraska | 19-16 Nebraska | 13-6 Nebraska | 20-19 Nebraska |
| Indiana at Ohio State (-12.5) | 38-20 Ohio state | 24-21 Indiana | 38-31 Ohio State | 34-27 Ohio State | 31-21 Ohio State | 35-31 Ohio State |
| Illinois at Rutgers (-1.5) | 27-21 Illinois | 24-19 Illinois | 28-21 Illinois | 22-17 Illinois | 28-17 Illinois | 21-17 Illinois |
| Iowa at Maryland (+6.5) | 13-10 Iowa | 20-17 Maryland | 12-5 Iowa | 17-10 Iowa | 24-14 Iowa | 24-16 Iowa |
| USC at UCLA (+4.5) | 38-31 USC | 31-21 UCLA | 34-33 UCLA | 34-20 USC | 30-21 USC | 27-23 USC |
| Colorado at Kansas (+3) | 34-27 Colorado | 34-23 Colorado | 40-35 Colorado | 24-21 Kansas | 38-31 Colorado | 31-24 Kansas |
HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings
| Picker | Straight Up | Vs. Spread | Cumulative |
| Andy Kendeigh | 47-25 | 43-29 | 90 |
| Mike’l Severe | 47-25 | 38-34 | 85 |
| Robin Washut | 44-28 | 36-36 | 80 |
| Jim Rose | 44-28 | 33-39 | 77 |
| Sean Callahan | 40-32 | 37-35 | 77 |
| Steven Sipple | 39-33 | 32-40 | 71 |
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.
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