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Ranking Nebraska’s chances in its final 6 games and chances of a bowl berth
By Shawn Ekwall
Published:
Somehow, someway Nebraska mustered just enough offense to earn a key road win at Rutgers. The win moved the Cornhuskers to 3-3 at the midway point of the season. Considering the fact Nebraska hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2016, getting to 6 wins would be a positive step for the program.
What’s the remaining slate look like? It’s a challenge. Nebraska will likely be underdogs in most, if not all, its remaining games.
Let’s take a look at Nebraska’s final 6 games and the Huskers’ chances in each. We’ll rank each opponent from 1-6 on the Huskers probability to win.
1) Illinois – Oct. 29
The Illini are flying high after a 9-6 win over Iowa. The Illinois defense is playing lights out. They’re giving up just 8 points per game and are gaining confidence by the week.
Bret Bielema is pushing all the right buttons and has his team in contention in the B1G West. The Oct. 29 tilt in Lincoln will be a biggie. Both teams will enter off a bye week.
The reason we like Nebraska’s chances here is simple. Home game vs. a team that has not had success against the Huskers until recently. Yes, the Illini won last year’s season opener in Week 0. But that was against Scott Frost. Everyone beat Frost.
Nebraska should continue to build momentum under current head coach Mickey Joseph. The Huskers proved vs. Indiana that they’re more than prepared off a bye week. They’ll have another prior to Illinois coming to town. There’ll be plenty of urgency. The home crowd will be loud. Expect the home team to play with fire and energy. Nebraska will need this one to get to bowl eligibility.
2) Minnesota – Nov. 5
The Gophers are licking their wounds after losing a homecoming tilt to Purdue last week. Minnesota definitely missed the services of star running back Mohamed Ibrahim. How the Gophers fare upon his return is yet to be seen.
Minnesota is in the thick of the B1G West race. The Nov. 5 meeting in Lincoln will surely hold high stakes. Again, the Huskers and their home crowd should help provide an edge.
It’s hard to predict what the Vegas line on the game will be. The Gophers could be a short favorite. But again, the Huskers will be fighting for bowl eligibility. They’ll have some life — especially if they beat Illinois a week earlier. With the late-season slate looking difficult, the Huskers will need to be at their best vs. PJ Fleck’s team.
3) Wisconsin – Nov. 19
When Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh gave Paul Chryst a pink slip following the Badgers’ blowout loss to Illinois, it took many by surprise. But the Badgers, under interim coach Jim Leonhard, responded with a 42-7 beatdown of Northwestern the following week.
It certainly got the attention of everyone in the Big Ten. The Badgers were coming off back-to-back drubbings and looked like a team wandering lost through the woods.
Leonhard is likely to provide a spark for the latter half of the season. Similar to what Joseph is providing for Nebraska. The Nov. 19 showdown in Lincoln should have bowl implications. Possibly West Division implications as well. Again, the edge is Nebraska playing at home in front of 90,000 in Memorial Stadium.
The Huskers haven’t beaten Wisconsin since 2012. The Badgers have won 8 straight in the series. In order for the Huskers to reach a bowl, they’ll likely have to break through and end Wisconsin’s streak.
4) @ Iowa – Nov. 25
The Hawkeyes have been anemic on offense. Their performance against Illinois was beyond embarrassing.
But Iowa, like Wisconsin, has Nebraska’s number. They’ve won 7 straight in the series and haven’t lost to their border rivals since 2014. Iowa’s owned the line of scrimmage and their rushing attack has put a dagger through Nebraska on several occasions.
Nebraska will need to fix its offensive line issues to have a shot. Yes, Iowa’s been on the struggle bus, but everyone knows they’ll be ready the day after Thanksgiving against their hated rival. Expect another slugfest, where turnovers and a play or 2 here and there decide the outcome. At least former Hawkeyes kicker Keith Duncan won’t be there. Duncan ended 2 of Iowa’s 7 straight wins with game-winning kicks.
5) @ Purdue – Oct. 15
The Boilers have it rolling. They’ve won 2 straight on the road and look like the team to beat in the B1G West at the moment.
Getting QB Aidan O’Connell back and healthy has been key. He missed the Boilers’ shaky 28-26 win over Florida Atlantic, but he returned to lead a 20-10 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Purdue enters as a 13.5-point favorite over visiting Nebraska. It will take a monumental effort for the Huskers to escape West Lafayette victorious.
The Boilermakers have won 3 of the past 4 in the series and head coach Jeff Brohm has things rolling following early, close losses to Penn State and Syracuse. Saturday’s matchup will go a long way in determining the West Division champ.
6) @ Michigan – Nov. 12
The Wolverines are buzzing along at 6-0. Granted, at times it hasn’t been a dominating 6-0. But Michigan, in their home stadium, is a ridiculously tall order for this Nebraska team.
Nebraska will need to do work prior to and after this game. The Wolverines and their personnel are on a different talent level than Nebraska at the moment. Blake Corum is in the Heisman discussion. JJ McCarthy is the real deal at QB.
Michigan will likely be on an unbeaten collision course with Ohio State. Don’t expect the Wolverines to stub their toe.
Final thoughts
Mickey Joseph has done a phenomenal job righting the ship following a disastrous start. But the Huskers still need help to get bowl eligible.
They are likely underdogs in 5 of the final 6 games. Bowl eligibility is still a long shot. The offense — especially the offensive line — will need to be better. The defense will have to do its part.
But from what we’ve learned over the past 3 weeks, you can’t count Nebraska out. It’s a group that’s been reborn under Joseph and his staff.
Shawn Ekwall has been a contributing writer for Huskers Illustrated and covers the Huskers and other B1G teams for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on twitter @shawn_ekwall