Nebraska vs. Indiana: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday
By Sean Callahan,
15 hours ago
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Nebraska travels to Indiana, as the Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0) and Huskers (5-1, 2-1) are coming off a bye week.
No. 16/18 IU is 6-0 for the first time as a program since 1967, while NU finds itself ranked for the first time in October since 2016.
As kickoff approaches, here are today’s keys to victory for Nebraska over Indiana. The Hoosiers are currently a 6.5-point favorite over the Huskers. Today’s game is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff on FOX.
A big key for Nebraska’s offense is finding more efficiency in the running game. The Huskers need to find more explosive plays in the 10 to 25-yard range rather than the 3 to 7-yard run plays they have been living on for most of this season.
KEY 2: Discipline on defense
Indiana will test the discipline of the Blackshirt defense with the different run-pass option plays. The Huskers must play their keys and not get off-balanced.
KEY 3: Dylan Raiola’s downfield reads
We know QB Dylan Raiola has a big arm. This is an advantage for Nebraska going into this game. They need to use it and connect on a few shot plays down the field.
KEY 4: Dominate the line of scrimmage on defense
NU’s defensive line is another advantage the Huskers have going into this game. Nebraska must win on early downs and take advantage of its defensive line. They can’t keep them on the field and let them get tired. That is how Illinois was able to take control of the game.
KEY 5: Play like the underdog
All the pressure is on Indiana in this game. It’s been a lovefest for the Hoosiers this week with their 6-0 start. Nebraska needs to come in like the underdog with its head down and just go to work. If they keep that approach, good things will happen.
On paper, Nebraska has more talent than Indiana and an advantage at the line of scrimmage on defense. The Blackshirts will have their way up front, and Dylan Raiola has a big day, leading the Huskers to a win in Bloomington.
Holding Indiana to 21 points will require an elite-level performance, but the Blackshirts seem to be surging, and the Hoosiers have seen nothing that approaches the talent of Tony White’s crew. Meanwhile, NU’s offense should be able to gut out 24 points – yes, including a made field goal.
Today is the ultimate prove-it game for both Nebraska and Indiana. For the Huskers, it’s an opportunity to reestablish themselves in the CFP conversation while also ending their ugly bowl drought and top-25 losing streak. For the Hoosiers, this marks one of the biggest games in the program’s recent history and could vault them as a legitimate playoff contender. Maybe the most significant x-factor will be which team handles that pressure the best. If it comes down to that, I see NU proving a lot of doubters wrong in Bloomington.
Score first, score often. Nebraska’s outscored its first six opponents 38-17 in the first quarter and a remarkable 58-3 in the second quarter. If the Huskers jump out to the early lead look out. Indiana has yet to trail this season. Get the Hoosiers on their heels and the big red can punch its ticket to bowl eligibility.
Biggest game at IU in 57 years—which is the last Fall the Hoosiers won the Big Ten and played in the Rose Bowl. Wonder how many of those guys (still around) figured they’d be the LAST IU team to start 6-0? Here’s the mirage: The Hoosiers have been really good but against very average competition. So what do they have other than confidence and buy-in, which is big. That said, I think the Blackshirts are on a different level than anybody else in the league. And nothing dents a home-field advantage quite like a stifling defense. If IU doesn’t hit the Huskers with chunk plays—for scores, this one will go to the REAL Big Red.
As bad as Indiana’s schedule looks on paper, they have still exceeded expectations. IU is among the top 3 EPA schedule-adjusted offenses in the country and is in the top 10 in avoiding havoc plays. I think the game comes down to how Dylan Raiola handles IU’s top 20 pressure rate. So far this season that has been Raiola’s kryptonite with his completion rate dropping from 73% to 46% when throwing from a crowded pocket. IU’s QB Kurtis Rourke has had several turnover-worthy plays. I think NU forces a few turnovers, and that leads to a Husker win if they have better success finishing drives. NU is 108th in Finishing Drives, averaging only 3.2 points per scoring opportunity.
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