Northern Illinois Huskies (1-1) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-2)
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers 9/16/23 – As Week Three of college football begins, Northern Illinois Huskies (1-1) face off against Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-2). The game will take place at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium and will be broadcast by FS1.
Northern Illinois is counting on Antario Brown and Kacper Rutkiewicz to score points. Brown has made 38 rushing attempts for 112 yards, averaging 2.9 yards per carry; Rutkiewicz, on the other hand, has 11 receptions totaling 185 receiving yards to show he can be counted upon when their quarterback needs someone reliable to move the chains quickly.
Gabe Ervin Jr. and Billy Kemp IV are key components to Nebraska’s Cornhuskers offense. Ervin has posted an impressive average of 5.4 yards per rush attempt over 24 attempts, but he hasn’t found the end zone yet. Kemp, while limited to only five receptions so far this season, has amassed 57 receiving yards indicating his potential as an effective target – though more involvement from him will help Nebraska claim its first win of 2019. If you’re looking for the free expert NCAAF picks, consider their matchups carefully.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Game Info
| When: | Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 7:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | FS1 |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Rocky Lombardi QB vs. Jeff Sims QB
Rocky Lombardi has had an uneven season, completing 36 out of 66 passing attempts for 462 yards at 54.5 completion percentage and 3 interceptions against 5-sacks for an overall passer rating of 109.3. Lombardi’s longest pass completion has been 62 yards. Still, only one touchdown has resulted from this deep-ball ability, indicating that his deep-ball ability has yet to translate to points as efficiently.
On the other side, Jeff Sims has been dealing with struggles of his own. A 58.8% completion rate, coupled with 220 passing yards over 34 attempts, doesn’t exactly scream efficiency. Moreover, Sims has tossed 4 interceptions and been sacked 5 times, leading to a dismal passer rating of 99.4. His longest throw has been a 34-yarder, and he has just one touchdown pass, indicating that Nebraska’s aerial attack is yet to find its rhythm.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Nebraska Cornhuskers -410, Total Odds: 41.5
Looking at the betting odds, the Cornhuskers are significant favorites with a moneyline of -410 and a point spread of -11. The total odds are set at 41.5. Given Nebraska’s struggles, the point spread seems a bit inflated, providing an opportunity for those willing to bet on the Huskies to cover.
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends
In recent trends, Northern Illinois has not been doing well against the spread, covering just twice in their last 7 games. Despite this, their tendency to go over the total in 11 of their last 15 games is noteworthy. The Huskies have also been far from dominant, with a 3-10 straight-up record in their last 13 games. However, they have covered the spread in 6 of their last 8 road games, making them a tempting pick when away from home.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends
The Cornhuskers have fared somewhat better against the spread, covering 4 times in their last 6 games. Interestingly, the total has gone under in 6 of their last 7 games, and they are 1-7 straight-up in their last 8 games. At home, the total has consistently gone under in their last 5 games, a trend that could influence the over/under betting for this matchup.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers 9/16/23 Betting Picks
Given both teams’ quarterback struggles and defensive vulnerabilities, this game could be more competitive than the point spread suggests. The Cornhuskers are still looking for their first win, and the pressure to perform at home might affect their game. The Huskies have been fairly good against the spread on the road and could use this to their advantage.
The over/under line of 41.5 seems a bit conservative given Northern Illinois’ recent trend of high-scoring games. Therefore, taking the “Over” may be a good bet. However, Nebraska’s recent trend of low-scoring home games does present a counterpoint.
Finally, while Nebraska is favored, their inability to win games lately makes it hard to justify such a heavy point spread in their favor. Northern Illinois +11 appears to be a safer bet, especially if you’re looking for a potential upset. For more insights and potential betting opportunities, you can also explore some free sports picks.
Free Pick and Prediction: Northern Illinois 24, Nebraska 20.