Nebraska Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Purdue in Week 9

After a much-needed bye week, Nebraska football looks to get back on track as the Huskers travel to West Lafayette to take on Purdue.

Mike Riley’s Nebraska team limps into Saturday’s game at 3-4 overall. The Huskers dropped back-to-back games at home to Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Ohio State game was lopsided from the onset and Memorial Stadium looked like a ghost town by game’s end. You can bet that doesn’t sit well with the Husker faithful in Lincoln.

Purdue is under a resurgence under first-year head coach Jeff Brohm. The Boilermakers hit a road block after dropping a 14-12 decision at Rutgers last week. The quarterback position is of concern and Brohm is hinting towards ending the two-headed system of David Blough and Elijah Sindelar. Brohm says he knows who Saturday’s starter will be, but won’t make it known until kickoff. Look for whoever is named the starter to get the majority of the snaps on Saturday.

Both teams enter on two-game losing streaks, and any hopes of gaining bowl eligibility would dramatically improve with a win. In order to notch a win, Purdue must find its offense. The Boilermakers are last in the Big Ten during conference play scoring just 15.5 points per game. They’ve scored just one touchdown the past two games.

Nebraska hopes Tulane-transfer quarterback Tanner Lee can find his groove. Lee is completing 55 percent of his passes and has thrown 13 touchdowns. However, his 10 interceptions are the highest among all Big Ten quarterbacks. Brohm had high praise for Lee in Monday’s press conference — calling Lee the best quarterback outside of Lamar Jackson, the Boilers would face all season.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s game between Nebraska and Purdue:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Venue: Ross-Ade Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
Live stream: BTN2Go

Keys to Victory

Nebraska enters as a 6.5 point underdog. Reality seems to have set in, in Lincoln. Nebraska just isn’t very good. The days of buzzing past lesser opponents is long gone. Nebraska must get a stellar effort from Lee and its offensive line in order to put themselves into position to win.

Look for junior running back Devine Ozigbo to get the majority of the carries. Nebraska must have offensive balance to keep its maligned defense off the field. Finishing off drives with points will be key. If Nebraska can play keep-away, consistently put points on the board, and limit turnovers, the chances of a Huskers’ win improve immensely.

Purdue’s defense has kept it in games all season. The Boilermakers allowed only 17 points in a loss at Wisconsin just two weeks ago. It’s the Purdue offense that must kick it in gear. Whoever is under center must be productive. Brohm is looking for not only a legitimate passing threat, but someone that can stress defenses with his legs. Nebraska’s 3-4 defense has been vulnerable to the run, and if Purdue can make hay running it, the passing game becomes more of a threat.

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Prediction

This is a hard game to get a feel for. Both teams come in having lost two in a row. Both have shown glimpses of solid play, but inconsistency has been a nemesis of each. My hunch is the bye week came at an opportune time for Nebraska. Having two weeks to heal injuries and prep for this game will be the difference. Drew Brown, Nebraska’s reliable kicker will nail the game-winner on the final drive as the Huskers pull out a close win on the road.

Final Score: Nebraska 27, Purdue 24