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Nebraska Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Iowa in Week 13

By Connor Muldowney

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Tanner Lee #13 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers passes against the Northwestern Wildcats at Memorial Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Tanner Lee #13 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers passes against the Northwestern Wildcats at Memorial Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Nebraska football will host Iowa for the annual conference rivalry game. Here’s everything you need to know for the Big Ten battle.

Mike Riley’s time in Lincoln may be running out. The Nebraska head coach has led the team to just a 4-7 overall record and the Cornhuskers’ first bowl-less season since 2007 in Bill Callahan’s last season as head coach. Nebraska is a proud program, though, and will continue to sell out Memorial Stadium, even with nothing to play for.

Tulane transfer Tanner Lee took over under center this season and had a shaky start to the season, but has come on as of late — even though it hasn’t translated in the win column. He has passed for 2,938 yards and 21 touchdowns with 13 picks (nine in the first four weeks). He has been helped out by top receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. who has 54 catches for 912 yards and eight scores.

Iowa, on the other hand, is coming off one of the most devastating losses of the Kirk Ferentz era. The Hawkeyes were just two weeks removed from a 21-point thrashing of Ohio State at home, but Purdue came to town and they just couldn’t stay motivated against the Boilermakers. You can attribute that to a lack of focus and loss of motivation after a Wisconsin loss — and being out-coached.

The Hawkeyes will look to bounce back for a seventh win on the season against the Cornhuskers in Lincoln in what has become one of the more intriguing Big Ten rivalries. Nathan Stanley leads the Hawkeyes into Lincoln with his 2,146 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air. Don’t sleep on Akrum Wadley in the backfield, either. He has 862 yards and six scores. Who wins the rivalry?

Here’s how you can watch Friday’s Nebraska vs. Iowa game:

Date: Friday, Nov. 24
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: FOX Sports 1
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

Continue to feed the hot hand. Isn’t that the famous saying? Nebraska needs to continue to let Lee sling the ball around the field because he’s been torching defenses lately. Who knew after the first few weeks of the season when he had seven touchdowns and nine interceptions that he would become one of the Big Ten’s best passers? Against Iowa’s formidable secondary, Lee needs to avoid the turnover bug and just continue to remain hot. That’s easier said than done, but he must play like he did against Penn State.

Iowa must stay focused. After losing to Purdue at home to drop to 6-5 on the year, it’s easy to mentally check out on the season. Ferentz must make sure his team is ready to go for a rivalry showdown in Lincoln. If the Hawkeyes are going to have any success and shot at winning, they need to make sure Lee is uncomfortable and forces some ill-advised throws to Josh Jackson’s side of the field.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 12

Prediction

Coming off a horrid loss at home to Purdue, Iowa is going to be playing slightly angry in this one. The Cornhuskers, on the other hand, are facing Senior Day and a bowl-less season. Who has more to play for? The Hawkeyes — but it won’t show until the second half. Nathan Stanley will look sluggish early on, but he will eventually win the quarterback duel against Tanner Lee. Akrum Wadley will add 100 yards on the ground as this will be another grind-it-out battle that Iowa is used to.

Final Score: Iowa 24, Nebraska 21

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