Nebraska Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

While it may be hard to believe given Nebraska’s rich history and Purdue‘s reputation of mediocrity, the all-time series between the Huskers and Boilermakers is even at 4-4 with Nebraska having a 4-3 advantage since they joined the Big Ten.

The Boilermakers have won each of the last two matchups, including winning 42-28 in Lincoln back in 2018 and grabbing an upset 31-27 win at home last year, ultimately keeping the Huskers out of a bowl game.

With Big Ten opening the season with some conference matchups, the Huskers will be tested from the jump and the Boilermakers aren’t a team to face rusty.

They have two of the conference’s top receivers in Rondale Moore and David Bell and a stingy defensive line that won’t allow Adrian Martinez to beat them with his legs. Thus, despite home field, it’s hard to pick the Huskers here in a big opening week challenge.

Final Score: Purdue 30, Nebraska 27 (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

After a brutal, 1-11 season in 2018, the Central Michigan Chippewas produced one of college football’s best turnarounds in 2019.

Under former Florida head coach Jim McElwain, the Chippewas put together an 8-4 regular season that saw them win the MAC West just a year removed from finishing last. This came after the team was projected to finish last in the West by the media preseason and had only one person vote predicting they’d reach the conference title game.

While they’d fall to Miami (OH) in the MAC title game and to San Diego State in the New Mexico Bowl, 2019 was a great season that likely sets up for another year of winning in 2020.

Thus, Nebraska will be getting all they can ask for when CMU comes to Lincoln for a Week 2 clash, but with the Huskers desperate, they will likely string enough together to get the win in their non-conference opener.

Final Score: Nebraska 34, Central Michigan 24 (1-1)