Nebraska football will play in Week 0 for the second straight season and this time, Northwestern awaits. Here are three bold predictions.
It’s not every day that you see a Big Ten game played in Dublin, but that’s what will happen on Saturday as the conference will open its 2022 schedule with Nebraska football and Northwestern going head-to-head in a conference game.
Northwestern and Nebraska were each 3-9 last season with one Big Ten win to their credit, so it’s not exactly a marquee matchup. Just don’t tell that to Huskers fans, who have flocked to Ireland to watch their team hopefully turn things around in Scott Frost’s fifth year.
Frost has never won more than five games at Nebraska and this season is a make-or-break one for him. No question about it. Last season, Nebraska football made Northwestern look silly and won 56-7 over Pat Fitzergald’s team which played for the Big Ten West title in 2020.
There are questions surrounding both programs but reasons for optimism too. As far as Northwestern football goes — Fitzgerald is the reason for optimism. He’s won with less so many times, fans have to feel he can do it again. But has the magic finally run out?
Will the magic ever come back for Nebraska football? On Saturday, we start to get some answers, and as far as what we think — here are our predictions (score at the end).
Nebraska football won’t win by 49
That doesn’t seem like much of a prediction and it was more of an attention-grabber I guess. My main point is that Northwestern football isn’t going to go down without a fight.
The defense returns some decent pieces at all three levels, including its second-leading tackler in Bryce Gallagher as well as sack leader Adetomiwa Adebawore (4.5 sacks, 8.5 TFL).
Adebawore should challenge Nebraska’s offensive line but if his teammates don’t offer enough help, Nebraska should be able to neutralize him. Northwestern is also without Brandon Joseph, the best player on the defense the past two seasons after he transferred to Notre Dame.
The cards are stacked against Northwestern but again Pat Fitzgerald. He knows how to prepare for bowl games and this is like one. Nebraska hasn’t been to one of those since 2016 (not a typo) and that will help keep this game close, along with Northwestern’s pride.
I’m not saying the Wildcats will win, but you wouldn’t be crazy to bet on them with the spread because this will be a competitive football game.