Nebraska football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

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Oct 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Isaiah Williams (1) runs for a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /

This could either end up being Matt Rhule’s first signature win as Nebraska head coach or a blowout. I don’t think there will be any in-between.

Unfortunately, the reigning Big Ten champs will have their way with Nebraska in Lincoln, gearing up for a third straight title run.

JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards are the three-headed monster that no one wants to see on the schedule.

Michigan wins comfortably.

Prediction: Loss (2-3, 0-2)

The schedule doesn’t get much easier the week after Michigan as the Cornhuskers will travel to face divisional foe Illinois in Champaign. A couple of years ago, this would have been considered a cakewalk game, but now that Bret Bielema has the program at Illinois trending in the right direction, it’s far from an easy win.

Illinois spent some time in the AP Top 25 last season and I expect the Illini to be solid once again with Luke Altmyer coming over from Ole Miss to start under center. Replacing Chase Brown in the backfield, however, won’t be an easy task.

I think this will be a close game, but the Illini hand Nebraska its fourth loss in six games to start the season.

Prediction: Loss (2-4, 0-3)

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