Lowes Line
Posted
10/12/18

 




 
Nebraska Preview and Prediction
 

By Charlie Simon

Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-5, 0-3) at Northwestern Wildcats (2-3, 2-1)
Date: 11:00 a.m. (CDT), Saturday, October 13, 2018, Ryan Field
TV: ABC
Line: Northwestern -3.5
 
The Lowes Line is going to be a little abbreviated this week as their was internal scheduling confusion.
 
Last Game Review:  Last week looked like it was going to be a repeat of the Michigan game two weeks ago.  NU got out to a lead and then the opposing team shuts them down in the second half and pulls away to win.  But this time NU was able to actually put together a drive and score in the second half.  The defense did the rest and the 'Cats got their second win of the year to spoil MSU's Homecoming.
 
Outlook:

 
Nebraska comes in with a record of 0-5. Yes that is not a typo.  They are simply "Not Good".  First year coach Scott Frost has weekly pivoted back and forth from praising his players to calling them soft trying to get them to perform as he would like.  So far neither has worked.  Neb is mistake prone and leads the league in penalties.  This is not your father's Nebraska, or even yours.

NU looks like they have a good defense this year.  They have held both UM and MSU in check.  The problem is on offense.  The running game is almost non existent both due to lack of production and early abandonment.  Today even if they are not picking up yards we need to keep running the ball.  Eventually we will wear down Big Red.  Thorson has been very streaky this year.  One quarter he looks great, the next not so much.  A balanced game plan will help by not putting all the pressure on him.  He had some great touchdown passes last week but they were low percentage passes that could have easily been incomplete.  He was lucky on a few.  Luck does not last.

I think this one is going to be close.  Nebraska, out of desperation believes it can and must win this game.  Also NU always has trouble with running Quarterbacks.

Finally I remember why I moved South.  I was waterskiing last weekend.  Damn it is cold here.  See you at the game and Go 'Cats!
 
Pick: Northwestern wins, but barely.  Nebraska covers.  20-17.
 
Season to Date:  Straight up, 2-3.  Against the Spread, 4-1


 


The Lowes Line is an e-mailed description of NU's next football game, with an invariably fearless prediction of the outcome and how NU will fare against what the other "experts" predict.  Our good friend and Brother Marcus Lowes began the broadcast mailing in 1996.  The crack Lowes Line Staff (alumni Jersey Cat, GallopingGrapes, Eric Cockerill, Joel Kanvik, Charlie Simon, and MO'Cats) have continued the Line in memory of Marcus.  For the 2018 season it has returned to HailToPurple.com, for anyone to enjoy.  Thanks to the gridiron brain trust at the Lowes Line!