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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!
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