Inside NU - Northwestern vs. Nebraska GameweekRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2016-09-24T10:02:14-05:00http://www.insidenu.com/rss/stream/93488472016-09-24T10:02:14-05:002016-09-24T10:02:14-05:00How to watch Northwestern Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
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<figcaption>Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s another primetime matchup for the Wildcats.</p> <p id="Q8xCgQ">The first win of every season is always good to get out of the way and for Northwestern, that proved to be an elusive one. Now, the task gets tougher for the Wildcats with the start of Big Ten play against a Nebraska team that beat Oregon in Lincoln last week.</p>
<p id="qMYJqd">Led by dual-threat quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., the Cornhuskers have a dynamic offensive attack with a talented receiving core that has been able to make up for a subpar defense. After opening up their season with easy wins over Fresno State and Wyoming, Nebraska barely edged the Ducks despite allowing 336 rushing yards.</p>
<p id="prinnv">Northwestern’s schedule gets tougher after this game, as the Wildcats play three of their next four games on the road against Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State (with a home game against Indiana sandwiched in between). So, this game is really important for the Wildcats to get.</p>
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<li>Here’s this week’s <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/19/12972808/northwestern-football-depth-chart-week-4-nebraska">depth chart</a>. Matthew Harris and Kyle Quiero — both members of a beleagured Northwestern secondary — aren’t on it and won’t play Saturday due to injury. That will force guys like Trae Williams and Jared McGee back into the starting lineup.</li>
<li id="XXA5Fr">Pat Fitzgerald, for the first time this season after a win, <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/19/12973764/pat-fitzgerald-week-4-press-conference-notes-northwestern-football-nebraska-preview-defense-tommy">addressed the media</a> in his usual Monday press conference. Among other things, Fitz challenged the Northwestern media to catch punts at practice.</li>
<li id="il7dl9">Pound The Talk here! We <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/19/12982168/northwestern-duke-recap-podcast-pound-the-talk">recapped</a> the Duke win and <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/22/13021716/northwestern-nebraska-football-preview-2016-podcast-clayton-thorson-tommy-armstrong-justin-jackson">previewed</a> the Nebraska game.</li>
<li id="RMPHVZ">Clayton Thorson finally <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/20/12985040/northwestern-football-duke-film-analysis-clayton-thorson-solomon-vault-austin-carr">threw the ball downfield, successfully</a>. Austin Carr and Solomon Vault both ran down long Thorson throws for big gains.</li>
<li id="agyJVv">
<a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/21/12991812/nebraska-cornhuskers-northwestern-wildcats-football-preview-tommy-armstrong-jr-mike-riley">What to know</a> about Nebraska, what <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/21/12983982/northwestern-wildcats-nebraska-cornhuskers-three-key-matchups-big-ten-conference">matchups are notable</a> and <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/22/13007478/northwestern-nebraska-football-preview-2016-analysis-pat-fitzgerald-clayton-thorson-tommy-armstrong">why Northwestern might (or might not) </a>win its second straight game.</li>
<li id="oxN1F0">Tommy Armstrong is really fast, has a good arm and has been able to limit his turnovers this season. All around, he’s the <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/22/12998260/tommy-armstrong-jr-highlights-film-analysis-nebraska-cornhuskers-northwestern-wildcats-preview">most versatile player</a> Northwestern has had to gameplan for so far.</li>
<li id="VgT4qO">Our writers <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/23/13012378/northwestern-nebraska-football-predictions-football-2016-preview-analysis-inside-nu">don’t have much faith</a> in Northwestern taking down the Cornhuskers.</li>
<li id="4dZqR8">Finally, some Cornhuskers fans from the Nebraska SB Nation site <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/23/13033560/northwestern-nebraska-football-preview-q-and-a-corn-nation-mike-riley">chimed in</a> on the game.</li>
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<h2 id="DFjLIA">Broadcast Info</h2>
<p id="yuYUXn">Game time: 6:30 pm CST</p>
<p id="8NhMvT">TV channel: Big Ten Network</p>
<p id="ZFVMwq">Online stream: <a href="http://www.btn2go.com/">BTN2Go.com</a></p>
<p id="XHiY95">Mobile: <a href="http://www.btn2go.com/">BTN2Go</a></p>
<p id="qW19B6">Radio: <a href="http://wgnradio.com/">WGN 720 AM</a>, <a href="https://wnursports.com/listen-now/">WNUR 89.3 FM</a>, <a href="http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=640352&DB_OEM_ID=100&DB_OEM_ID=100">Huskers Radio Network</a></p>
<p id="N0DKig">Betting Line: Northwestern +8</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/9/24/13038238/northwestern-wildcats-nebraska-cornhuskers-game-time-tv-channel-online-stream-radio-betting-oddsJosh Burton2015-10-23T17:20:28-05:002015-10-23T17:20:28-05:00Northwestern to wear all-white uniforms against Nebraska<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/NU_Sports/status/657650015050059776">Northwestern to wear all-white uniforms against&nbsp;Nebraska</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>It's yet another new combination for the Wildcats. It's the second time this season they've worn all white, but the first time, at Duke, was the debut of a new helmet. This week, the helmet will be the classic white with a purple "N."</p></p></div>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9605604/northwestern-to-wear-all-white-uniforms-against-nebraskaHenry Bushnell2015-10-23T13:07:05-05:002015-10-23T13:07:05-05:00Inside NU's Northwestern-Nebraska picks
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<p>There's split once again, but the majority are taking the Cornhuskers</p> <p><i>It has't exactly been a fun couple of weeks to root for or be the Northwestern Wildcats. But at 5-2, Pat Fitzgerald's bunch is still looking to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012 and can still finish with a solid record. But it starts this week as the Wildcats look to put an end to their midseason slump. Memorial Stadium is no easy place to do so.</i></p>
<p><i>Here's how our writers see it playing out tomorrow. Make sure to make your picks below!</i></p>
<p><b>Henry Bushnell: Nebraska 24, Northwestern 13</b></p>
<p>If Northwestern is going to win this game, it's going to be because the defense returns to form. And I'm a bit more optimistic about that possibility than most. But Nebraska is better than a lot of people realize; the 3-4 record is fluky. There's a reason the Cornhuskers are 7.5-point favorites here. I think their offense will move the ball at least sporadically against Northwestern's defense, which is a lot more than NU's offense will be able to say, and in the end, it'll be a fairly comfortable win for Nebraska.</p>
<p><b>Josh Rosenblat: Nebraska 21, Northwestern 10</b></p>
<p>First things first: Nebraska is not as bad as its 3-4 record might look. A Hail Mary loss to BYU to open the year, then an overtime loss at Miami are nothing to be totally ashamed of. A one-point loss in Champaign isn't great, but Mike Riley's crew have improved over the season. The Cornhuskers even played well in a last-second loss to Wisconsin. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong, is still, in my opinion, the most talented quarterback in the Big Ten West and he's starting to get more comfortable operating in a pro-style attack. It's going to take a big day from Justin Jackson to get Northwestern over the hump and there's just no indication that the offense is up for the task.</p>
<p><b>Zach Pereles: Nebraska 27, Northwestern 13</b></p>
<p>Nebraska's offense is starting to round into shape and the Cornhusker defense is very good at stopping the run-- not quite as good as Michigan or Iowa but very good nonetheless. We've seen what happens to this Northwestern offense when it can't run the ball, and Nebraska knows that the offensive attack through the air has been next to incompetent this year. Nebraska gets some more short fields again thanks to turnovers and poor punts, and it's another long day for the Wildcats. Nebraska proves it's much better than its record says, while Northwestern proves it's much worse than its record says.</p>
<p><b>Josh Burton: Northwestern 20, Nebraska 7</b></p>
<p>After two weeks of violently regressing to the mean, this weekend is when Northwestern will finally get on track. On the road, away from the pressures and distractions of Evanston, the Wildcats' defense will return to Stanford and Duke form to force Tommy Armstrong Jr. into a few interceptions, which should open things up for the much-maligned offense. Dean Lowry and the defensive line will get some pressure, for once, on the Cornhuskers' less-than-stellar offensive line, forcing Armstrong out of the pocket and into making uncomfortable passes.</p>
<p><b>Nate Williams: Northwestern 20, Nebraska 19</b></p>
<p>Turnovers will be the biggest factor in deciding this game. I think Northwestern and Nebraska combine for 5-6, and we see a lot of FGs in this game. I think Nebraska's style of offense does not bode well against Northwestern's defense, which gets back to form and is able to amp up the pressure on Armstrong. I think we see a gutsy performance out of Thorson for the win.</p>
<p><b>Zach Wingrove: Nebraska 31, Northwestern 17</b></p>
<p>I don't expect this to be a competitive matchup. Nebraska's 3-4 record is very deceiving and Memorial Stadium is an extremely difficult place to play. So far this season, Northwestern's has offense struggled on the road and I don't expect that to change this week. I think Nebraska jumps out to an early lead and Northwestern's offense will not be able to match the scoring throughout the game.</p>
<p><b>Sam Brief: Nebraska 27, Northwestern 10</b></p>
<p>In the Nebraska's four losses this season, the Cornhuskers have fallen by an average of just 2.75 points per game—and I don't see this one ending up close to that number. Even as Thorson struggled early in the season, Northwestern had its strong rushing attack and top-rated defense. Now, seemingly nothing remains. Add a hostile road environment and you have the recipe for another ugly Big Ten loss.</p>
<p><b>Tristan Jung: Nebraska 34, Northwestern 26</b></p>
<p>While Nebraska's defense leaves something to be desired, Northwestern's offense has been essentially nonexistent these last two games. As long as the Wildcats avoid another spate of disastrous turnovers, the offense should be able to score some points. However, holding onto the football has not been Clayton Thorson's strong suit this year, as illustrated by his 5:5 TD to INT ratio and multiple fumbles. Perhaps the team's lackluster fumble recovery rate will regress back to the mean, and the offense can get something going against a Nebraska defense that is a major drop-off from Michigan and Iowa, but I think the Cornhuskers will be able to move the ball on a Wildcat defense that has looked exhausted the past two weeks.</p>
<p><b>Lyndsey Armacost: Nebraska 20, Northwestern 10</b></p>
<p>Coming off of a huge win over Minnesota, Nebraska is poised to take advantage of Northwestern's slightly struggling defense by racking up the passing yards. QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for three touchdowns in the win and, with cornerback Matthew Harris out with an injury, he will be looking downfield for his receivers to make big plays. Northwestern will need to give Justin Jackson more carries this week if they expect to put up any points but, if they can get the momentum going early, they might be able to stay in this game.</p>
<p><b>Ian McCafferty: Nebraska 27, Northwestern 13</b></p>
<p>This game will come down to two things for Northwestern, stopping the run and moving the ball on offense. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll be able to do either this week in Lincoln. The defense has had trouble making reads on running plays the last couple of weeks and Nebraska will almost certainly try to exploit that as early as they can. Tommy Armstrong Jr. is no slouch through the air either. Even if the defense returns to form, they still have to deal with the mess that is Northwestern's offense. I think the defense improves somewhat over the last two weeks, but the offense once again leaves them out to dry. For the third straight week, it won't be close.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9603786/northwestern-nebraska-football-predictions-projectionsInside NU Archives2015-10-23T12:15:31-05:002015-10-23T12:15:31-05:00Every Week is Hate Week: Nebraska
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<p><em>When you step back and take a look at it, college football is full of odd and comical minutiae. That's what makes it great. Every program has quirks that make it unique and also laughable to the outside world.</em></p>
<p><em>So each week during the 2015 season, Ben Goren will explore the weird ticks of Northwestern's opponents. Because... well, because Every Week is Hate Week.</em></p>
<p>In Week 8, Northwestern takes a trip over to Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 3-4 under new head coach Mike Riley and Husker fans, as they often do, are starting to freak out. <em>Why aren't we competing for national championships?</em> They might ask. And we have an answer. We are no longer in the 20th century.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9603462/every-week-is-hate-week-week-8-nebraskaJosh RosenblatBen Goren2015-10-23T11:00:03-05:002015-10-23T11:00:03-05:00Opponent Links, Week 8 — Nebraska Cornhuskers
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<p>Learn some more about the Cornhuskers, who are much better than their 3-4 record would indicate.</p> <p>On the surface, Nebraska doesn't look like very good of a team as the Cornhuskers -- in their first season with Mike Riley, and not the popular Bo Pelini, at the helm -- have struggled to a 3-4 record so far. After a strong Week 1 performance against BYU that only ended in defeat due to a last-second Hail Mary attempt, Nebraska beat FCS foe South Alabama and then put up a good fight against Miami (FL) in another tight loss.</p>
<p>The Cornhuskers, led by quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp, will also have star receiver DeMornay Pierson-El, who returned from a foot injury a few weeks ago but hasn't been at full strength. After getting some game action under him, he might be his explosive self on Saturday, and could resemble the player that returned three punts for touchdowns in 2014, his freshman campaign.</p>
<p>Here are some last-minute notes and links on the Wildcats' next conference foe:</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/125728/cornhuskers-expect-demornay-pierson-els-return-to-provide-jolt-of-electricity">Cornhuskers are excited to see what a fully healthy Pierson-El</a> can do, especially in the return game. Nebraska has desperately missed the explosiveness he provides.</li>
<li>Another <a href="http://nebraska.247sports.com/Bolt/Playing-clean-40466288">trend going Nebraska's way</a> is their turnover margin, which plagued the Cornhuskers in the beginning of the season but has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.omaha.com/huskers/mckewon-huskers-poor-turnover-margin-could-be-turning-around/article_c0c28407-1e99-5d80-bfa8-7571c6daffc4.html">shown signs of improvement</a>. Their 48-25 win over Minnesota last Saturday went a long way in that regard. </li>
<li>One major reason for Mike Riley's team's tough start to the 2015 season has been injuries, which have ravaged much of the defense. Now, defensive end Freedom Akinmoladun and cornerback Daniel Davie are back, <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1817166">along with other key players</a>, so the Cornhuskers should be much more stout on that side of the ball.</li>
<li>Building off that, the Nebraska pass defense, which has allowed the most yards through the air in the entire FBS, is <a target="_blank" href="http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/2015/gerry-pass-defense-making-strides-during-tough-transition/article_8f08f4ac-d282-5d30-8b90-0764c15b2a00.html">on the right track</a>, partly thanks to the return of Davie to the mix.</li>
<li>Jay Foreman, a former Nebraska and NFL linebacker, <a target="_blank" href="http://nebraska.247sports.com/Article/Former-Husker-Jay-Foreman-breaks-down-Nebraska-football-40447588">reviewed the Cornhuskers' win</a> over the Golden Gophers and thinks there are a lot of positives to take from the game going forward.</li>
<li>Finally, here are some <a target="_blank" href="http://nebraska.247sports.com/Bolt/Tuesday-practice-quick-hits-40429277">mid-week practice notes</a> about Nebraska that sift through the positional changes the team is dealing with due to all of the guys coming back from injury.</li>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9599336/northwestern-opponent-links-week-8-nebraska-cornhuskersJosh Burton2015-10-23T09:42:08-05:002015-10-23T09:42:08-05:00Why Northwestern will/won't beat Nebraska
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<p>Can the Wildcats end their two-game losing skid this week against the Cornhuskers?</p> <p><i>Every Thursday or Friday during football season, we'll be presenting reasons why Northwestern will or won't come away from its Saturday game victorious. It's not so much an argument for or against either result as it is envisioning the scenarios in which the Wildcats come away from the game with a win or a loss.</i></p>
<p><i>This week, Northwestern travels to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers currently sit with a 3-4 record and are coming off their first conference win of the season, a 48-25 win at Minnesota.</i></p>
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<p><i>With both Nebraska and Northwestern holding conference records of 1-2, Saturday's matchup will be a make-or-break game for the two teams. But it's even more than the records. A loss would send Northwestern deeper into its tailspin. A win would steady the ship in a time of uncertainty.</i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 1.5; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><i>So here are the reasons NU will or won't win on Saturday:</i></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">Why Northwestern will lose to Nebraska...</h3>
<h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 25px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">1. The offense picks up right where it left off last week</h4>
<p>Which is to say it continues to be one of the worst in FBS. Those who attributed the Wildcats' poor offensive performance two weeks ago to the elite play of the Michigan defense were in for a rude awakening last Saturday as the Northwestern offense looked completely incompetent for the second straight week. The Wildcats struggled to sustain any drive, racking up just 198 total yards. They had five three-and-outs and turned the ball over three times. In fact, aside from the 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the Wildcats failed to mount a drive of over 25 yards the rest of the day.</p>
<p>Since the loss to Iowa, many have tried to diagnose the problem behind Northwestern's offensive deficiencies — whether it be poor run blocking, excessive turnovers, receivers not getting open, Clayton Thorson struggling to hit open receivers or overly conservative play calling. The bottom line is, throughout the season, all of these have been reasons at different times. This week, Northwestern plays a Nebraska defense that excels against the run and will most likely force Thorson to make plays through the air. Which brings us to the next reason...</p>
<h4 style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-size: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">2. Northwestern could struggle to run the ball, again</h4>
<p>Northwestern has ran for a combined 89 total yards in its last two games. Over the season's first five weeks, Justin Jackson played a key role in the offense, receiving over 20 carries in every game and rushing for over 100 yards in four of the five games. However, over the last two weeks, opposing defenses have appeared to devote more attention to Jackson and, as a result, his production has fallen off significantly. The two defenses Northwestern faced (Michigan and Iowa) currently rank No. 4 and No. 6 in the nation in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef">rushing S&P+ defense</a>. Nebraska isn't far behind though at No. 25, the third best mark in the conference. In the past, Northwestern has tended to abandon the run when it falls behind early. If the Cornhuskers' offense jumps out to an early lead against the Wildcats on Saturday, it could result in Northwestern reverting to the normal, inefficient offensive game plan that we've seen the last two weeks.</p>
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<h4 style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-size: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">3. Nebraska will be able to run the ball</h4>
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<p>Although Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong has registered some impressive passing numbers this season, the Cornhuskers have also had some success running the ball. Lead back Terrell Newby has been inconsistent, but averages 5.7 yards per carry, and turned in his most impressive performance of 2015 last week against Minnesota as he rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Armstrong has also proven he can be an effective dual-threat quarterback, rushing for 244 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.</p>
<p>But the key factor here isn't Nebraska's rushing offense, but rather Northwestern's rushing defense. Iowa ran all over Northwestern last week (294 total yards and five rushing touchdowns allowed, in case you hadn't already heard), and any coach watching that game would be crazy not to try run the ball on Northwestern again this week. Expect Mike Riley to test the Wildcats' run defense early with some concepts similar to those that Iowa used last week.</p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">Why Northwestern will beat Nebraska...</h3>
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<h4 style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-size: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">1. Tommy Armstrong struggles</h4>
<p>Despite leading the Big Ten in both passing touchdowns (15) and passing yards (1,761) so far this season, Armstrong has had his ups and downs. Armstrong turned in his most impressive performance of the season last week in Nebraska's win over Minnesota, throwing for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while also completing 18 out of his 26 passes.</p>
<p>But Armstrong has also had several underwhelming performances in the Cornhuskers' losses. Against Illinois, he went 10-for-31 while throwing for just 105 yards, and against Wisconsin he completed 11-of-28 passes for 129 yards. In both of those games, Nebraska blew a fourth quarter lead and lost in the final seconds. If Northwestern can hold Armstrong in check and force him into another one of those ugly stat lines, the it'll be in good shape.</p>
<p>The good news for the Wildcats is that, for the most part, the secondary has consistently been a bright spot. Against Iowa, Northwestern held the Hawkeyes to just 198 yards through the air, picked off a C.J. Beathard pass, and never allowed a touchdown through the air. Traveon Henry, Nick VanHoose, Keith Watkins and Godwin Igwebuike have excelled in passing coverage for the majority of the year. But now without both Matt Harris and Kyle Queiro, the secondary's balance has been thrown off a bit The Wildcats will have to recalibrate against some very talented Nebraska receivers in Brandon Reilly, Alonzo Moore, De'Mornay Pierson-El and Jordan Westerkamp.</p>
<h4 style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-size: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">2. Justin Jackson has a bounce back week</h4>
<p>As mentioned above, Jackson has not looked like himself the last two weeks. But, if Northwestern wants to come away with a win at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, it will need its star running back to come to play. Due to the lopsided nature of the last two games for the Wildcats, Jackson has seen his carries reduced significantly and, as a result, should be rested and healthy for Saturday. Furthermore, in last year's 38-17 loss to Nebraska, Jackson was still able to register impressive numbers, rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Improvement on offense starts with the running game, and specifically Jackson. Jackson must be able to pick up yards on the ground on early downs. That will not only put Northwestern's offense in better situations, but it'll force Nebraska to key on the run, which in turn could open up the playbook for offensive coordinator Mick McCall.</p>
<h4 style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-size: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">3. Nebraska has struggled in close games this year</h4>
<p>Every one of the Cornhuskers' four losses this season has occurred in the final 10 seconds of the game. Against BYU, Nebraska lost on a heartbreaking 42-yard hail mary as time expired. Against Miami, an impressive 23-point comeback in the fourth quarter forced overtime, but was not enough as the Hurricanes kicked a game-winning field goal to win 36-33. Against Illinois, Nebraska blew a 13-0 fourth quarter lead and lost on a 1-yard touchdown by the Fighting Illini with 10 seconds remaining. And against Wisconsin, the Cornhuskers allowed Badgers' quarterback Joel Stave to lead a 6-play, 42-yard drive in the final minute of the game, capped off by a 46-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. Some of these late collapses are explained by luck. But Nebraska has proven in three of the four losses that it is capable of blowing a late fourth quarter lead, and this could bode well for Northwestern if the game is within one score heading into the final minutes.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9598610/northwestern-nebraska-football-preview-scenarios-matchupsZach Wingrove2015-10-23T09:10:01-05:002015-10-23T09:10:01-05:00How to watch Northwestern vs. Nebraska
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<figcaption>Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Northwestern Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers square off in Lincoln, Nebraska Saturday headed in opposite directions. Northwestern, who ascended into the top 15 after a 27-0 beatdown of Minnesota in Week 5, has fallen off a cliff. The Wildcats have lost two straight games, albeit both to ranked teams, by a combined 68 points.</p>
<p>Nebraska, on the other hand, is looking up. The Huskers are a remarkably unlucky 3-4 — they've lost their four games by a combined 11 points, and have lost games in overtime, on a last-second Hail Mary, on a last-second touchdown pass, and on a late field goal — but scored 48 points last week in a win over Minnesota. And more importantly, their underlying numbers are impressive. Nebraska comes into the matchup with Northwestern with a top-25 S&P+ offense and a sturdy run defense.</p>
<p>Here's what you need to know ahead of Saturday's game:</p>
<h3>Preview Links</h3>
<p>- Northwestern will be missing starting defensive tackle C.J. Robbins, who was <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9600666/northwestern-injury-report-c-j-robbins-matt-harris-nebraska" target="_blank">ruled out for Saturday on Northwestern's Week 8 injury report</a>.</p>
<p>- Northwestern's <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/19/9567583/northwestern-releases-week-8-depth-chart-for-nebraska" target="_blank">Week 8 depth chart</a> features a lot of changes on the offense line.</p>
<p>- Former Northwestern linebacker Nate Williams was in attendance for Northwestern's homecoming loss to Iowa, and <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9594070/northwestern-iowa-analysis-nate-williams-homecoming" target="_blank">tried to dissect what went wrong</a>.</p>
<p>- Nebraska SB Nation site Corn Nation <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9600114/opponent-q-a-previewing-northwestern-nebraska-with-corn-nation" target="_blank">gave as some great insight while also managing to troll Northwestern fans.</a></p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/19/9567841/pat-fitzgerald-week-8-press-conference-nebraska-iowa" target="_blank">Here's what Pat Fitzgerald had to say about Nebraska at his weekly press conference</a>.</p>
<p>- What the heck has gone wrong for Northwestern?<a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/21/9563409/northwestern-iowa-analysis-reaction-wildcats-woes-coaching-mick-mccall" target="_blank"> Our Josh Rosenblat has a theory</a>.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9595778/northwestern-vs-nebraska-preview-three-matchups-to-watch" target="_blank">Three matchups to watch on Saturday</a>.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9590104/northwestern-offense-brian-ferentz-iowa-football-2015" target="_blank">"Being honest with yourself is always the first step in fixing a problem."</a> - Kevin Trahan on the need for some objective self-assessment at Northwestern.</p>
<p>- Ian McCafferty <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/20/9572743/northwestern-iowa-akrum-wadley-touchdown-wildcats-linebackers-nick-van-hoose" target="_blank">breaks down Iowa's counter play that killed NU's defense</a>.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/21/9581783/nebraska-northwestern-preview-cornhuskers-scouting-report" target="_blank">Three things to know about the Nebraska Cornhuskers</a>.</p>
<p>- Pat Fitzgerald seems to think turnovers are a big problem for Northwestern's defense. But in reality, <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/20/9570973/turnovers-are-bad-risk-aversion-is-worse-for-northwestern-against" target="_blank">the problem is literally everything else</a>.</p>
<p>- Northwestern is sliding in our <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/20/9573335/northwestern-big-ten-power-rankings-week-7" target="_blank">Big Ten power rankings</a>. They're also <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/18/9563727/northwestern-ap-poll-coaches-poll-week-8-iowa" target="_blank">no longer a top 25 team</a>.</p>
<p>- Henry Bushnell and Jason Dorow <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/22/9601010/pound-the-talk-northwestern-vs-nebraska-preview" target="_blank">preview Northwestern-Nebraska on our bi-weekly podcast.</a></p>
<p>- Northwestern still could reach double digit wins, but our Henry Bushnell <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/20/9563667/northwestern-fandom-depressing-homecoming-iowa-loss-2015" target="_blank">almost feels as if the season is over</a>.</p>
<h3>Broadcast Information</h3>
<p><b>Start time:</b> 11 a.m. CT<br><b>TV:</b> ESPN2<br><b>Watch Online:</b> <a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index" target="_blank">WatchESPN</a><br><b>Mobile:</b> WatchESPN App<br><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720 AM, WNUR 89.3 FM<br><b>Listen Online:</b> <a data-ref-index="18" href="http://wgnradio.com/" target="_blank">WGN</a>, <a data-ref-index="19" href="https://www.wnur.org/" target="_blank">WNUR</a> <br><b>Line:</b> Nebraska -7.5</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/10/23/9601824/northwestern-wildcats-nebraska-cornhuskers-football-time-tv-online-streaming-oddsHenry Bushnell2015-10-22T19:38:47-05:002015-10-22T19:38:47-05:00PODCAST: Northwestern-Nebraska preview
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<p><i>Henry Bushnell and Jason Dorow try their very best to get excited about Northwestern's trip to Nebraska. Can Northwestern's passing offense have success against what is statistically one of the very worst pass defenses in the country? Or will Clayton Thorson and the Wildcats make Nebraska's secondary look surprisingly good? And is there any chance that Northwestern just randomly, stupidly plays really well in this game?</i></p>
<p>Listen below, or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-nus-pound-talk-wnur/id1019007360" target="_blank">subscribe, download and listen on iTunes</a>:</p>
<p><iframe src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/229656747&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" height="166" width="100%"></iframe></p>
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