Friday Night Game

Nebraska vs Minnesota -  The Cornhuskers and Golden Gophers have played some tight games over the last few weeks and Friday’s night game should be no different. No one seems to be taking Nebraska seriously, but they are sitting at 5-1 and they are in the top 25 and if they are able to keep this up they will find themselves in the mix of the College Football Playoff. With Penn State falling off the map and hosting USC, if they beat Minnesota, it will keep their post season dreams alive. Nebraska at the moment has the nation’s number #1 pass defense, they were able to shut down Maryland’s pass attack even though the Terps were able to hit the mid-range throws. A side note to that they haven’t played anyone that has a good passing game. Michigan beat the Cornhuskers by ripping off yards on the ground and Cincinnati did the same thing, only Cincy lost. Nebraska so far this season has played mostly from behind only to mount a comeback in the second half, sometimes very late in the second half. The legend of the big red “N” was built on the ground game, but this team has not been able to find its rushing attack and their passing game seems to only work in the second half when they are behind. They can’t allow the Gophers to get a good lead on them, because its doubtful they’ll be able to overcome it. Minnesota got beat by the hippies of Cal and then got streamrolled by Ohio State. The Golden Gophers are more of a find-a-way kind-of team right now. They are being held together by bailing wire and luck. They have a very good passing attack, but they can’t run the ball even when it seems they should. The defense isn’t stellar but one thing they do very well is that they create turnovers. They got four turnovers against Purdue and this could work wonderfully in their favor because Nebraska has trouble holding on to the ball, as they lost the pigskin three times against Maryland. This game is going to come down to who can make the least mistakes, the fewest penalties and not turn the ball over. Minnesota is a good, discipled team that doesn’t make many mistakes and they don’t have any distractions at the moment. Nebraska, however, has a very big distraction and that’s all this talk about HC Rhule meeting with Penn State about their Head Coaching vacancy. Its going to be a good game. Nebraska has the momentum, and it should carry them to victory, IF and it’s a big IF, they don’t turn the ball over. If they get butter fingers then all bets are off and Minnesota will win.