Nebraska vs. Northwestern Week 0 College Football Picks: Big Ten Rivals Meet in Ireland
Big Ten rivals Northwestern and Nebraska both hope to put last year’s disappointing 3-9 campaigns behind them when they kick off the 2022 season across the pond in Dublin. Nebraska pounded the Wildcats 56-7 last year in Lincoln and is favored by nearly two touchdowns to win this weekend’s rematch.
Can Northwestern give the Huskers a tougher test this time or even pull off the upset? We break it down in our Nebraska-Northwestern college football picks for Week 0 (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Nebraska vs. Northwestern Game Info
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug. 27, 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Weather: 57 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 4-mph winds
Nebraska vs. Northwestern Odds Analysis
Nearly 70% of the early tickets have been on the Huskers, causing the point spread to soar as high as Nebraska -13 after opening at -10. The Under has also been an extremely popular play - receiving 76% of the cash and 59% of the bets as of the time of writing - which pushed the total down four points from an opener of 54.5.
Nebraska vs. Northwestern Picks
Nebraska vs. Northwestern ATS Pick
Northwestern +13 (-110) ★★★★
Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats are always worth a look when they’re spotted this many points, going 17-11-2 ATS in their last 30 games as double-digit underdogs. The defense is projected to be a lot better than last year’s unit that surrendered 213 rushing yards per contest, while Northwestern’s own running game should be solid with 1,000-yard back Evan Hull returning and junior Cam Porter back from injury. They’ll also be motivated to avenge last year’s humiliating 49-point loss to the Huskers in Lincoln.
Meanwhile, opening the season as two-touchdown favorites isn’t an ideal situation for coach Scott Frost and a Cornhuskers team under a lot of pressure to go bowling for the first time since 2016. The offense should be improved with transfer quarterback Casey Thompson at the helm, but it could take some time for Thompson and the other new faces in the Nebraska lineup to gel.
Nebraska vs. Northwestern O/U Pick
Under 50.5 (-110) ★★
The reasons I like Northwestern to keep things close also point towards the potential for a lower-scoring ballgame. That’s the style the Wildcats typically try to play when they’re overmatched, going 17-12-1 to the Under in their last 30 as underdogs of 10 or more, and there’s no reason to deviate here. Expect Northwestern to emphasize the run game in an effort to limit turnovers, an issue that plagued them last season.
In addition to unveiling Thompson at quarterback, the Cornhuskers offense is still adjusting to four new offensive assistants - including new coordinator Mark Whipple - and has several new starters on the front line. On the other side of the ball, Nebraska should be more stout up front with the addition of defensive end Ochaun Mathis, who averaged nearly half a sack per game in 38 career appearances for TCU.
Where to Bet on Nebraska vs. Northwestern Picks
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Nebraska-Northwestern picks made 8/22/2022 at 9:30 p.m. ET
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