Illinois vs. Nebraska: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday
Both Nebraska (3-4, 2-2) and Illinois (6-1, 3-1) are coming off their bye week as they get ready for today’s game in Memorial Stadium.
The No. 17 ranked Illini are currently led by the nation’s leading rusher Chase Brown and also have the top overall defense in yards (221.1 ypg) allowed and scoring (8.86 ppg) in all of NCAA FBS football.
As things get closer to kickoff, here are the keys to victory for Nebraska and the HuskerOnline Saturday score predictions. The Illinois vs. Nebraska game is set for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC. The Illini currently sit as a 7.5-point favorite.
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KEYS TO VICTORY: Illinois vs. Nebraska
KEY 1: Keep Chase Brown under 150 yards
This will be no easy task, but if the Huskers can limit Brown’s breakout runs in the second level and keep him under 150 yards rushing, they will have a chance to win this football game. If Brown busts a few runs early, it could be a long Saturday.
KEY 2: Find ways to free up Trey Palmer
With two weeks to prepare, you have to expect Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters to be fully ready for Nebraska wide receiver Trey Palmer. What new wrinkles will Mark Whipple throw at Illinois to free Palmer downfield?
KEY 3: Handle Illinois’s physicality on defense
The Illini have the top defense right now in college football. They average just six missed tackles per game according to PFF, along with 20.3 QB pressure plays per game. They have 23 sacks on the season. Can the Huskers handle their physicality?
KEY 4: Play assignment sound defense
621 of Brown’s rushing yards have come after contact. He has 33 runs of 10+ yards on the season – nearly five per game. NU has to play sound up front and not allow yards after contact and runs of 10+ yards due to assignment misses.
KEY 5: Finish drives in the red zone
Illinois is allowing less than 9 points per game. 23 is the most they have allowed all season in their lone loss against Indiana. NU has to find ways to maximize their scoring opportunities, which they have been good in this area all season. The Illini have also not seen a QB and passing attack anywhere near as talented as Nebraska’s. The Huskers need to make a few big plays early to set the tone and get Walters guessing on defense.
EXPERT TAKE: Illinois vs. Nebraska
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher
This game will go back and forth with a couple of different lead changes. In the end, Chase Brown will get the last word, and Illinois’s defense will get the key stops down the stretch to leave Lincoln in the clear driver’s seat to win the Big Ten West.
Illinois 27 Nebraska 23
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist
Illinois will get the ball last, and Nebraska won’t keep Chase Brown from the end zone as the Illini narrowly avoid an upset. Logic dictates that Illinois is the pick because Bret Bielema quickly has put a formula in place designed to win in the rugged Big Ten. Meanwhile, Mickey Joseph is trying his best to make it work with a less-than-desirable situation. In this case, he’ll come up just short.
Illinois 27, Nebraska 20
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer
Illinois will present some of the most daunting challenges on both sides of the ball that Nebraska has faced this season. However, I think the same could be said for what the Fighting Illini will see from the Huskers, especially with NU’s offensive firepower at the skill positions. All the attention will be on stopping Trey Palmer, but I see others taking advantage of the increased one-on-one opportunities. That said, the defense stopping Chase Brown and Illinois’ running game might be a totally different story.
Illinois 28 Nebraska 24
Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
Can Nebraska stop the run? The Huskers are dead last in the Big Ten in rushing defense (190 yards/game) facing the nation’s leading rusher in Chase Brown without one of their best run stoppers in Nick Henrich. That’s the matchup. Nebraska will be able to score some points somehow some way the question is can the Huskers slow down the Illini’s rushing attack? I’m not sure they can.
Illinois 27 Nebraska 21
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
Illinois brings the nation’s top defense to Lincoln with an asterisk: They’ve yet to see big-play athletes like Thompson, Palmer and Grant on the same team at the same time. So the Huskers will move the ball. But Illinois has underrated weapons too: RB’s, OL, WR’s and a serviceable QB. Plus a defense that might bend but strike you. Throw in the best coaching staff in the B1G and the Huskers come up just a little short.
Illinois 28, Nebraska 20
Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
I could see this game going one of three ways. 1) Illinois dominates the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and wins by two TDs or more. 2) The best offense that Illinois has played this year hits several explosive plays and it’s a close one late into the 4th quarter. 3) Both teams come out sloppy off their bye weeks, and it’s one of those Big Ten West grinds which would benefit the Huskers.
Illinois 23, Nebraska 17
HuskerOnline Week 9 Score Predictions
| Week 7 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l Severe |
| Illinois at Nebraska | 27-23 Illinois | 27-20 Illinois | 28-24 Illinois | 27-21 Illinois | 28-20 Illinois | 23-17 Illinois |
| Ohio State at Penn State | 41-24 Ohio State | 31-24 Ohio State | 41-24 Ohio State | 37-20 Ohio State | 31-17 Ohio State | 38-20 Ohio State |
| Northwestern at Iowa | 20-7 Iowa | 17-7 Iowa | 10-6 Iowa | 6-3 Iowa | 21-6 Iowa | 23-7 Iowa |
| Notre Dame at Syracuse | 34-27 Syracuse | 24-22 Syracuse | 28-21 Syracuse | 28-24 Notre Dame | 27-17 Syracuse | 31-28 Notre Dame |
| Oklahoma State at K-State | 37-34 Okla. State | 37-21 Okla. State | 33-27 Okla. State | 27-24 Okla. State | 42-28 Okla. State | 30-27 K-State |
| Ole Miss at Texas A&M | 31-30 Texas A&M | 38-28 Ole Miss | 48-17 Ole Miss | 34-30 Ole Miss | 45-42 Texas A&M | 21-20 Texas A&M |
HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings
| Expert picker | Straight Up | vs. The Spread | Cumulative Total |
| Jim Rose KFAB/iHeart Radio | 24-13 | 22-15 | 46 |
| Mike’l Severe Big Red Wrap-Up | 28-9 | 14-23 | 42 |
| Sean Callahan HuskerOnline | 23-14 | 17-20 | 40 |
| Andy Kendeigh KETV ABC-Omaha | 22-15 | 17-20 | 39 |
| Steven Sipple HuskerOnline | 20-17 | 17-20 | 37 |
| Robin Washut HuskerOnline | 20-17 | 15-22 | 35 |
