Nebraska vs. Minnesota: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Friday

MINNEAPOLIS – Nebraska (5-1, 2-1) will try to win back-to-back weeks on the road for the first time since 2006 when they travel to Minnesota (4-2, 2-1) on Friday.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for the Huskers against the Gophers, along with the HuskerOnline Week 8 score predictions.

NU enters today’s match-up as a 7-point favorite over Minnesota, and the game will kick off at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.

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KEYS TO VICTORY: Nebraska vs. Minnesota

KEY 1: Establish Emmett Johnson right away

One of the bigger keys in this game for Nebraska’s offense will be to establish running back Emmett Johnson and the ground game for a second week in a row. Balance is one of the bigger keys for the Huskers.

KEY 2: Figure out how Minnesota is going to attack you

Another thing to watch is how Minnesota will come at the Huskers’ defense. Will they attempt to run it with a ground game that has stalled out the last few weeks, or will it be with a short, controlled passing game with QB Drake Lindsay?

KEY 3: Don’t beat yourself

Nebraska needs to come out and play sound on offense. The Huskers can’t beat themselves. Minnesota has six interceptions and three forced fumbles through six games. A week ago, they came back to beat Purdue by being opportunistic on defense.

KEY 4: Rhythm on defense

At Maryland, three-and-outs and pressure on the quarterback were not things we saw much of. I would love to see a much better overall rhythm with the Blackshirt defense in Minneapolis on Friday.

KEY 5: Don’t let up

Nebraska is a football team that is still learning how to win. We saw them blow a 14-0 lead to Michigan State and leads of 10-0 and 24-14 against Maryland. They were not able to lay a finishing blow, and instead, the games went down to the final possession. I would love to see the Huskers get up this week and finish.

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Expert takes

Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Publisher

Nebraska is the better team going into this game on paper. Minnesota has struggled to run the ball after suffering some injuries in its running back room. I do think, though, PJ Fleck will keep this a game into the fourth quarter, and the Huskers hold on for a 31-27 win. Emmett Johnson will again rush for over 100 yards in his Minneapolis homecoming.

Nebraska 31, Minnesota 27

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Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist

This looks like a game in which Nebraska can move the ball consistently both on the ground and through the air. It also helps matters that Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey is young and generally immobile. The Huskers will end their five-game skid against P.J. Fleck in convincing fashion.

Nebraska 42, Minnesota 13

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Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer

It’s hard to imagine many more unique variables facing Nebraska in this one: short week, second straight Big Ten road game, and rumors about its head coach leaving for a conference foe. However, sometimes disruption and distraction can galvanize a team. I think the Huskers lock in and clinch bowl eligibility for the second year in a row.

Nebraska 27, Minnesota 20

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Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha

PJ Fleck and the Gophers have never lost to Nebraska in Minnesota, that streak will end Saturday.    This Husker team is built to believe and built to win games like this one.  Even when they beat themselves like last week’s three turnovers, somehow, they still managed to win at Maryland.   This game won’t wind up in the Joslyn Art Museum, but ugly wins are still wins.

Nebraska 27, Minnesota 22

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Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha

The NIL gap will rear its economic head for this one.  U of M doesn’t have enough to keep their good people and go shopping for others and it really began to show last week. Purdue went up and down the field on the Gophers for four quarters.  Be it not for insane turnovers at the goal line, the Boilermakers win.  SkiUMah doesn’t have the OL to push their running game down the field which means young QB Drake Lindsey will be forced to throw from the pocket—bad idea.  The Huskers smell a shot at the playoffs.  Won’t flub this.

Nebraska 31, Minnesota 17

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Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up

This is one of those games where every stat and analytic points to Nebraska winning comfortably. The challenge, however, is that Minnesota has a way of doing just enough—especially at home. The Gophers have been slow starters all season, but teams like Purdue and Rutgers failed to take full advantage of that. Emmett Johnson has had this game circled for a while, and considering how Minnesota has struggled to stop the run in conference play, he’s in line for a big night. On the other side of the ball, Nebraska’s defensive front should be able to generate plenty of havoc vs a below-average Gophers OL.  

Nebraska 34, Minnesota 20

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HuskerOnline Week 8 Score Predictions

Week 8	Sean Callahan	Steven Sipple	Robin Washut	Andy Kendeigh	Jim Rose	Mike’l Severe
Nebraska at Minnesota (+7)	31-27 Nebraska	42-13 Nebraska	27-20 Nebraska	27-22 Nebraska	31-17 Nebraska	34-20 Nebraska
Washington at Michigan (-5.5)	27-20 Michigan	31-24 Washington	28-24 Michigan	31-28 Michigan	28-21 Michigan	30-27 Michigan
Penn State at Iowa (-3.5)	17-14 Iowa	21-17 Penn State	5-2 Iowa	20-17 Penn State	27-17 Iowa	23-20 Iowa
Maryland at UCLA (-3)	38-31 UCLA	31-17 UCLA	33-28 UCLA	24-20 UCLA	42-28 UCLA	41-34 UCLA
USC at Notre Dame (-8.5)	38-34 Notre Dame	34-31 Notre Dame	35-31 Notre Dame	35-28 Notre Dame	31-30 USC	45.-38 USC
Ole Miss at Georgia (-7)	41-38 Georgia	26-21 Georgia	38-34 Georgia	34-31 Georgia	38-35 Ole Miss	31-27 Ole Miss

HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings

Picker	Straight Up	Vs. Spread	Cumulative
Robin Washut	31-11	26-16	57
Jim Rose	25-17	23-19	48
Mike’l Severe	25-17	23-19	48
Steven Sipple	27-15	19-23	46
Sean Callahan	26-17	19-23	45
Andy Kendeigh	25-17	20-22	45

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Sean Callahan can be reached at [email protected] and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.

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