Nebraska vs. Purdue: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Can Nebraska win three games in a row for the first time since 2016 today at Purdue?
The Huskers (3-3, 2-1) take on the Boilermakers (4-2, 2-1) today at Ross-Ade in a crucial Big Ten West showdown.
As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for Nebraska over Purdue, along with the HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday. NU enters today’s game as a 14-point underdog. Tonight’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on the BTN.
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KEYS TO VICTORY: Nebraska vs. Purdue
KEY 1: Develop an offensive plan to protect Casey Thompson and the offensive line
Nebraska needs to develop a plan that protects both their offensive line and quarterback Casey Thompson. If they play like they did last week at Rutgers, they will have a hard time winning this football game.
KEY 2: Communication on the defensive back seven
Purdue’s Jeff Brohm is one of the best in the business. Defensive coordinator Bill Busch and secondary coach Travis Fisher have their work cut out today. Brohm is a master at crossing you up in coverage. The Huskers need to communicate at a high level on the back end.
KEY 3: Pop a couple of 20+ yard runs with Anthony Grant
Last week’s running back Anthony Grant’s long run was just 7 yards on 20 carries. Grant finished with 47 yards rushing, with 45 coming after contact. That is not going to get it done on most Big Ten Saturdays. Grant needs to pop a couple of 20+ yard runs to take some pressure off both Thompson and the offensive line.
KEY 4: Force Aidan O’Connell into a mistake
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell is elite, but at the same time, he also is prone to make mistakes. We saw it earlier this year at Syracuse. NU needs to force O’Connell into some bad decisions and take advantage of them.
KEY 5: Handling the atmosphere
Last week’s game at Rutgers was an announced sellout, but as we know, it was far from full. Tonight the Big Red will face a packed house at Ross-Ade Stadium. How NU manages the crowd noise will be a big factor in the game’s outcome.
EXPERT TAKE: Nebraska vs. Purdue
Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher
Nebraska’s offensive line will play better this week because they will have a smarter plan vs. Purdue than a week ago at Rutgers. It still will not be enough on the road. Aidan O’Connell will be too much down the stretch and the Huskers will fall short.
Purdue 34, Nebraska 24
Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist
Nebraska can’t afford to dilly-dally around in the first half like it did last week at Rutgers. Purdue has outscored opponents 50-10 this season in the first quarter, and if the Boilermakers surge early, the sold-out stadium will get that much louder and feel all the more daunting. Because Purdue lacks a strong running game – and really doesn’t beat teams with deep passes very often – Nebraska can hang around and pose a threat. But the home team’s quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, will put up big enough numbers for a reasonably comfortable Boilermaker win.
Purdue 35, Nebraska 20
Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer
For the first time in far too long, Nebraska enters a Big Ten game riding two straight weeks of good vibes and winning energy. But tonight will pit the Huskers against one of their most challenging tests of the season. Going on the road in a sold-out Ross-Ade Stadium under the lights against a Purdue team with its sights set on staying in the West Division race, there will be shortage of adversity for NU. Mickey Joseph and Co. have done a great job of keeping the team together, but tonight might be too much to overcome.
Purdue 27, Nebraska 21
Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha
From a fake sellout to fake first place, this week is the week the Huskers can prove they are for real. However, so can Purdue. The Boilermakers have a seasoned quarterback, one of the best receivers in college football but most importantly Purdue is solid up front and will likely win the line of scrimmage. Huskers cover but fall short.
Purdue 31, Nebraska 27
Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha
Maybe the most complete team Nebraska has played this year. Vet QB, at home, at night with a scheme that is almost impossible to consistently stop spells trouble. Aiden O’Connell finds receivers quicker than most and almost never misses the guys’ hands. The Huskers will need turnovers and punch above their weight on offense. Toughie.
Purdue 35, Nebraska 28
Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up
It’s not like I think Purdue is a great team, I watched the entire game vs Maryland and the Terps gave that thing away. I worry more about the health of Nebraska with Luke Reimer, Quinton Newsome and Travis Vokolek all seeming to be game-time decisions. I think the Huskers can get to Aiden O’Connell if the secondary hold up long enough. I think the biggest keys will be catching the INTs when O’Connell gives NU chances and if the Huskers can establish a successful early down run game. Also NU has to handle the atmosphere in Ross-Ade, it will be electric.
Purdue 38, Nebraska 20
HuskerOnline Week 7 Score Predictions
| Week 7 | Sean Callahan | Steven Sipple | Robin Washut | Andy Kendeigh | Jim Rose | Mike’l Severe |
| Nebraska at Purdue | 34-24 Purdue | 35-20 Purdue | 27-27 Purdue | 31-27 Purdue | 35-28 Purdue | 38-20 Purdue |
| Penn State at Michigan | 27-17 Michigan | 28-24 Michigan | 30-20 Michigan | 20-10 Michigan | 28-20 Michigan | 27-21 Michigan |
| Minnesota at Illinois | 24-17 Minnesota | 20-17 Minnesota | 21-14 Minnesota | 20-13 Minnesota | 24-17 Minnesota | 24-23 Illinois |
| Oklahoma at TCU | 38-34 TCU | 38-35 TCU | 54-49 TCU | 34-31 Okla. State | 42-38 TCU | 35-31 TCU |
| Kansas at Oklahoma | 41-31 Oklahoma | 41-38 Oklahoma | 35-31 Oklahoma | 31-28 Oklahoma | 24-21 Oklahoma | 35-28 Oklahoma |
| Alabama at Tennessee | 37-34 Alabama | 38-30 Alabama | 28-17 Alabama | 34-31 Alabama | 28-24 Tennessee | 34-24 Tennessee |
HuskerOnline Score Prediction Standings
| Expert picker | Straight Up | vs. the Spread | Cumulative Total |
| Jim Rose KFAB/iHeart Radio | 19-12 | 19-12 | 38 |
| Mike’l Severe Big Red Wrap-Up | 22-9 | 12-19 | 34 |
| Sean Callahan HuskerOnline | 19-12 | 13-18 | 32 |
| Andy Kendeigh KETV ABC-Omaha | 19-12 | 13-18 | 32 |
| Steven Sipple HuskerOnline | 16-15 | 15-16 | 31 |
| Robin Washut HuskerOnline | 16-15 | 13-18 | 29 |
