Nebraska vs. UCLA: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday

PASADENA, Calif. – Nebraska (6-3, 3-3) will travel to UCLA (3-5, 3-2) for the first time since 2012 when they take on the Bruins in the Rose Bowl.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for the Huskers against UCLA.

NU enters today’s game as a 1.5-point underdog against the Bruins. Saturday’s game is set to start at 8 p.m. CT, and it can be seen on FOX.

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KEYS TO VICTORY: Nebraska vs. UCLA

KEY 1: Give Lateef a manageable game plan

One of the more important keys to this game for Nebraka is how NU’s offensive staff manages freshman quarterback TJ Lateef. They need to put him in a position where he has great confidence in the overall game plan.

KEY 2: Don’t let Iamaleava run wild

It’s no secret what UCLA is going to do on offense. Everything will run through quarterback Nico  Iamaleava. The Huskers must contain him on scramble plays and not let him run wild.

KEY 3: Find more explosive plays on offense

One of the things this Husker offense must do is find more explosive plays. You saw what it did for the offense earlier this year when players like Jacory Barney and Nyziah Hunter could get loose. Hopefully, Lateef’s mobility will get UCLA safeties to play up more, and they can find a few more big plays down the field.

KEY 4: Create points with special teams

Another key today will be Mike Ekeler’s crew on special teams. With an interim coaching staff, you have to think there is a potential opportunity to go after something on special teams, whether that’s in the return game or potentially blocking a kick or a punt.

KEY 5: Give the Husker fans in Pasadena a reason to get into this game

Nebraska needs to come out and play with energy. Well over 20,000 Big Red fans are expected to be in the Rose Bowl, possibly outnumbering UCLA fans. This has the potential to be the intangible factor that helps bring things over the top on Saturday.

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Expert takes

Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Publisher

This is one of the most challenging games I can recall predicting in a while. It’s so unpredictable which version of Nebraska and UCLA we might get, along with how the Huskers will look led under center by quarterback TJ Lateef. The road environment should actually be an advantage for NU. I predict Nebraska will go into the Rose Bowl and walk away with a thrilling one-score win.

Nebraska 27, UCLA 23

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Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist

I’m sure you’ll be incredibly surprised when this game goes down to the wire. That’s just the name of the game these days. In this case, look for Nebraska’s defense to make a late stand to hold off an admirable comeback attempt by the home team. The home team might feel like visitors in this case as Big Red fans storm the Rose Bowl. This should be fun as NU prevails with a freshman quarterback.

Nebraska 27, UCLA 24

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Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer

It’s impossible to know what to expect from a true freshman quarterback being thrust into his first college start in a critical conference road game. However, I think Nebraska has enough pieces around TJ Lateef to find ways to win in all three phases. It might not be pretty, but the Huskers will get the job done tonight.

Nebraska 24, UCLA 21

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Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha

For “run the damn ball” guy this game is for you.  There is no reason to get cute against UCLA.  The Bruins are ranked dead last in the Big Ten in rushing defense, and Nebraska has the best back in the league, so feed Emmett Johnson.   Yes, this is the first start for T.J. Lateef, but this game will be decided in the trenches, and maybe the freshman QB can help that cause with his legs.

Nebraska 23, UCLA 20

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Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha

Color me strange, but I’m NOT one of the Husker fans who fell into the five stages of grief after the Raiola injury.  I’m sad for Dylan and his great family, but I actually believe that if D Holgerson and Co. wisely create a package of plays for TJ, this offense will be more trouble for opposing teams.  With Lateef, you have the RPO, a quick wrist, and a genuine running threat.  What you lose in the portfolio of throws Dylan possessed, you gain in athletic versatility.   “X” factor?  Experience.  He’ll get some this week and a half, Sea of Red against a UCLA Defense that doubles as the Red Cross.  

Nebraska 31, UCLA 20

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Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up

There are three things that I see Nebraska taking advantage of vs the Bruins. UCLA has allowed 5 different QBs to rush for 45 yards or more with three of them rushing for more than 80 yards (sack adjusted). TJ Lateef probably couldn’t have picked a better B1G opponent for his first start. 12 UCLA fumbles have been forced this season but they have only lost 5 of them. Fumble luck regression always comes. The Huskers should also hit some explosive plays. UCLA has allowed the 2nd most among B1G teams that have played 8 games.     

Nebraska 23, UCLA 17

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HuskerOnline Week 10 Score Predictions

Week 10	Sean Callahan	Steven Sipple	Robin Washut	Andy Kendeigh	Jim Rose	Mike’l Severe
Nebraska at UCLA (-1.5)	27-23 Nebraska	27-24 Nebraska	24-21 Nebraska	23-20 Nebraska	31-20 Nebraska	23-17 Nebraska
Indiana at Penn State (+14.5)	38-17 Indiana	38-20 Indiana	35-17 Indiana	31-24 Indiana	24-17 Indiana	34-17 Indiana
Oregon at Iowa (+6.5)	20-17 Oregon	21-17 Oregon	20-18 Oregon	24-21 Iowa	28-20 Oregon	24-23 Iowa
Maryland at Rutgers (-2.5)	24-23 Rutgers	37-34 Maryland	17-13 Maryland	28-27 Rutgers	28-21 Rutgers	30-24 Maryland
BYU at Texas Tech (-10)	34-30 Texas Tech	31-28 Texas Tech	41-38 Texas Tech	34-27 Texas Tech	42-35 Texas Tech	34-17 Texas Tech
Texas A&M at Missouri (+7)	31-27 Texas A&M	34-31 Missouri	28-23 Texas A&M	37-31 Texas A&M	31-27 Texas A&M	33-30 Texas A&M

Overall standings

Picker	Straight Up	Vs. Spread	Cumulative
Robin Washut	45-15	33-26	78
Sean Callahan	40-20	28-32	68
Mike’l Severe	36-24	32-28	68
Jim Rose	36-24	31-29	67
Steven Sipple	38-22	27-33	65
Andy Kendeigh	36-24	28-32	64

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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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