WNUR’s Predictions for Northwestern vs. Nebraska

The WNUR Sports staff weighs in with their predictions for this Saturday’s football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. If you want in on the action, simply leave your prediction in the comments below, or you can tweet them @WNURSports.
Zach Kisfalusi (@zKisfalusi): Nebraska 41- Northwestern 17. This will not be pretty for Wildcat fans to watch and that’s why you should listen here on WNUR instead. Player to watch: Matt Harris.Tralon Williams (@itsyaboytray): Nebraska – 41 NU – 10. Nebraska remembers the 2011 game all too clearly and they still have Legends division chances. NU has all the signs of a lost, bowl-less season and with Trumpy and Lowey out, Nebraska will have a relatively easy victory over this CATS team. Player to Watch: – Ameer Abdullah
Cameron Songer (@CameronSonger): Nebraska 34, Northwestern 13. Iowa didn’t punish the Wildcats for having an offense that didn’t show up until the second half. This angry Nebraska team will. Nebraska is better than the Iowa outfit that just beat the ‘Cats, and won’t be afraid to break Northwestern with the running game. Player to watch: Northwestern’s offensive line. Yeah, it’s more than one guy, but the ‘Cats will need to establish the running game, and that requires the big boys to bring their A-game.
Jeffrey Eisenband (@JeffEisenband): 27-23 Northwestern. The ‘Cats are due. There is not much more to say. Lincoln is a place Northwestern knows it can win, and despite the losing streak, the Wildcats know they have the skill to compete with anyone. Stephen Buckley is the new Venric Mark. Player to Watch: Stephen Buckley
Eric Klaus (@eklaus1): Northwestern has been a significantly better team in November than October throughout Pat Fitzgerald’s tenure. I think that trend continues this year as NU finds a way to win behind Kain Colter and an improving defense. The key to the game will be turnover differential, something the ‘Cats have struggled with in recent weeks. Northwestern 27, Nebraska 23. Player to watch: Nick Van Hoose.
Ben Goren: Nebraska wins 35-13. Northwestern’s slide is approaching pre 1995 levels, and don’t expect it to stop here. Taylor Martinez comes back in a big way, scoring 2 through the air and 1 on the ground.
Nick Scoliard: Nebraska 24 Northwestern 13: Until this team proves it can get a big ten win, I can’t pick it on the road against a running team like Nebraska. Player to Watch: Ameer Abdullah. He’s going to have a great game against the weak Northwestern run defense.
Michael Stern (michaeljstern23): Nebraska wins 31-23. Northwestern just does not have enough players at full strength to keep up with a team of Nebraska’s caliber on the road. The Wildcat offense stalls in the red zone and the defense struggles to contain dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez. Player to Watch: Terrell Newby. A freshman running back from Los Angeles’ Chaminade High School, Newby rushed for 2,305 yards and 45 touchdowns as a high school senior. Newby has rushed for 290 yards and two touchdowns in limited action this season, but he is a blur in the open-field and fun to watch if he gets the ball.
Jason Dorow (@jasondorow): Nebraska, 34-27. Aided by the return of Sean McEvilly, the Wildcats proved they can stop the run last week against Iowa. Now they have to deal with a top notch running back in Ameer Abdullah and dual threat quarterback Taylor Martinez. Husker offense will prove to be too much for the ‘Cats in Lincoln. Player to watch: Tyler Scott. NU will need Scott to pressure Martinez into forcing turnovers, something Northwestern has lacked in last couple weeks.
Ari Ross (@aross50): Nebraska 31-30. Both Northwestern and Nebraska’s defenses are not great, especially against the run, which will lead to an offensive-heavy game. If Northwestern’s offense can get going, and defense can play as well as it did last week, Northwestern will have a good chance to win. It’ll come down to which defense can make more stops. Player to Watch: Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska. While Nebraska isn’t a huge passing offense, Enunwa has caught seven touchdown passes, all of them in Nebraska’s wins, and is at least two inches taller than all of Northwestern’s corner backs. NU has had trouble with taller receivers in the past, and needs to cover Enunwa well. In both of Nebraska’s losses, Enunwa has been held to less than 50 yards and no touchdowns, but in win, has caught a touchdown or over 70 yards receiving.
Ryan Fish (@TheFishTweets): Nebraska 31, Northwestern 17. I’ve picked the ‘Cats the past two weeks, and that proved to be very unwise. While Colter’s return has jump-started the offense somewhat and the defense has made some strides, I think the Huskers rushing game spells big trouble. I don’t think the ‘Cats can pull off a victory in Lincoln this time, but let’s hope I’m wrong again. Player to watch: Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez.
Jesse Kirsch (@JesseRKirsch): Northwestern 27-21. Northwestern has been playing injured ALL. YEAR. LONG. They’ve been tested at weak spots in the depth chart since week 1, where as Nebraska has not had constant replacement. With Taylor Martinez out, Nebraska could have some offensive difficulties, Northwestern’s running back depth will create opportunities, and Jeff Budzien will undoubtedly split the uprights a few times. Watch for Stephen Buckley to run the ball for the Wildcats. Nebraska’s defense has allowed 10 rushing TDs this year and its opponents. average 173.7 yards rushing per game.
Brendan Connelly (@bconnadebenz): Nebraska 27 Northwestern 17. The Wildcats are just too banged up to beat a Nebraska team that needs a win after losing to Minnesota. Taylor Martinez returns to form and plays better than he did against the Golden Gophers. Player to watch- Stephen Buckley. He’ll be the main ball carrier this week with Venric Mark, Mike Trumpy, and Warren Long all out. He did pretty well last week so we’ll see if he can keep it going.