HuskerMax Predictions: Nebraska Football vs. Rutgers

The Nebraska Cornhuskers their “real” game last week with a 28-10 win over Purdue after an overtime loss to No. 24 Illinois to open Big Ten play. One of the first feel-good stories of the college football season: Rutgers enters Saturday's game undefeated at 4-0 under Greg Schiano and is looking to ruin the game Huskers'Homecoming weekend.

Regardless of the outcome, many narratives will emerge from this game, but for NU A win would move the Huskers just one win away from their first bowl berth since 2016.

The Husker Max And Nebraska Cornhuskers SI The crew makes their predictions. The average score is 24-18 Nebraska.

Last week's best prediction for Nebraska at Purdue came from Redcast Abbie with a 31-10 win for the Huskers. That was a total of three points less than the actual 28-10 NU win.

*Shows how close the previous week's forecast is and how many “wins” were achieved in the season.

The why

Austin Jacobsen: Expect a back-and-forth game full of unique mistakes and opportunities for both sides. Rutgers took advantage of Washington's mistakes last week to pull out a victory – without a single turnover. If Nebraska shoots itself in the foot, the Scarlet Knights will pounce and take advantage. Regardless, the best player on the field will still be Dylan Raiola, who can make a winning play at the right time.

Eric Hess: Nebraska had a strong day with the ball and wore down Rutgers' defense. Kyle Monangai has his worst game of the season thanks to a strong performance from the Blackshirts

Josh Peterson: The Huskers are one win away from a bowl berth with a tough win over previously unbeaten Rutgers. Emmett Johnson finally hits double digits in carries and Nebraska burns out the end of the game to hold on to its one-point win.

ThotDoc: This could well be a four-quarter battle and the Huskers will be tested. The game is won or lost in the trenches, similar to the Illini contest. The hope is that Nebraska has learned from this experience and starts a new winning streak at home, believe it or not, by a field goal.

Cole Stukenholtz: The Huskers' special teams woes continue and the Scarlet Knights hold off Raiola's comeback bid late.

Jay Stockwell: Greg Schiano, who Matt Rhule deeply respects, brings a relegated Rutgers team to town that is very evenly matched, if not a slight statistical favorite. Nebraska will continue to build resilience, take care of the ball and use its dying kicking game to win by a field goal.

Middle-aged ball trainer: It will be brutal. Monongai is too good to be stopped, so they will move the ball and score, but Raiola's arm will make the difference. Rutgers is a solid team.

David Max: Both teams have strong defenses and losing the ball will be crucial.

Chris Fort: Nebraska is more talented, but Rutgers plays the type of football that frustrates the Huskers. They bow in the red zone, stop fourth downs, and generally wreak havoc on defense. Their running game will also test the Blackshirts. If NU had a great game, I would say Big Red. But they don't do that.

Matt McMaster: This match will be a heavyweight fight that will come down to the wire. In games like this you need elite special teams, NU has the exact opposite. This competition depends on who can achieve victory in the third phase of the game. I'll put my money on Rutgers for that.

Bold Prediction: Nebraska misses a field goal to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Tad Stryker: This would be a nice but unnecessary win if the goal is simply to make a bowl, but it's essential if the Huskers want to take a measurable step this year toward becoming a major program again. I bet Nebraska's seniors are desperate to get it.

For more predictions, visit HuskerMax.com.

MORE: Nebraska Basketball features 4-star in-state sharpshooter Jacob Webber

MORE: McMaster's Big Ten Football Pick'em: Week 6

MORE: Nebraska football hopes to stay undefeated against Rutgers

MORE: Nebraska football's Dylan Raiola showed maturity despite growing pains

MORE: Nebraska football commit Dayton Raiola previews visit before Rutgers game

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers on SIsubscribe Husker Max on YouTubeand to visit HuskerMax.com daily.