Northwestern Wildcats at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Saturday, 11/5/11, 3:30 PM EST, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Point Spread: Nebraska -16
Current Betting Line: Nebraska -17.5
Opening Total: 63.5
Current Total: 63.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Northwestern snapped a five-game losing streak with a 59-38 win over the Indiana Hoosiers as 8.5-point road favorites, going over the total for a fifth consecutive week. The Wildcats have normally been quite successful during this time of year, posting a 7-4 mark in the final month of the regular season since the start of the 2008 season. The passing attack is one of the best in the country, led by the quarterback duo of Dan Persa and Kain Colter, leading the Big Ten in averaging 288.8 yards per game. Northwestern is 3-5 ATS on the year and the ‘over’ is 6-2 in those contests.
The Wildcats 59 points last week against the Hoosiers were the most during the Pat Fitzgerald era. Persa has overcome a ruptured Achilles tendon from a year ago, completing 76 percent of his passes for 1,251 yards and nine touchdowns since returning to the field after missing the first three games of the season. The offense is averaging 32 points a game, but also surrendering the same amount.
Nebraska enters on a three-game winning streak and comes off an impressive 24-3 win over the Michigan State Spartans as four-point home favorites last week. The Cornhuskers are now 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten Conference play. “We have to be ready to play our best football because we will be challenged,” commented head coach Bo Pelini. “You see that across the board in the Big Ten.” The program owns a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series with Northwestern, including wins in both games played in Lincoln. Nebraska is 1-10-1 ATS as a home favorite of 10.5 or more points, while the ‘over’ is 19-7 in November in its games.
The Cornhuskers have won their last nine games in Lincoln against current members of the Big Ten, dating back to a 30-24 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions in 1981. Overall, the program is 48-17-4 in such contests. Nebraska’s defense has really stepped up its game, ranking 29th nationally in allowing 335 yards per game, limiting the Spartans to just 187 yards last week. Quarterback Taylor Martinez will have a chance to put together a break out game, facing a defense that allows 238 passing yards per game.
Bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to their 12-3 ATS mark as a road underdog, while the Cornhuskers are 1-5 ATS at home.
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