Predictions: Huskers vs. Northüstern

Mike: Is this going to be the week?

Patrick: Ooooo, lots of fun games this weekend.

Jill: These are a sneaky good slate.

Nate M: One more light.

Tyler: I'd like to wake up on Sunday morning with a hangover for a good reason this week.

Andy: Better reload my Uber app for the potential post-game ride home if we find a new & exciting way to shit the bed tonight.

Minnesota (+2) at Purdue

Mike: The Goofers pooped their bed last week against (checks notes) Bowling Green without star receiver Chris Autman-Bell. I’ve had this theory that Tanner Morgan is the product of his receivers, and needs Autman-Bell to be even remotely effective. See also David Bell and Purdue. Autman-Bell returned to practice this week, Bell’s status is unclear. Presuming Bell is still out, I’ll take the Goofers 23-19.

Patrick: University of Minnesota 31 Purdue University 17

Jill: I think both teams are better than they showed last week. /checks again. OK, maybe they are both fairly flawed teams that have been decimated by injuries. This one will come down to whichever team makes one less major mistake. I have no idea which team that will be. When in doubt, pick the home team? I don’t feel good about this pick, but I’ll do it anyway. Purdue 11 Minn 8

Nate M: Should’ve stayed, were there signs, I ignored? Can I help you, not to hurt, anymore? We saw brilliance, when the world, was asleep. There are things that we can have, but can’t keep.

I keep thinking Minnesota is better than they are looking. I’m not entirely sure they can prove that this week but I think Nebraska needs to be pulling for Purdue. Minnesota wins by 6.

Tyler: P.J.'s boat looks full of holes and Coach Brohm is testing the durability of Jake Plummer's arm, throwing a billion times a game. I tend to agree with Nate here. Khaki'sit is.

Min-ne-so-ta: 35 Makers of Boilers: 31

Andy: Not really sold on Purdue as a favorite, but this one is probably a good time for a lunch and a nap. (Insert rowing joke here.) Minny 19 Beer & a shot 16

Michigan (+2) at Wisconsin

Mike: Not sure about this point spread at all. Wisconsin is definitely struggling, and the Fightin’ Khakis have shown a bit of a spark this season. Weasels 24, Bucky 17.

Patrick: University of Michigan 21 University of Wisconsin 9

Jill: I think that Wisconsin’s struggles aren’t something they will overcome easily or soon. But, whenever I start to believe in Michigan, they implode in spectacular fashion. When in doubt, pick the home team? I don’t feel good about this pick, but I’ll do it anyway. Wisconsin 15 Michigan 11

Nate M: If they say. Who cares if one more light goes out? In a sky of a million stars. It flickers, flickers. Who cares when someone’s time runs out? If a moment is all we are. We’re quicker, quicker. Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do.

I agree with Mike, I’m not sure how Wisconsin is favored in this game. They have a really good defense but their offense has been struggling all season long. I think Michigan wins by two scores.

Tyler: The Maize and Blue may not be winning big, but they're winning. Mertz looks pedestrian, then again, so does McNamara. Although, why would you throw the ball when you can run it down someone's throat? Khaki's for $200, Alex.

WOLVERINES!!! 17

We are out of Badgers: 7

Andy: Michigan has managed to get to 4-0 without facing anything much resembling competition and what happened to Wisconsin last week would’ve been oh, so enjoyable if it happened at the hands of almost anyone other than that hive of scum villainy known as Notre Dame. Even with the influence of pretty Michigan scores, the Badgers are still favored. I agree. Wiscy 23 Weasels 16

Southern Cal (-7.5) at Colorado

Mike: I know Southern Cal dropped a turd last weekend, but Colorado has been dropping buffalo pies all season long.

I’ll bet the Puffaloes score a touchdown this week as well; Southern Cal scores a lot more. Trojans 35-10.

Patrick: University of Southern California 28 University of Colorado 9

Jill: I don’t have to go back and forth on this one. Trojans 32 Buffs 18

Nate M: The reminders pull the floor from your feet. In the kitchen, one more chair than you need oh. And you’re angry, and you should be, it’s not fair. Just ‘cause you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it, isn’t there.

We rightfully get upset at our program but look at the state of USC. There’s no reason a program like that should ever be this bad but there they are. With that said they easily beat Colorado by 20+.

Tyler: I hate the Buffaloes, so Donte Williams gets win #2.

Trojans: 31 Baffle-O's: 3

Andy: Total Colorado/USC Wins 3 Interest Level 0

Oklahoma (-10.5) at Kansas State

Mike: After a great win over Stanford to start the season, Kansas State has settled back to a meh-level. However, Oklahoma has been scuffling the last two weeks; did Nebraska break the Sooners? Sooners 42, Wildkitties 27

Patrick: University of Oklahoma 24 Kansas State University 21

Jill: Oklahoma is definitely looking to regain that offensive spark. I know nothing of the 2021 version of the Wildcats (KSU variety). When in doubt, pick the home team? Not this time. Sooners 36 KSU 21

Nate M: If they say. Who cares if one more light goes out? In a sky of a million stars. It flickers, flickers. Who cares when someone’s time runs out? If a moment is all we are. We’re quicker, quicker. Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do.

Oklahoma should win by 28 but they won’t. They’ll win by 27.

Tyler: KSU does not look as intimidating as in years past, but OU as we very well know has yet to provide any comfort to their fan base that they'll get through their conference schedule unscathed.

The Sooners will not be in the CFP conversation at the end of the season. But they will get the W this week.

To Sooners: 38

Little Brother's favorite team: 27

Andy: The Okies have a few chinks in the armor but it’s just a feeling the Wildcats are more paper tiger than vicious feline this season. The K-State crowd tends to check out quickly if things don’t go well and the Sooners start with two quick scores to leave plenty of open seats after halftime. Oklahoma 38 K State 17

Northüstern (-11.5) at Nebraska

Mike: Stewart Mandel told our Patrick Gerhart that his fellow alums from Evanston are miffed that Nebraska brought along their “NU” abbreviation from their Big Eight/XII days, and that Husker fans keep shoving a “W” into theirs. So fine... I’m taking the W out of Northüstern. As for the game, well, the Wildcats always seem to make this game more interesting than Husker fans think it should be. But this isn’t a vintage Pat Fitzgerald team; he’s got quarterback issues and inexperience everywhere. If there was ever a week for Nebraska to make a statement that the comedy of errors is over and the program is getting back on track, this would be it. So I’m rolling with that: The Big Red NU 31, The Purple NÜ 9.

Patrick: University of Nebraska 12 Northwestern University 9

Jill: I really really want this to be the week that the Huskers get right. But the superstitious fan in me got a jarring reminder. Backstory: I don’t buy many new clothes, but I figured my current Husker shirts had seen too much losing. It was time for a new one. I found one I loved and it was even on clearance. Winning!

Or not. I pulled my brand new Husker shirt out of the shopping bag...and the clerk had forgotten to take off the security tag. I live almost 40 minutes from that store, so going back before Saturday’s game to have it taken off wasn’t going to happen. So, I watched a bunch of Youtube videos on how to remove those stupid tags. They didn’t work. The new shirt ended up with a small rip and still had the security tag. I think the football gods were telling me that Nebraska wasn’t quite ready to let go of its old ways.

That’s when I got mad. I grabbed a beer, a hacksaw and fabric glue. Now, I have a fabulous new Husker shirt with no security tag and tiny repair in a spot no one but me will ever notice.

I’m told the Husker players were especially mad about the MSU loss. If they’re half as mad about that as I was about the security tag, I hope they do something about it too. Nebraska 27 Northwestern 19

Nate M: Who cares if one more light goes out? In a sky of a million stars. It flickers, flickers. Who cares when someone’s time runs out? If a moment is all we are. We’re quicker, quicker. Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do.

Should probably expect that the offensive line will struggle. There isn’t going to be a switch that will flip on that. If there is progress it will probably be a step here and step there. I do believe that the blunders can stop. It has to come to a point where it ends right? Maybe it is this week. If both teams play a clean game then Nebraska should win by 17-20 points. Unfortunately, I think the turnover bug is going to hit Nebraska hard.

Nebraska wins by six.

Tyler: I'm waiting for that "everything clicks" moment with this team. All 3 phases performing in perfect harmony. Wouldn't it be great to do that against "the other NU"?

If there is any game where frustrations need to be released, and a big margin of victory and dominance would do wonders for the confidence of a team, it's this game. I'm thinking after the noise this week, we have a victory that leaves no doubt.

Here we go...

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: 45

Rece Davis & the Purple People Eaters: 21

Jon: Gonna make you watch a video...

(Editor: At least he’s off the toilet this time...)

Andy: (So I’m gonna stick with the pick I made in a Q&A interview with Inside NU, Northwestern’s site, which I’m copying here.)

I’m sure I’ll bang my head for this later after watching three Husker passing touchdowns get called back for illegal receiver downfield and Northwestern running back a blocked FG on the first series of OT for the 20-14 victory as we outgain the ‘Cats 425 – 187, but I just feel like the team is ready to erupt at home. No disrespect at all intended to you guys, I promise, but in the words of the Dillon Panthers Coach Taylor, “I need something good to happen.”

Huskers 38, Wildcats 17

(But since that goes completely against the short history of NU/NU since we joined up, as well as our own recent history? I am 100% ready to eat crow or Husky floof or whatever when that first scenario above comes to pass. Thanks much and good luck to all the lads!)