Game Day Guide: What you need to know for Nebraska-UCLA
Welcome to November. It’s game day and the Huskers are sitting at 5-3, just like they were one year ago.
Welcome to November. It’s game day and the Huskers are sitting at 5-3, just like they were one year ago.
Yes, we talked about it this week.
After giving Ohio State the best run for its money, Nebraska is back home and seeking that very important sixth win. The Huskers are a 6.5-point favorite over UCLA, and all things point toward Nebraska coming out on top. Coach Matt Rhule and his team have talked about keeping the focus on the Bruins and nothing else, but a win means a postseason berth for the Huskers for the first time in eight seasons.
Would be pretty nice, right?
UCLA comes into the matchup 2-5, and following a bye week. Prior to that, the Bruins took down Rutgers 35-32 in Piscataway.
And because sometimes the only way to lead these game day guides is with facts, here are a few to know:
Nebraska has the 11th-ranked rush defense in college football right now.
UCLA has the 12th-ranked rushing defense.
The Bruins are averaging 17.4 points per game and allowing 29 points per game.
Quarterback Ethan Garbers has completed 64.9% of his passes on the season.
The reality is that every week is a challenge for Nebraska, favored or not. We’ll see how this one shakes out, especially with rain in the forecast.
Everything you need to know for Nebraska-UCLA:
TV Channel: Big Ten Network (Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth, Rhett Lewis)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 2
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Live Stream: FoxSports.com (with TV provider)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Weather: Cloudy skies with periods of rain later in the day. High of 58 degrees. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Line: Nebraska -6.5
Over/Under: 39.5
Notable quotes:
Matt Rhule on UCLA and the Big Ten:
“Even me coming here last year, and it’s your first time in the Big Ten. Learning the structures, learning the personalities, learning the towns, learning the travel, learning the style of play, the weather. All of those things matter. When you go into a new conference, you’re trying to figure out who wins in this conference. The unique thing here is we’ve all joined a new conference. Think about who we’re playing this week, you guys have covered Nebraska for a long time, seeing Nebraska vs. Ohio State is common. But having that followed up by UCLA and USC is not common. We’re all just in this period of trying to recognize what the conference is, and the effects of travel. Imagine had this been an 11 o’clock game for them. When I was at UCLA, we played Kansas, it was an 11 a.m. start. We had a 5 a.m. West Coast wake-up time and that was a challenge. All of those things are unique, and then how it affects you in recruiting. When you go to different conferences, you’re trying to figure out where you want to recruit. When we talk to kids now in California, they know that they’re probably going to have Nebraska go out to California every year. We’re probably going to have a USC or UCLA game every year, and that can be a cool thing in recruiting. We’re trying to do that, I’m sure they’re trying to figure it out. USC is recruiting kids here in Lincoln and Omaha. It just changes the footprint of everything. We’re all seeing a whole different version of college football moving forward, every team in the SEC has a loss. There’s still three unbeaten in our league, so that will probably change at some point with some of those guys playing each other. Just college football in general is changing.”
Defensive coordinator Tony White on bouncing back after Indiana:
“That’s what we are supposed to do. I am really happy that the guys played like that, but for as up and down as it is, you have to say, ‘Hey it's Tuesday.’ We have a team who is playing their best football coming in here. We know how to do things. The most important thing is how we do things, have a little attitude and chip on our shoulders.”
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield on UCLA’s defense:
“I think their record is very deceiving because they’ve played some really good teams. They have the same record against common opponents as we have. You watch them on defense, they’re very long, they’re very athletic, they’re physical. They can cause some headaches. We’re trying to figure out what they do, especially on third down, but it’s just a really impressive defensive unit as far as team speed, physicality and athleticism that you see on tape.”
UCLA coach DeShaun Foster on Dylan Raiola:
“I was with Pat Mahomes in ’16 at Texas Tech. So it’s crazy when you see him because yeah, he really does emulate Pat . . . You can tell he’s getting more comfortable. He has a big arm so he’s gonna try to make plays, but I’m excited for our DBs, and our front, and our linebackers, and everybody. He’s playing good ball.”
Other games we’re watching this week:
(All games in CT)
Erin
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State, 11 a.m., FOX
Well, duh. Here’s how ESPN’s Bill Connelly framed this one: “Penn State plays well, and Ohio State eventually wins.” Fair, primarily when looking at the history of this matchup. Does it end up being a close one like it has been in so many years before? I can’t wait.
No. 1 Oregon at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Michigan hasn’t defeated a No. 1-ranked team since 1984. If the Wolverines can pull it off though, it would be only the fourth time in program history. Here’s the thing I’ve learned about these other games I’m watching . . . Whatever I say, the opposite happens. Sorry, Ducks, if I just inadvertantly jinxed you.
Wisconsin at Iowa, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Nebraska has both of these teams in November, so this is just a good one for awareness. The Hawkeyes are a slight favorite (-2.5), but it probably doesn’t matter. This one could be settled by a field goal. If you love Big Ten football, this should be just that. And don’t we all love Big Ten football?
Brandon
Minnesota at No. 24 Illinois, 11 a.m., FS1
In case you missed it, Minnesota (5-3, 3-2) might be good. The Gophers have already surpassed their win total of 4.5--oh, look at that, this link from February about Big Ten win totals just fell right into this copy--and are actually a road favorite (-3) in this game. Feels like this is a swing game for Illinois. Win and the Illini are likely headed for a nine- or 10-win season, which would be one of the more impressive results nationally. Lose and a more mundane 7-5 or 8-4 is in play.
Texas Tech at No. 11 Iowa State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Minus the fourth quarter of the win over Iowa, I haven't gotten the chance to check in on the Cyclones much this season. I'll probably use my second screen to remedy that during the Nebraska game. While not quite the blistering pace he had last year, one-time Husker commit Benjamin Brahmer is having another strong season (179 receiving yards, 17.9 per catch) for Iowa State.
No. 10 Texas A&M at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Nightowls of the world beware! Because of a potential World Series game that is now not happening, no college football game this week starts after 7 p.m. but there are some good games in the evening slot. You could get an advance scout in on USC (at Washington) or do double advance-advance scouting with Wisconsin-Iowa, but I'm most fascinated by A&M's trip to Columbia. The Aggies are only favored by 3 and we've already seen the Gamecocks give LSU and Alabama scares. I think South Carolina actually gets it done this time.
God I hope Nebraska calls a bubble screen as the very first play of the game. Can you imagine?