The Nebraska Huskers want to get back to .500 this week against the Southern Miss Eagles. We break down the matchups below in the Nebraska vs. Southern Miss prediction and game preview.

Nebraska vs. Southern Miss Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 26
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Network: ESPNEWS

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Why You Need To Care

Mike Riley’s career in Lincoln is off to a rocky start. His first Husker has now suffered two excruciating September losses, the infamous Hail Mary to BYU and Saturday’s overtime loss in Miami. Nebraska showed a ton of heart by rallying back from a 33-10 deficit, but Big Red has no interest in moral victories. Southern Miss feels it’s turning the corner in Todd Monken’s third season. His Golden Eagles have won two straight, and the opening day loss to Mississippi State actually was a moral victory of sorts.

Why Southern Miss Will Win

Monken’s offense has come to life, troubling news for a Husker D that yielded exactly 511 yards to BYU and Miami. The Golden Eagles are in a position to exploit Nebraska with QB Nick Mullens and backs Jalen Richard and Ito Smith. Mullens and Richard each accounted for four wins in last week’s track meet win over Texas State.

Why Nebraska Will Win

As good as the USM offense has been, the defense has been equally inept. The Eagles give up 5.2 yards per carry, and have just three takeaways. If the line does its part, the Huskers will get the offense moving around QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. and RB Terrell Newby. Armstrong is spreading the ball around to underrated receivers Jordan Westerkamp and Brandon Reilly.

Player Who Matters

When Southern Miss has the ball, there’ll be an interesting battle taking place at the line of scrimmage. DT Maliek Collins is playing at an All-American level, even if the stats don’t reflect it. But C Cameron Tom and LT Rashod Hill are helping fuel the Golden Eagles’ early success on offense. If Tom and the guards fail to neutralize Collins, Mullens’ effectiveness plummets.

What’s Going To Happen?

Knowing it can’t drop two games below .500, Nebraska will play with something to prove, including to itself. Southern Miss is trending north on offense, but it won’t be able to stop Armstrong in Lincoln. No nail-biter this week for the Huskers, who’ll build a comfortable cushion before the final quarter begins.

Nebraska vs. Southern Miss Prediction

Final Score: Nebraska 42, Southern Miss 23, Line: Nebraska -22, o/u: 68
Must See Rating: 5: Republican Debate, Second Round – 1: Republican Debate, First Round … 2

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