Josh Kelly, Senior Sports Editor – Nebraska 30, Northwestern 13

Mike Riley and staff finally wins their first game in the Big Ten. The next step is something this season’s Nebraska team has yet to accomplish, and that is to have a win streak.

If the Huskers can defeat the Wildcats at home, they’ll have won back-to-back games for the first time this season and for the first time under coach Riley.

Up until it’s second Big Ten meeting against Michigan, the Northwestern defense was allowing a touchdown per game. That impressive run was ruined by top teams in the conference. Michigan, and Iowa the next week, dominated the stout defense that closely resembles Minnesota’s. And we all know what happened when the Huskers offense found a rhythm against that team.

This week definitely favors Nebraska as the Huskers have momentum. They’ll continue to progress in the offensive game and the pass defense will have a big game too. This season, the Wildcats only exceeded 27 points once, and that was against Eastern Illinois.

Look out for Demornay Pierson-El to score on a punt return touchdown that makes all Husker fans salivate on site. He came close to one at Minnesota and he’ll have a lot more opportunities this Saturday.

Brett Nierengarten, Online Sports Editor – Nebraska 31, Northwestern 24

A week ago, I confidently wrote Northwestern would win the Big Ten West. Man, was I wrong. The Wildcats have been outscored 78-10 in their last two games, and that defense isn’t as good as we all thought.

Iowa rolled Northwestern with 294 rushing yards and held Clayton Thorson to 125 yards passing. This is the perfect recipe for a Nebraska win.

The Huskers are returning home with some momentum and are playing a team who has recently struggled against the run and doesn’t throw the ball well.

I could be buying too much into Nebraska’s most recent performance, but last week against Minnesota is the team everyone thought the Huskers could be. Tommy Armstrong didn’t miss a beat under center, Terrell Newby ran for 116 yards and the defense forced a few turnovers.

I don’t know which Northwestern defense or which Nebraska offense will show up, but if last week was any indication, I think the Huskers can start a much-needed winning streak.

Nick Wilkinson, Print Sports Editor, Nebraska 38, Northwestern 21

After questionable wins and losses throughout the entire season (minus South Alabama), Nebraska earned its first legitimate finish – luckily for them, it was a win in Minneapolis last Saturday.

A well needed win at that.

Junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns versus the Gophers to begin the salvaging of Mike Riley’s first season.

Junior running back Terrell Newby rushed for 116 yards, two first-half scores on just thirteen carries, one of which was a 69-yard dash to the end zone.

Northwestern gave up a school record (four rushing touchdowns) to Iowa’s Akrum Wadley, a back up. Wadley ran for 204 yards behind a battered Iowa offense as Iowa routed the Wildcats 40-10.

Equally impressive was Nebraska’s defensive line. I can’t recall a play where juniors Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine or senior Jack Gangwish weren’t planting the Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner in the ground.

The defensive secondary, the FBS-worst pass defense, held off just about everyone except K.J. Maye, who had 94 yards and a touchdown, but even that’s impressive for the way the season has gone thus far for them.

A shot of confidence couldn’t have come at a better time as the meat of the Huskers Big Ten schedule is looming on the horizon.

Nebraska has to roll over Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers while also earning impressive wins against Michigan State and Iowa if they want to even be considered for a piece of the Big Ten Championship game. Is it possible now that we see a surge of confidence from both sides of the ball for Nebraska? Absolutely. Is it going to happen? We’ll see.

Vanessa Daves, Football Beat Writer – Nebraska 31, Northwestern 17

Have you read my column about the way the Huskers played against Minnesota? About how they lived up to the expectations fans had at the beginning of the season? About how they played like the Nebraska team everybody thought they would be?

I still can’t say I’m completely convinced. After all, it did take seven games to get there — to find the perfect balance in the offense, to get the defense on the same page, to execute plays. But the optimist in me wants to believe that it’s here to stay, and the Nebraska team where quarterback Tommy Armstrong completed only 39 percent of his passes, is gone.

Sure, Northwestern defeated Minnesota 27-0 a few weeks ago, but they’ve been pounded the last two weeks. Their confidence can’t be high.

And Nebraska? Their confidence couldn’t be higher. Take a look at the headlines. Even the “Fire Mike Riley” tweets are dwindling. Not to mention the fact that it’s the first game back home after a glorious win. Things will look good for the Huskers this Saturday…and not so much for the Wildcats.

Michael Dixon, Football Beat Writer – Nebraska 20, Northwestern 14

The Huskers had been waiting for a day like Saturday.

Now that they’ve got it, they can start working towards saving this season.

Two weeks ago, a visit from Northwestern could’ve spelled disaster for a reeling Nebraska.

But with the Wildcats’ two-game skid and Nebraska’s manhandling of Minnesota, the Huskers open as a touchdown favorite.

And that’s what it’ll probably end up looking like this upcoming weekend.

A Northwestern defense that had been one of the best in the country has given up 38 and 40 points in consecutive weeks, and if the Nebraska offense shows any resemblance to its 48-point outburst against the Gophers, it could be a long, long day.

But it’s also important to keep in mind that, despite the Wildcats’ struggles, they’ve already beaten two top-25 opponents, and have more games against ranked teams (4) than every FBS team other than Texas.

So while Northwestern may not seem as imposing as it did a few weeks ago, nothing’s going to phase Pat Fitzgerald’s bunch — not even their first trip to Lincoln since losing on a Hail Mary in 2013.

That said, give me Nebraska by six.

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