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Nebraska vs. Northwestern Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 0

By Reed Wallach

Northwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull.
Northwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull. / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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The biggest game of Week 0 comes across the world in Dublin, Ireland. Nope, not a typo.

Northwestern and Nebraska play their season opener in Dublin in what should be the highest quality game of the opening slate. The Cornhuskers enter this season with high expectations despite a 3-9 season. Head coach Scott Frost is coaching for his job and needs to get off to a hot start against a still rebuilding Northwestern team that also went 3-9.

So, two teams that went 3-9 last year, but one team is expected to take a serious jump forward based on some of the crazy losses they suffered last season, is it warranted? Let's dive in by first looking at the odds:

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Nebraska: -12.5 (-110)
  • Northwestern: +12.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Nebraska: -530
  • Northwestern: +390

Total:

50.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Betting Trends

  • Northwestern went 3-9 against the spread (ATS) last season
  • Northwestern is 9-3 ATS since 2010 in opening games
  • Nebraska went 7-4-1 ATS last season despite a 3-9 record
  • Nebraska is 21-22-1 ATS under Scott Frost

Need help with your college football futures bets? BetSided's Reed Wallach welcomes Ken Barkley, AKA "Locky Lockerson" of You Better You Bet to the debut episode of "The Early Reed!"

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Prediction and Pick

The talent edge lies with Nebraska, but this feels a bit too wide for my liking. The Cornhuskers enter the season with hgh expectations despite not going above .500 since 2016. Their win total is 7.5 and they are 12.5 point favorites on a neutral after closing as 11-point favorites against Northwestern at home last season. It's worth noting the Cornhuskers won 56-7 in that game.

Will Fitzgerald get his team ready to go for the opener? He has a ton of success in this situation and Nebraska is still ushering in a transfer quarterback in Casey Thompson. I think it's a bit premature to anoint this team as a Big Ten West contender right off the bat.

Northwestern has four starters back on the line and an 1,000 yard rusher in Evan Hull. Could this game be ugly on a neutral field in Dublin, Ireland and the Wildcats hang around against a team that has a ton of pressure on them to perform?

I believe so. I don't see a massive edge on this game, I make Nebraska a 10.5-point favorite, so it is better, but I'm eyeing the Wildcats to make this interesting in Week 0.

LEAN: Northwestern +12.5

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