Nebraska (0-0) vs UTEP (0-0)
Game Info: Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 3:30 pm (Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium)
Betting Odds: Nebraska -27.5 --- Over/Under: 51.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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In this article, we will formulate a UTEP vs Nebraska prediction for this College Football Week 1 game on Saturday, August 31st, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Let’s take a look at a UTEP Miners vs Nebraska Cornhuskers pick. To formulate this prediction, we will examine:
-The Miners recent form and recent player performance
-The Cornhuskers recent form and recent player performance
-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving UTEP
-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Nebraska
-Recent betting trends in games played between UTEP and Nebraska.
-A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between the Miners and Cornhuskers.
UTEP Still Hasn’t Named a Starting Quarterback
UTEP still hasn’t named a starting quarterback this season but either Cade McConnell or Skyler Locklear is going to get the start. Whoever is going to start, is going to need to have a huge season. Whoever does get the start is going to have a ton of talent around him. Trey Goodman is coming in from Austin Peay while Jaden Smith had a solid career at Eastern Kentucky before joining UTEP. Last season, the UTEP offensive line was an issue, but they believe they are going to be better this season. In the backfield is Jevon Jackson who rushed for almost 1,400 yards and ten scores last year for Austin Peay.
Last season the UTEP defense was a strength, and the hope is they can build on that here. Maurice Westmoreland was the top pass rusher and he’s back to have another huge season. The linebacker corps lost a ton of talent but UTEP went shopping in the transfer portal to replace the names they lost. In this game, it’s going to need to be about the defense that steps up.
Why UTEP Will Cover Against Nebraska
- Nebraska has lost each of its last four games.
- UTEP has covered the spread in each of its last four games.
- Nebraska has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games.
Is Nebraska Back to Good
The last five years the talk has been about Nebraska being good and every year they don’t live up to the expectations. This season, there is that same buzz, though, and many believe this is the year that they finally turn it around. All the weight of the world is on freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. There is talk about him being one of the better quarterbacks in college football at some point, but there is so much pressure on him that you have to wonder how he is going to react to that. In this game, Nebraska is going to need to let Raiola settle in early and really let him build up his confidence.
The defense was actually pretty solid last season, and they are going to need to lock down again. Nash Hutmacher is back to anchor the defensive line and they are going to need him to be strong here. Hutcmacher is going to need to spend a lot of his time in the backfield during this game.
UTEP vs Nebraska Prediction
Nebraska is probably going to win this game, and I think they are going to have a solid season, but there is going to be some growing pains with Raiola. He will throw a couple of touchdowns, but he’s going to turn the ball over a few times also and that is going to be enough for UTEP to keep this game close. Nebraska won’t win this game by more than 14 points, and UTEP is going to get the job done. Back UTEP against the spread.