| MATCHUP | Ohio Bobcats | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Spread | +23.5 -112 | -23.5 -108 |
| Moneyline | +1300 | -2800 |
| Total | Over 46.5 (-110) | Under 46.5 (-110) |
| Where | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, NE), Lincoln, NE | |
| When | Saturday, September 5, 2026 | |
| Time | 12:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | FS1 | |
Nebraska Preview
Nebraska finished last season with a 7-6 overall record, a 4-5 conference record, and placed 10th in the Big Ten. They had a 4-3 home record and a 2-2 away record. Offensively, the Cornhuskers scored 28.7 points per game last season (ranking 59th in the nation). Defensively, they allowed 24.6 points per game (ranking 67th in the nation). Nebraska averaged 370.5 total yards per game last season, with 145.9 average rushing yards and 224.6 average passing yards per game. They allowed 329.5 total yards per game, 175.4 of them rushing and 154.1 passing per game.
Dylan Raiola led the Cornhuskers with 181/250 completed passes and 2,000 total passing yards and had 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Emmett Johnson led the team in rushing yards, with 1,145, adding a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns, while Jacory Barney Jr. had a team-high 45 caught passes with 484 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Javin Wright had a team-high 86 total tackles, 39 of them solo, while Williams Nwaneri led Nebraska in sacks, with 2.5.
Ohio Preview
Ohio finished last season with a 9-4 overall record, a 6-2 conference record, and placed 2nd in the MAC. They had a 6-0 home record and a 2-4 away record. Offensively, the Bobcats scored 27.8 points per game last season (ranking 67th in the nation). Defensively, they allowed 21.9 points per game (ranking 42nd in the nation). Ohio averaged 411.5 total yards per game last season, with 227.4 average rushing yards and 184.2 average passing yards per game. They allowed 352.1 total yards per game, 144 of them rushing and 208.1 passing per game.
Parker Navarro led the Bobcats with 188/303 completed passes and 2,375 total passing yards and had 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Sieh Bangura led the team in rushing yards, with 1,139, adding a team-high 15 rushing touchdowns, while Chase Hendricks had a team-high 71 caught passes with 1,037 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Jalen Thomeson had a team-high 86 total tackles, 42 of them solo, while Jay Crable led Ohio in sacks, with 6.0.
Ohio Bobcats @ Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends: Week 1
Why the Nebraska Cornhuskers will win
- Nebraska has won each of its last seven home openers.
- Ohio has lost each of its last six games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference.
- Ohio has failed to cover the spread in each of its last five road games.
- Nebraska has covered the spread in each of its last five games against non-conference opponents at Memorial Stadium (Lincoln).
- Nebraska has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents at Memorial Stadium (Lincoln).
- Ohio has lost the first half in each of its last nine September games as a road underdog.
Why the Ohio Bobcats will win
- Ohio has won 11 of its last 12 September games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Nebraska has lost eight of its last 10 games against teams from Ohio.
- Nebraska has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games as a favorite.
- Ohio has covered the spread in five of its last six games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Ohio has won the first quarter in three of its last four road games.
- Ohio has won the first half seven of its last eight September games against non-AP-ranked teams.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Nebraska’s last seven games against non-AP-ranked teams at Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of Ohio’s last four games as an underdog have gone UNDER the total points line.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Player Prop Facts
- Anthony Colandrea ranked 1st in the Mountain West Conference for passing yards (3459) last season.
Ohio Bobcats Player Prop Facts
- Duncan Brune ranked T6th in the Mid-American Conference for rushing touchdowns (8) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Nebraska ranked 3rd among FBS teams for passing yards allowed per game last season (154.1).
- Nebraska ranked 135th among FBS teams for red zone percentage against last season (97.4).
- Ohio ranked 9th among FBS teams for rushing yards per game last season (227.4).
- Ohio ranked 12th among FBS teams for Q2 opponent points per game last season (4.8).
Ohio vs Nebraska Prediction
In this Ohio vs Nebraska Prediction, Nebraska is coming as -24.5 home favorites. The Cornhuskers are coming as huge favorites at home, even though they were just 4-3 in Nebraska last season. They are projected as a top-60 team but Ohio is projected at the top-100 and last season they had a far better defense, an almost identical offense and a better point differential (+5.9 to Nebraska’s 4.1). On top of that, Ohio has one of the best defenses in the MAC, so I expect them to cover this big number. Take Ohio by +24.5 points in this one.