Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team Preview 2019: Odds and Predictions

Scott Frost’s first season at his alma mater provided a rude awakening for the former UCF coach, as it showed just how far the program had fallen. An 0-6 start, which included a loss to Sun Belt opponent Troy, quickly erased much of the optimism from Frost’s hire. Although the offense was explosive at times with 50+ point games against Minnesota and Illinois, Nebraska’s porous defense coughed up 31.2 points per game, making wins very hard to come by.

Key Returning Players (2018 Stats)

Blackshirt Football ?? @SDHighlights pic.twitter.com/pMpwoKNyn5

— MoBarry 7?? (@BarrySwavey) March 2, 2019

• QB Adrian Martinez (Sophomore) – 2,617 Pass Yards | 629 Rush Yards | 25 Total TD
• WR JD Spielman (Redshirt Junior) – 66 Receptions | 818 Rec Yards | 8 Rec TD
• MLB Mohamed Barry (Redshirt Senior) – 112 Total Tackles | 10.0 TFL | 2.0 Sacks
• CB Dicaprio Bootle (Redshirt Junior) – 39 Total Tackles | 15 Pass Def | 1 Forced Fumble

Nebraska’s dual threat quarterback Adrian Martinez will be under center, where he will have JD Spielman as his top returning receiving target, along with tight end Jack Stoll and running back Maurice Washington as secondary options. The offensive line should show improvement from last year when they were responsible for at least nine penalties per game during the first six games of 2018. Leading that group are tackles Brenden Jaimes and Matt Farniok, with 21 and 15 career starts respectively.

The defense has more questions than answers outside of top tackler Mohamed Barry and corner Dicaprio Bootle. Safeties Eric Lee Jr. and Deontai Williams are tasked with shoring up the secondary with Bootle, while Barry will likely be flanked by redshirt juniors Jo Jo Domann and Collin Miller at linebacker. 320 pound Oklahoma State transfer Darrion Daniels will anchor the three man defensive line for the Huskers.

Key Departures

• WR Stanley Morgan Jr. (Graduation)
• RB Devine Ozigbo (Graduation)
• DE Luke Gifford (Graduation)
• OG Tanner Farmer (Graduation)

Although Nebraska currently has 31 active NFL players, this year’s batch is thin with no players selected in the draft. As far as graduation losses go, the Huskers will be without 1,000 yard rusher Devine Ozibgo as well as top receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. The offensive line also took a hit with the loss of three interior linemen in Tanner Farmer, Cole Conrad, and Jerald Foster.

The defense also lost some key pieces, which include pass rusher Luke Gifford, linebacker Dedrick Young, and safety Aaron Williams.

Notable Recruits (Star Ratings and Rankings According to Rivals.com)

first spring ball?
first semester of college?
couldn’t be happier with my decision to come to Nebraska.. #GBR pic.twitter.com/Dci0gSVgVG

— Wandale Robinson (@wanda1erobinson) May 1, 2019

• ATH Wan’Dale Robinson – 4 Star | 5-9, 175lb | Western Hills HS | Frankfort, KY
• S Noa Pola-Gates – 4 Star | 5-11, 180lb | Williams Field HS | Gilbert, AZ
• DE Ty Robinson – 4 Star | 6-6, 275lb | Higley HS | Gilbert, AZ
• OT Bryce Benhart – 4 Star | 6-9, 301lb | Lakeville North HS | Lakeville, MN

One of the biggest reasons Frost was brought back to Lincoln was his ability to recruit, which is key since Nebraska is not known for perfect weather and sandy beaches. The prized recruit for the Huskers class of 2019 is without question Wan’Dale Robinson, who will serve as an all-purpose back in their spread offense. Nebraska added some defensive reinforcements across the board in defensive end Ty Robinson and safety Noa-Pola Gates, along with linebackers Nick Henrich and Jackson Hannah. Henrich, an in-state recruit from Omaha, is projected to compete for playing time from day one.

2019 Schedule

Looking at the schedule for Nebraska, there is little reason to believe that they will have another 0-6 start, with their first serious challenge coming in their fifth game at home against Ohio State. Outside of that game, there should not be too many road blocks, especially with Big Ten West Division opponents Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Iowa visiting Memorial Stadium.

Where to Bet on Win Totals in New Jersey

New Jersey residents can log on to 888Sport to wager on Nebraska’s win total. With an over/under of 8 wins, many in Lincoln are expecting the Huskers to undergo a turnaround and compete for a Big Ten title game berth.

Number of Games Won – Excluding Bowl Games & Play Offs

Regular season only. Conference championship games do not count.

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