The Northwestern Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers will face off in Big Ten play on Saturday afternoon. Both squads arrive with identical 5-2 records and the winner will get to six wins and lock up bowl eligibility with plenty of games to spare. Nebraska is favored at home in Lincoln and they will try to end the winning streak of Northwestern. Before this game begins, continue reading to get my Northwestern vs Nebraska prediction.
Our Northwestern vs Nebraska Pick
- Pick: Northwestern +7.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats vs Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 12:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
- Broadcast: FS1
Key Storylines
- Momentum and recent form – Both teams sit at 5-2, but Nebraska is vulnerable after a loss at Minnesota where they allowed nine sacks and failed to convert from the red zone. Northwestern comes off a 19-0 shutout of Purdue and has won four games in a row going into this game.
- Home field for Nebraska – The Cornhuskers face a must-win scenario to avoid dropping below .500 in the Big Ten. They are 3-1 at home this season but they lost their biggest test of the season at home against Michigan.
- Defensive matchup – Northwestern’s defensive numbers are elite. They are allowing only 15.1 points per game and rank 11th nationally in that category. Nebraska’s offense must find ways to sustain drives, especially with Northwestern’s ability to slow down passing attacks.
- Red-zone and run game – Nebraska’s run game must show up to relieve pressure on quarterback Dylan Raiola. Lead back Emmett Johnson has 713 rushing yards this season and the potential to hit 1,000 yards well before the end of the regular season. Northwestern defends the run decently but is stronger against the pass.
Quarterback Play
Nebraska starter Dylan Raiola has thrown for 1,768 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. His protection has been inconsistent and the recent Minnesota game exposed issues in the pocket and with his red-zone execution.
Northwestern passes for only 174.3 yards per game (ranked 115th nationally) while rushing for 190.1 yards per game (ranked 39th). Quarterback Preston Stone has 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions for the year.
Betting Trends
- Northwestern is 5-2 against the spread this season.
- Nebraska is just 2-5 against the spread entering this game.
- Five of Northwestern’s seven games this season have stayed under their totals.
- Five of Nebraska’s first seven games have gone over their respective totals.
Nebraska vs Northwestern Model Projection
Score Projection: Nebraska 27 – Northwestern 24
Win Probability: Nebraska 68%, Northwestern 32%
Final Thoughts
This game will come down to whether Nebraska can protect the quarterback and finish drives against a disciplined Northwestern defense. I think that Nebraska will ultimately win this game at home. But I don’t think that it is going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. I recommend taking the points with Northwestern, as they will make this an ugly game that will come down to a possession in Lincoln.
