It seems like we go through the same song and dance every offseason in college football.
As soon as the spring games end, the hype around Nebraska starts to build.
For a storied program with a massive, die-hard fanbase, it’s been like Lucy and the football.
The Cornhuskers seemingly try to do the right things and make the correct hires, but it just never goes right.
Last year, however, felt different.
In Year 2 under Matt Rhule, the Cornhuskers went 7-6 and won a bowl game to clinch their first winning season since 2016.
The team also ran its sell-out streak to 403 games, which tells you just how desperate these fans are to see the Huskers return to glory.
That streak won’t be in jeopardy Thursday night as Nebraska takes on Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The Cornhuskers are a 6.5-point favorite over the Bearcats, with the total sitting at 53.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | -6.5 | -270 | O53 (-110) |
| Cincinnati | +6.5 | +220 | U53 (-110) |
A lot of the optimism surrounding Nebraska this season surrounds Rhule’s ability to get his teams to make a leap in Year 3.
The New York native took Temple from 2-10 in Year 1 to consecutive 10-win seasons in Years 3 and 4.
Rhule then moved to Baylor, where he guided the Bears from 1-11 in his debut season to an 11-3 campaign in Year 3.
If the 50-year-old can deliver similar steps forward in Lincoln, they’ll begin plans for a statue.
To get there, Rhule will need quarterback Dylan Raiola to play like he did in the stretch of his freshman season.
After an inconsistent start to the campaign, the Cornhuskers hired Dana Holgorsen to run the offense, and the former West Virginia and Houston head coach immediately clicked with his new quarterback.
If Raiola continues that trajectory, the Huskers could be a force in the Big 10, as the defense has been terrific since Rhule took over.
That unit should be able to handle a Cincinnati offense that graded out decently in terms of efficiency last season with Brendan Sorsby under center, but the Bearcats lacked the big-play potential needed to keep pace with Raiola if he’s on song.
Cincinnati tried to address the lack of explosiveness in the portal, but Sorsby will be working with a plethora of new faces, so it’s hard to imagine they click out of the gates, especially against what should be a capable defense.
The spread has ticked up to Nebraska -7 at times this week, but I still see a little bit of value backing the Huskers to win this one going away.
In previous years, backing the Huskers as chunky favorites would seem outlandish, but they’ve finally got an offense with serious upside.
sNebraska’s team total is hovering around 30 points, so the bookies expect the Cornhuskers to have some serious pop.
If the bookies are right, and this offense does click, I have a hard time seeing the Bearcats keeping this game within a touchdown.
And hey, maybe some Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce-inspired money comes in on his alma mater playing at Arrowhead, and you can get the Huskers at a cheaper price closer to kickoff on Thursday.
The Play: Nebraska (-6.5, bet365)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.