Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
When: Saturday, September 2, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Arkansas State Red Wolves (+14.5) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (-14.5); total: 47.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: BTN
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Betting on the Arkansas State Red Wolves (+14.5)
Never count the Sun Belt’s Arkansas State Red Wolves out, considering that they’ve won no less than seven games in each of the last six seasons.
There are two veterans in Arkansas State’s key positions on offense who can lead the team to a Week 1 upset over Nebraska this Saturday. Quarterback Justice Hansen was competent competent enough during his 2016 sophomore campaign (2,719 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 57.9 percent completion percentage), and he’ll look to connect time and again with his go-to target in senior tight end Blake Mack, who finished with 652 receiving yards and three TDs last season.
However, the Red Wolves offensive line saw a major overhaul this offseason, making pass protection for their budding QB a concern, let alone paving lanes for an already iffy running game.
Arkansas State’s defense, which ranked 17th in the country at just 20.9 points allowed per game, might also be in for a long evening going up against a Power Five program. Last year, the team faced just one school from the Power Five conferences. The result: a 51-14 blowout loss at the hands of Auburn.
If the Red Wolves were facing a team within their own conference this weekend, we’d be more optimistic of their chances at winning. Sadly, that isn’t the case for their season opener. Still, there are more notable returning players than ones who’ve left the team, so the boys from Jonesboro will likely be able to put up a good fight.
Betting on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (-14.5)
A big question mark at quarterback looms over the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ season. Golden Wave transferee Tanner Lee was a solid playcaller in his first two seasons in Tulane, throwing for a total of 3,601 yards and 33 touchdowns. On the other hand, missing out on playing time during the entire 2016 season because of the transfer means that Lee has yet to truly prove himself to the Lincoln faithful.
Nebraska’s rushing corps took an even bigger blow, with four of their running backs from last season already having graduated or left.
But like the the Red Wolves, the Cornhuskers are fueled by a stout defense; one that ranked 30th in the country with an average of just 23.9 points allowed per game, and that’s against much tougher opposition that what Arkansas State has faced last season. That being said, count on Saturday’s game to be a relatively low-scoring affair.
To top it all off, Mike Riley and his gang won all seven of their games at Memorial Stadium last year, albeit with just a 4-2-1 record against the spread.
In the end, Nebraska’s experience going up against tougher competition will win out, especially given their scars in battle from the crowded Big Ten. How convincing their Week 1 performance will be remains to be seen, though.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cornhuskers prevail victorious, but the Red Wolves manage to cover (+14.5) with a final score of 24-14.
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