How is there not a Michigan State score prediction thread yet?

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

Other side seems too easy

With you 100%. Sometimes I do still take the cheese though.

 

[dinglefritz]

The pessimism on here about this game shows that this really is a HUGE game for Rhule. Despite his buyout, this is a make it or break it year for Rhule. For 3 years we have seen his NU teams beat up on cream puffs early only to totally collapse once we get into conference play. Therefore, fans are rightfully skeptical and waiting to see if this year will be different. If we lose on Saturday it won’t necessarily be doomsday. But damn, it will certainly destroy fan support and feed the cynicism monster big time. My gut says that if we lose this game it will probably create a negative vortex that will affect the rest of the season in ugly ways.
In short, this is a MUST WIN game for Rhule. No doubt about it. Especially since MSU is not even one of the better B1G teams.

There’s only 3 games on the schedule this year that aren’t must win for Rhule this year.

 

[Bigred2467]

The pessimism on here about this game shows that this really is a HUGE game for Rhule. Despite his buyout, this is a make it or break it year for Rhule. For 3 years we have seen his NU teams beat up on cream puffs early only to totally collapse once we get into conference play. Therefore, fans are rightfully skeptical and waiting to see if this year will be different. If we lose on Saturday it won’t necessarily be doomsday. But damn, it will certainly destroy fan support and feed the cynicism monster big time. My gut says that if we lose this game it will probably create a negative vortex that will affect the rest of the season in ugly ways.
In short, this is a MUST WIN game for Rhule. No doubt about it. Especially since MSU is not even one of the better B1G teams.

It won't bode well if Rhule in year four of his program gets beat by Fitzgerald in year one of his program.

 

[davecisar]

There’s only 3 games on the schedule this year that aren’t must win for Rhule this year.

I would respectfully disagree with that. To show progress he needs to beat
Ohio
Bowling Green
North Dakota
Michigan State
Maryland
Rutgers

Then a minimum of 1 of:
Illinois
Washington

We have no chance against
Indiana
Ohio state

We have slim chance against
Iowa
Oregon

in any event- Coach isnt going anywhere with his huge grifting buyout. Reality- not preference is 7 wins maybe 8 with a bowl win will allow many fans to continue to be hopeful.

 

[Kakdawg]

Nebraska should take this game by a couple scores but if is raining all bets are off (forecast 4 days out = sunny & 70).

Why should we win by a couple of scores? Based on?



Holla

 

[Kakdawg]

Nebraska should take this game by a couple scores but if is raining all bets are off (forecast 4 days out = sunny & 70).

I think I like their D maybe better than ours. I KNOW I like their special teams over ours. That's 2/3 of the game.

On paper I think it's a good matchup. First BIG opener on the road makes it tougher.

I love their RB also. Reminds me of Emmett ...I think it'll be a good game. Much better athletes than we have faced so far on both sides of the ball.



Holla

 

[NikkiSixx]

Why should we win by a couple of scores? Based on?



Holla

serious? we have a top ten offense

edit: and a top 11 defense.

2026 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Total team stat leaders for the 2026 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

 

[nu2u]

serious? we have a top ten offense

edit: and a top 11 defense.

2026 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Total team stat leaders for the 2026 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

If MSU can establish a strong run game and command TOP, I think this game (absent TOs, key injuries, critical penalties, etc) could be up for grabs. Otherwise, Colandria is a much better QB and Huskers a better offense.

 

[NikkiSixx]

If MSU can establish a strong run game and command TOP, I think this game (absent TOs, key injuries, critical penalties, etc) could be up for grabs. Otherwise, Colandria is a much better QB and Huskers a better offense.

nah man, it's gonna be another butt kicking.. only slightly harder because it's an away game

 

[BleedHuskerRed]

Until Rhule proves he can beat teams with proven good coaches, I will pick against him. Coaches like Fitzgerald, Fleck, and Bielema always out coach him. That said, I think we win this one and buck the trend.
NU 27
MSU 17

 

[Walleye 1]

24-13 MSU, I’ve been on the wrong side of these kind of predictions way to many time. I have no faith Rhule can beat a decent to good head coach

 

[Wasker73]

I think Fitzgerald wants this game played in a phone booth. I'm hoping they could still be feeling the effects of a physical game against ND. They didn't crack 200 yds of offense vs. A stout ND defense.

I had this one as an "L" ore-season. I thought the line would open around 3. IMO, seeing that it opened around 5.5 was a good sign. I think Colandrea could be our X-Factor Saturday night.

We probably see a steady diet of Cam Edwards. Not sure how they can consistently take the top off our D.

Good guys pull out an ugly one.
20-17.

I disagree with you on the Huskers winning a close game. If the Huskers can stay 7-14 points ahead with a score of 24-14 or 28-17 they will win. If it is close at 20-17 like you think it will be then I think the odds are Huskers lose. Rhule panics in close games and it effects the team. Rhule has only won 10 Big Ten conference games. The average winning margin for these 10 Big Ten conference games is 11 points. The only 3 point win was last year's game against Maryland. Here are the winning margins for the 10 Big Ten wins; 13, 8, 17, 18, 7, 19, 11 ,3, 7 and 7. In their 17 losses to Big Ten foes Rhule's team have lost by 3 points in 6 games and by 4 points in 2 games. So Rhule is 1-8 in close Big Ten games.

 

[mr.michigan]

serious? we have a top ten offense

edit: and a top 11 defense.

2026 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Total team stat leaders for the 2026 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

Haaaa!!!!!

 

[suffocation_]

serious? we have a top ten offense

edit: and a top 11 defense.

2026 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Total team stat leaders for the 2026 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

This is actually a well executed troll

 

[NikkiSixx]

This is actually a well executed troll

how so?

 

[Wasker73]

I would respectfully disagree with that. To show progress he needs to beat
Ohio
Bowling Green
North Dakota
Michigan State
Maryland
Rutgers

Then a minimum of 1 of:
Illinois
Washington

We have no chance against
Indiana
Ohio state

We have slim chance against
Iowa
Oregon

in any event- Coach isnt going anywhere with his huge grifting buyout. Reality- not preference is 7 wins maybe 8 with a bowl win will allow many fans to continue to be hopeful.

I still find it amazing that some of my fellow Husker fans would like a better season but are willing to accept a 7 game win season. Must be from the "everyone gets a trophy generation". We ran a coach out of the state for winning 9-10 games every season because he got blown out in some big games and didn't like us fans (He did mange to go 3-1 against the dreaded Iowa Hawkeyes), but are ok with a coach whose season win total is 7 games. The reasoning is because his supporters believe Rhule is a nice guy and he must be a good coach because he wins more than Scott Frost. I agree that Matt is not going anywhere anytime soon. Dannen has too much invested in him to let him go.

 

[PTHUSKER]

This place is going to burn to the ground Saturday night.

It’s not that weird that you’re over here posting since you’re not really accepted on the Michigan site do to your fondness of children but it is weird you’re over here giving us a hard time when your team lost to western Michigan and your students still rushed the field after a loss! About everyone on this board would rather lose every game in exchange of not being you. Buzz off Fagg

 

[Rcnut223]

It would sadly be the best win of Rhule's tenure

4-10 on the road, my goodness. I was at the Illinois win, we looked pretty good but the Illini weren't very good at that time. So.... We have not beaten a solid team on the road...

NU - 17
MSU-24

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

I disagree with you on the Huskers winning a close game. If the Huskers can stay 7-14 points ahead with a score of 24-14 or 28-17 they will win. If it is close at 20-17 like you think it will be then I think the odds are Huskers lose. Rhule panics in close games and it effects the team. Rhule has only won 10 Big Ten conference games. The average winning margin for these 10 Big Ten conference games is 11 points. The only 3 point win was last year's game against Maryland. Here are the winning margins for the 10 Big Ten wins; 13, 8, 17, 18, 7, 19, 11 ,3, 7 and 7. In their 17 losses to Big Ten foes Rhule's team have lost by 3 points in 6 games and by 4 points in 2 games. So Rhule is 1-8 in close Big Ten games.

Fair take. I think they have a 4-9 conference road record during his tenure.

2 of those wins were by more than one score. Surprisingly to me only 3 of those losses are more than one score. Hence where some of my prediction comes from.

Until they can stack some conference wins and develop a killer instinct; I don't have much confidence in any convincing conference wins, especially in the road.

 

[Kakdawg]

serious? we have a top ten offense

edit: and a top 11 defense.

2026 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Total team stat leaders for the 2026 NCAAF Regular Season.

www.espn.com

Very serious. Hard to get a read on anything we have done so far vs the competition level we have. I like our offense but no where near as high on us defensively.

I think I have a better feel for where they are than where we are based on the ND game . I like them better on special teams for sure. I like us better offensively for sure (but I love their RB #0). Defensively I think it's pretty close and I didn't know which way I'll go. Add home field, night game, first game of Fitz era, or first against legit comp. I wish I could see it as cut and dried as you do.



I hope we win it but wouldn't be shocked at all if we didn't.



Holla

 

[suffocation_]

how so?

You're either committed to the bit or you were being serious

I'm not sure which one is more funny, but well done

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

The biggest X-factor is that it’s Fitzgerald coaching across the other sideline. The dude has outfoxed every single coach NU has had since joining the B1G with the exception of Rhule. Will Rhule be added to that tally mark?

 

[orclover11]

It won't bode well if Rhule in year four of his program gets beat by Fitzgerald in year one of his program.

He was beaten by three interim coaches last year. Nobody thinks he is a good coach, people are just praying that his assistants pick up the slack.

 

[o_Balfor]

Are we in some parallel universe?

I'm actually a little scared now. What is happening?

 

[USNHusker]

This place is going to burn to the ground Saturday night.

Imagine a P4 fan base storming the field against Western Michigan...how embarrassing would that be, right?

 

[Wasker73]

The biggest X-factor is that it’s Fitzgerald coaching across the other sideline. The dude has outfoxed every single coach NU has had since joining the B1G with the exception of Rhule. Will Rhule be added to that tally mark?

"The dude has outfoxed every single coach NU has had since joining the B1G." Bo's team's were 3-1 going up against Fitzgerald's Northwestern teams.

 

[NikkiSixx]

He was beaten by three interim coaches last year. Nobody thinks he is a good coach, people are just praying that his assistants pick up the slack.

he's not a good coach.. he's just a mouthpiece and a decent recruiter, and from what I can tell, he's doing those things fine.

Dana runs the offense, and Rob runs the defense.. In a way, Matt is sitting pretty. I don't even tune in to the guy anymore.. I don't watch a single interview.. as long as he keeps getting good recruits, and his assistants do their jobs, he's totally safe.

the most glaring issue right now, we should have a real ST coach.. it's ridiculous that we don't have a proven guy back there doing that job.

 

[Rcnut223]

I would respectfully disagree with that. To show progress he needs to beat
Ohio
Bowling Green
North Dakota
Michigan State
Maryland
Rutgers

Then a minimum of 1 of:
Illinois
Washington

We have no chance against
Indiana
Ohio state

We have slim chance against
Iowa
Oregon

in any event- Coach isnt going anywhere with his huge grifting buyout. Reality- not preference is 7 wins maybe 8 with a bowl win will allow many fans to continue to be hopeful.

7-5 hmmmm same as last 2 years

 

[Rcnut223]

he's not a good coach.. he's just a mouthpiece and a decent recruiter, and from what I can tell, he's doing those things fine.

Dana runs the offense, and Rob runs the defense.. In a way, Matt is sitting pretty. I don't even tune in to the guy anymore.. I don't watch a single interview.. as long as he keeps getting good recruits, and his assistants do their jobs, he's totally safe.

the most glaring issue right now, we should have a real ST coach.. it's ridiculous that we don't have a proven guy back there doing that job.

He had a great ST coach. Instant success with Ekler, But he was too good . Rhule couldn't handle a guy like that.

 

[Jesseblackshirts43]

Hate these games - if I had a gun to my head - I would 100% bet on the better coach.

MSU-24
NU - 20

 

[Zrob88]

I think the Huskers win by 2 touchdown a... It's great to finally get to see where they are at, and I expect a few hiccups

38-24

 

[Redscarlet]

Hate these games - if I had a gun to my head - I would 100% bet on the better coach.

MSU-24
NU - 20

Dylan Raiola isn’t the QB this year.

 

[salsa red]

NU 24, NW 23. NU totally dominates with but terrible special teams keeps them in it. Colandrea summons his inner TMart and gets a late drive to win it.

 

[Zrob88]

NU 24, NW 23. NU totally dominates with but terrible special teams keeps them in it. Colandrea summons his inner TMart and gets a late drive to win it.

I have a good feeling about Coleandrea in close games. To me he seems like the kind of guy that will be clutch and rise to the occasion. He looks to be very competitive and I think in the tight games he might even over perform when it's needed.

I hope I'm right. I haven't looked too much at what he did back at UNLV but he's got a good vibe IMO. I never got that from Raiola (or any other Husker QB in a very long time...).

 

[singlet]

31 - 24 Nebraska

 

[suffocation_]

I have a good feeling about Coleandrea in close games. To me he seems like the kind of guy that will be clutch and rise to the occasion. He looks to be very competitive and I think in the tight games he might even over perform when it's needed.

I hope I'm right. I haven't looked too much at what he did back at UNLV but he's got a good vibe IMO. I never got that from Raiola (or any other Husker QB in a very long time...).

Your gut is correct.

Colandrea had 4 wins last year that came from scoring on their last drive to take the lead.

 

[king_kong__]

Your gut is correct.

Colandrea had 4 wins last year that came from scoring on their last drive to take the lead.

good stat

 

[Huskers+123]

Until Rhule proves he can beat teams with proven good coaches, I will pick against him. Coaches like Fitzgerald, Fleck, and Bielema always out coach him. That said, I think we win this one and buck the trend.
NU 27
MSU 17

As long as he doesn't try an onside kick with a lead and some momentum on his side (The Ireland debacle), we will win this game.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

Offense:
Nebraska > MSU

Defense:
Nebraska == MSU

Special Teams:
MSU > Nebraska

It will be a good road test between two pretty equal teams (our offense is better). Simply put, If we don’t turn over the ball and don’t let MSU return a kickoff or punt for a touchdown, then we win this game.

 

[suffocation_]

Offense:
Nebraska > MSU

Defense:
Nebraska == MSU

Special Teams:
MSU > Nebraska

It will be a good road test between two pretty equal teams (our offense is better). Simply put, If we don’t turn over the ball and don’t let MSU return a kickoff or punt for a touchdown, then we win this game.

You're forgetting:

HC
Nebraska < MSU

Conference game on the road, that's huge.

I typically consider HC, QB, and defense. The team that is 2/3 on those almost always wins.