Maryland vs. Nebraska: Keys to victory, HuskerOnline score predictions for Saturday

Can Nebraska (5-4, 3-3) get its sixth win of 2023 and become bowl-eligible? The Huskers will take on a struggling Maryland (5-4, 2-4) team that has lost its last four games.

As things get closer to kickoff, here are today’s keys to victory for Nebraska against the Terrapins.

The Huskers enter today’s game as a slight 2.5-point underdog against Maryland. Today’s game can be streamed on Peacock.

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KEYS TO VICTORY: Maryland vs. Nebraska

KEY 1: Win the red zone

A big key today will be Nebraska’s defense in the red zone. Tony White’s crew has to force field goals and not allow touchdowns. Against Northwestern they were brilliant in this area, where a week again at Michigan State, they struggled.

KEY 2: Play the wind

Winds could potentially be a factor today again, this time out of the south. Hopefully, the wind works as an advantage for NU, limiting Maryland with what they want to do for two quarters.

KEY 3: Haarberg needs to be a quick blinker

When quarterback Heinrich Haarberg makes quick reads and gets rid of the football, he’s been effective. He must be a quick blinker on Saturday for this NU offense to succeed.

KEY 4: Create QB pressures on defense

Nebraska’s defense needs to force the issue. They have to create quarterback pressures and not let Taulia Tagovailoa have time to make his reads downfield. If they can get him off-balanced, they will force a few turnovers.

KEY 5: Get the crowd engaged early

11 a.m. games are tough. Fans have a hard time getting to Lincoln on time, and there is very little opportunity to get up for the game. NU has to do something early in this game to engage the crowd and get things going.

EXPERT TAKE

Sean Callahan – HuskerOnline Pubisher

Nebraska will come out hungry. Tony White’s defense will get back on track and get after Maryland’s offense. It should also be a big day for Haarberg with his legs. The Terps have struggled against mobile quarterbacks.

Nebraska 27, Maryland 23

Steven Sipple – HuskerOnline columnist

I’m going to venture away from personnel matchups and scheme and point to two factors that should favor Nebraska: Sheer want-to and coaching. Nebraska, one would think, is hungrier to reach bowl eligibility. Maryland has been there, done that. As for coaching, you have to feel good about Matt Rhule having his team better prepared than Mike Locksley. Rhule has done an excellent job pushing the injury-riddled Huskers to this point.

Nebraska 27, Maryland 25

Robin Washut – HuskerOnline senior writer

Nebraska might be the underdog today, but to me, this one is a total coin flip. If the Huskers can ever figure out how to stay out of their own way, they can compete with anyone left on their schedule. I think NU plays a clean enough game and finally locks up a bowl bid.

Nebraska 24, Maryland 21

Andy Kendeigh – KETV ABC-Omaha

Turnovers are such a hot-button topic at Nebraska but Maryland has had major turnover issues as of late. In Maryland’s 5-0 start, the Terps’ turnover margin is +9, but during its four-game skid, Maryland’s margin is -8.  In fact, the Terps have forced just one turnover in the past four games.  Hang on to the ball, you win this game and become bowl-eligible.

Nebraska 24, Maryland 20

Jim Rose – 1110 KFAB Radio-Omaha

Didn’t see that MSU thing coming.  Didn’t figure on the Blackshirts having an out-of-body experience and going conservative in a game.   Lesson learned.   Coach Tony White will turn these dudes loose and knock the Terps back into the Chesapeake Bay.  

Nebraska 24, Maryland 10

Mike’l Severe – Big Red Wrap-Up

The Huskers have to be ready for Maryland’s tempo and the amount of guys who touch the ball. The Terps have six players with 20 or more catches, four with 30 or more. Tagovailoa is a great ball handler and the offense features a lot of waggles and boots, the contain guys have to do their jobs. If Nebraska can pressure Taulia up the middle, while defending the large amount of WR screens by fighting through the blocks, they will end the day bowl-eligible.

Nebraska 24, Maryland 23

HuskerOnline Week 11 Score Predictions

Week 11Sean CallahanSteven SippleRobin WashutAndy KendeighJim RoseMike’l SevereMaryland at
Nebraska27-23
Nebraska 27-25
Nebraska24-21
Nebraska 24-20
Nebraska24-10
Nebraska24-23
NebraskaMichigan
at Penn State27-24
Michigan 28-13
Michigan35-20
Michigan27-24
Penn State31-27
Michigan31-30
Penn StateRutgers at
Iowa13-12
Iowa17-16
Iowa7-4
Iowa8-5
Iowa13-10
Iowa16-10
RutgersMinnesota
at Purdue31-24
Minnesota 21-17
Purdue17-14
Minnesota 24-21
Minnesota24-20
Minnesota27-23
MinnesotaUtah at
Washington38-34
Washington41-24
Washington31-28
Washington42-28
Washington35-21
Washington40-23
WashingtonTennessee
at Missouri34-31
Tennessee 35-28
Missouri 38-34
Missouri42-38
Tennessee 28-24
Missouri33-28
Missouri

HuskerOnline Pick Standings

PickerStraight UpVs. SpreadCumulativeSean Callahan43-1734-2677Jim Rose42-1834-2676Andy Kendeigh40-2035-2575Mike’l Severe39-2129-3168Robin Washut40-2029-3168Steven Sipple37-2330-3067

Sean Callahan can be reached at sean@huskeronline.com and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.

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