Nebraska at Michigan State - 2021 Matchup Preview

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan State Spartans

Saturday, September 25th 2021 (7:00 PM EDT)
Michigan State -3.5 (55.0)
Michigan State 23 - Nebraska: 20 (Big Ten)

Cornhuskers (3 - 9) (7 - 5 - 0)
Coach Scott Frost (14 - 22)
Avg Score : 29 - 25 (20 - 28 on Road)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

NEB 2nd straight Road Game
MSU is playing their 4th straight game
NEB is playing their 4th straight game
Our Line: -3 (SP+ MSU -1)
Projected Score: NEB: 26 - MSU: 26 (52)
MSU Win prob: 62% | Cover: 49%
NEB Travel: 643 miles, 1 hrs behind

Spartans (11 - 2) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Mel Tucker (5 - 5)
Avg Score : 25 - 30 (25 - 28 @ Home)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
NEB Players
MSU Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Nebraska's 2021 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/28	Nebraska at Illinois	-6.5	52.0	L 22 - 30	U	N
Sat 9/4	Nebraska vs Fordham	-42.0	55.0	W 52 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/11	Nebraska vs Buffalo	-13.5	54.0	W 28 - 3	U	Y
Sat 9/18	Nebraska at Oklahoma	+22.5	62.5	L 16 - 23	U	Y
Sat 9/25	Nebraska at Michigan State	+3.5	55.0	L 20 - 23	U	Y
Sat 10/2	Nebraska vs Northwestern	-11.0	51.5	W 56 - 7	O	Y
Sat 10/9	Nebraska vs Michigan	+2.5	50.5	L 29 - 32	O	N
Sat 10/16	Nebraska at Minnesota	-4.5	48.5	L 23 - 30	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/30	Nebraska vs Purdue	-7.5	54.0	L 23 - 28	U	N
Sat 11/6	Nebraska vs Ohio State	+14.0	68.5	L 17 - 26	U	Y
Sat 11/13	Nebraska vs SE Louisiana	-28.5
Sat 11/20	Nebraska at Wisconsin	+10.0	43.5	L 28 - 35	O	Y
Fri 11/26	Nebraska vs Iowa	-1.5	41.0	L 21 - 28	O	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Nebraska's Schedule

Michigan State's 2021 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 9/3	Michigan State at Northwestern	+3.0	45.5	W 38 - 21	O	Y
Sat 9/11	Michigan State vs Youngstown State	-28.5	52.0	W 42 - 14	O	N
Sat 9/18	Michigan State at Miami	+7.0	57.5	W 38 - 17	U	Y
Sat 9/25	Michigan State vs Nebraska	-3.5	55.0	W 23 - 20	U	N
Sat 10/2	Michigan State vs Western Kentucky	-10.5	66.5	W 48 - 31	O	Y
Sat 10/9	Michigan State at Rutgers	-4.5	50.0	W 31 - 13	U	Y
Sat 10/16	Michigan State at Indiana	-3.5	48.5	W 20 - 15	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/30	Michigan State vs Michigan	+4.0	50.5	W 37 - 33	O	Y
Sat 11/6	Michigan State at Purdue	-2.5	53.0	L 29 - 40	O	N
Sat 11/13	Michigan State vs Maryland	-11.5	60.0	W 40 - 21	O	Y
Sat 11/20	Michigan State at Ohio State	+19.5	70.5	L 7 - 56	U	N
Sat 11/27	Michigan State vs Penn State	+3.5	51.5	W 30 - 27	O	Y
Thu 12/30	Michigan State vs Pittsburgh	-3.5	55.0	W 31 - 21	U	Y

Important Stats (2020)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NEB	.18	47%	28.7	50%	3.01	201	44%	188	3.3	.19	42%	24.6	41%	43%	3.75	60.6	2.3	0.9
MSU	-.02	33%	24.6	28%	2.17	92	38%	239	2.49	.13	40%	29.9	38%	41%	3.71	65.1	2.9	1.4

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NEB		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
MSU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2020

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NEB Offense	8	28.7	19.5	47.3%	3.3	2.3	21	389	201	188	4.8	58%	42%	50%	44%	18%	.18
MSU Defense	7	29.9	27.8	39.6%	3.71	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	48%	52%	38%	41%	16%	.13

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NEB Defense	8	24.6	28.3	42.2%	3.75	0.9	-	-	-	-	-	55%	45%	41%	43%	17%	.19
MSU Offense	7	24.6	24.8	33.2%	2.49	2.9	16	331	92	239	2.7	48%	52%	28%	38%	21%	-.02

Additional Stats 2020

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Nebraska	8	28:25	21.3	36%	62%	6.8	60.6	2.3	0.9	6.6	1.6	0	24.7
Michigan State	7	27:14	16.1	33%	42%	6.9	65.1	2.9	1.4	6.1	1.7	0	25.7

Run Game Stats (2021)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NEB Offense	8	58%	50%	41.8	201.4	4.8	15	.2	3.01	82%	13%	0.9
MSU Defense	7	48%	38%	-	-	-	-	-	2.42	64%	10%	1.06

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NEB Defense	8	55%	41%	-	-	-	-	.12	2.73	58%	12%	1.05
MSU Offense	7	48%	28%	34	92.1	2.7	2	-.17	2.17	63%	13%	0.9

Pass Game Stats (2021)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NEB Offense	8	42%	44%	19.4	28.5	188	6.6	9.7	5	9	.16	1.3	27%	25%	.24	5%	2
MSU Defense	7	52%	41%	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	.26	1.5	33%	36%	.46	6%	2

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NEB Defense	8	45%	43%	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	.27	1.5	30%	34%	.35	5%	2
MSU Offense	7	52%	38%	18.9	34.7	238.9	6.9	12.7	11	12	.14	1.6	36%	23%		8%	1.8

Nebraska's Power Ratings
Nebraska's Power Rating: NR
Nebraska's Offense Rating: NR
Nebraska's Defense Rating: NR
2021 Talent Rating: #25
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Nebraska's 2021 Expected Record: -
Nebraska's 2021 Overall SP+ Rating: 10.3 #35
Nebraska's Offense SP+ Rating: 34.1 #33
Nebraska's Defense SP+ Rating: 21.3 #27

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 0
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Nebraska: Michigan State: 8.1

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Nebraska: 10.3 Michigan State: 11.2

Michigan State's Power Ratings
Michigan State's Power Rating: 8.1 NR
Michigan State's Offense Rating: NR
Michigan State's Defense Rating: NR
2021 Talent Rating: #36
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 NR
Michigan State's 2021 Expected Record: -
Michigan State's 2021 Overall SP+ Rating: 11.2 #28
Michigan State's Offense SP+ Rating: 34.3 #31
Michigan State's Defense SP+ Rating: 21.7 #30

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 0
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Nebraska Scoring
Offense: 28.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 19.5
Defense: 24.6 PPG
Defense on Road: 28.3

Nebraska's 2021 Record
Record: 3 - 9
Record vs Spread: 7 - 5 - 0
Over/Under Record: 6 - 6
Record on Road: 0 - 5
Record vs Spread on Road: 3 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 4 - 1 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 3 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Nebraska 26
Michigan State 26

Projected Total Points: 52

Michigan State Scoring
Offense: 24.6 PPG
Offense at Home: 24.8
Defense: 29.9 PPG
Defense at Home: 27.8

Michigan State's 2021 Record
Record: 11 - 2
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record at home: 6 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 2 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 5 - 3 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 2 - 2 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	10/04	Nebraska	38	Michigan State	27	Nebraska -12.5	Michigan State	48.5	Over
2023	11/04	Michigan State	20	Nebraska	17	Nebraska -3	Michigan State	34.5	Over
2021	09/25	Michigan State	23	Nebraska	20	Michigan State -3.5	Nebraska	55.0	Under
2018	11/17	Nebraska	9	Michigan State	6	Nebraska -1.5	Nebraska	48.5	Under
2015	11/07	Nebraska	39	Michigan State	38	Michigan State -4.5	Nebraska	55.5	Over
2014	10/04	Michigan State	27	Nebraska	22	Michigan State -8	Nebraska	0
2013	11/16	Nebraska	28	Michigan State	41	Michigan State -3.5	Michigan State	0
2012	11/03	Michigan State	24	Nebraska	28
2011	10/29	Nebraska	24	Michigan State	3
2003	12/29	Nebraska	17	Michigan State	3

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Michigan State	4	3	3 Overs
Nebraska	6	4	2 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	8 - 2	3 - 4	1 - 3	2 - 1
Road Teams	2 - 8	4 - 3	1 - 2	3 - 1

(#) NEB at (#) MSU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	NEB	MSU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#35	#28
Perf GradeGrade	#93	#36
OffenseOff	#78	#26
DefenseDef	#83	#43
Spec TeamsST	#63	#126
TalentTal	#25	#36
Blue ChipsBC%	NR	NR

Nebraska Injury Report

Michigan State Injury Report

Nebraska on Offense


CategoryCat	NEB Off	MSU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#78	#43
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#33	#30
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Nebraska Run Game


CategoryCat	NEB Off	MSU Def
Run GameRun	#88	#20
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#75	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#109

Nebraska Pass Game


CategoryCat	NEB Off	MSU Def
Pass GamePass	#58	#91
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#132	#20
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Michigan State on Offense


CategoryCat	MSU Off	NEB Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#26	#83
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#31	#27
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Michigan State Run Game


CategoryCat	MSU Off	NEB Def
Run GameRun	#51	#114
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#29	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#80

Michigan State Pass Game


CategoryCat	MSU Off	NEB Def
Pass GamePass	#61	#27
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#22	#68
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Program Comparison
MSU 5 Year Profile: Improving Average P4
'21 Profile: Remains Average P4

NEB 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg P4
'21 Profile: Up to Average P4

Weather Forecast
Playing in Spartan Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 4
Michigan State -3.5 (55.0)
Michigan State won vs Nebraska this year (23-20)

Previous Matchups
Nebraska beat Michigan State last year (38-27)
Michigan State beat Nebraska in 2023 (20-17)

NEB's OC Matt Lubick (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

View Nebraska's Full Roster

NEB's DC Erik Chinander (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

MSU's OC Jay Johnson (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

View Michigan State's Full Roster

MSU's DC Scottie Hazelton (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD