Northern Illinois at Nebraska - 2023 Matchup Preview

Northern Illinois Huskies at Nebraska Cornhuskers

Saturday, September 16th 2023 (7:00 PM EDT)
Nebraska -11.5 (42.5) (0) Open: 0.0
Nebraska 35 - Northern Illinois: 11

Huskies (7 - 6) (6 - 7 - 0)
Coach Thomas Hammock (18 - 29)
Avg Score : 17 - 24 (16 - 28 on Road)
Record Prediction: 8.2 - 4.8 (#42)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: Nebraska -7.5 (SP+ NEB -7)
Projected Score: NIU: 19 - NEB: 27 (46)
NEB Win prob: 77% | Cover: 45%
NIU Travel: 418 miles

Cornhuskers (5 - 7) (5 - 7 - 0)
Coach Matt Rhule (1 - 2)
Avg Score : 29 - 25 (36 - 21 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 6.5 - 5.5 (#68)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

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

Northern Illinois's 2023 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/2	Northern Illinois at Boston College	+8.0W27–24	50.0	W27–24	O	Y
Sat 9/9	Northern Illinois vs Southern Illinois	-6.5L11–14	58.5	L11–14	U	N
Sat 9/16	Northern Illinois at Nebraska	+11.5L11–35	42.5	L11–35	O	N
Sat 9/23	Northern Illinois vs Tulsa	-3.5L14–22	54.5	L14–22	U	N
Sat 9/30	Northern Illinois at Toledo	+13.0L33–35	48.0	L33–35	O	Y
Sat 10/7	Northern Illinois at Akron	-4.0W55–14	42.5	W55–14	O	Y
Sat 10/14	Northern Illinois vs Ohio	+5.5W23–13	45.0	W23–13	U	Y
Sat 10/21	Northern Illinois vs Eastern Michigan	-11.5W20–13	43.5	W20–13	U	N
— Bye Week —
Tue 10/31	Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	-3.0L31–37	48.0	L31–37	O	N
Tue 11/7	Northern Illinois vs Ball State	-9.5L17–20	43.5	L17–20	U	N
Tue 11/14	Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan	-4.5W24–0	55.5	W24–0	U	Y
Sat 11/25	Northern Illinois at Kent State	-20.5W37–27	44.5	W37–27	O	N
Sat 12/23	Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State	+2.5W21–19	54.0	W21–19	U	Y

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 Northern Illinois's Schedule

Nebraska's 2023 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/31	Nebraska at Minnesota	+7.5L10–13	43.0	L10–13	U	Y
Sat 9/9	Nebraska at Colorado	+2.5L14–36	56.5	L14–36	U	N
Sat 9/16	Nebraska vs Northern Illinois	-11.5W35–11	42.5	W35–11	O	Y
Sat 9/23	Nebraska vs Louisiana Tech	-20.5W28–14	44.5	W28–14	U	N
Sat 9/30	Nebraska vs Michigan	+17.0L7–45	39.5	L7–45	O	N
Fri 10/6	Nebraska at Illinois	+3.5W20–7	43.0	W20–7	U	Y
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21	Nebraska vs Northwestern	-10.5W17–9	40.0	W17–9	U	N
Sat 10/28	Nebraska vs Purdue	+1.0W31–14	39.5	W31–14	O	Y
Sat 11/4	Nebraska at Michigan State	-3.0L17–20	34.5	L17–20	O	N
Sat 11/11	Nebraska vs Maryland	+1.5L10–13	41.5	L10–13	U	N
Sat 11/18	Nebraska at Wisconsin	+7.5L17–24	36.5	L17–24	O	Y
Fri 11/24	Nebraska vs Iowa	-3.0L10–13	25.5	L10–13	U	N

Important Stats (2022)

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
NIU	.19	41%	17.1	40%	3.16	190	43%	183	3.63	.27	44%	24.3	43%	47%	4.14	62.5	1.3	1.8
NEB	.2	41%	28.7	40%	2.97	123	42%	221	3.84	.2	47%	24.6	52%	43%	4.11	42.5	1.6	1.6

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
NIU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NEB		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2022

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
NIU Offense	12	17.1	16.3	40.7%	3.63	1.3	19	373	190	183	4.8	59%	39%	40%	43%	16%	.19
NEB Defense	12	24.6	20.9	47.3%	4.11	1.6	-	-	-	-	-	51%	48%	52%	43%	14%	.2

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
NIU Defense	12	24.3	27.8	44.5%	4.14	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	51%	47%	43%	47%	15%	.27
NEB Offense	12	28.7	36.1	41%	3.84	1.6	18	344	123	221	3.5	51%	49%	40%	42%	17%	.2

Additional Stats 2022

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
Northern Illinois	12	30:48	18.8	39%	48%	6.3	62.5	1.3	1.8	4.6	2.4	1	30
Nebraska	12	26:48	18.1	40%	43%	5.4	42.5	1.6	1.6	5	1.8	1	26.7

Run Game Stats (2023)

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
NIU Offense	12	59%	40%	39.8	190.4	4.8	19	.16	3.16	82%	8%	1.05
NEB Defense	12	51%	52%	-	-	-	-	.2	3.33	80%	8%	0.87

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
NIU Defense	12	51%	43%	-	-	-	-	.11	3.26	73%	9%	0.9
NEB Offense	12	51%	40%	35	123.3	3.5	17	.08	2.97	76%	11%	0.86

Pass Game Stats (2023)

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
NIU Offense	12	39%	43%	15.4	27.3	182.7	6.7	11.9	18	14	.33	1.6	32%	29%	.18	8%	1.9
NEB Defense	12	48%	43%	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	.25	1.4	30%	31%	.22	6%	1.9

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
NIU Defense	12	47%	47%	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	.49	1.8	31%	32%	.51	6%	2.5
NEB Offense	12	49%	42%	17.1	28.3	220.8	7.8	12.9	17	13	.35	1.7	34%	29%	.28	6%	1.8

Northern Illinois's Power Ratings
Northern Illinois's Power Rating: -1.76 #74
Northern Illinois's Offense Rating: 17.02 #61
Northern Illinois's Defense Rating: 8.15 #48
2023 Talent Rating: 352.36 #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #75
Northern Illinois's 2023 Expected Record: 8.20 - 4.80
Northern Illinois's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -6.7 #85
Northern Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: 19.4 #109
Northern Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: 24.5 #47

Average Talent
Average Mountain West Talent Rating is 355.54
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Power Ratings Matchup
Northern Illinois: -1.76 Nebraska: 3.355

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Northern Illinois: -6.7 Nebraska: 0.1

Nebraska's Power Ratings
Nebraska's Power Rating: 3.355 #53
Nebraska's Offense Rating: 10.32 #121
Nebraska's Defense Rating: 5.24 #28
2023 Talent Rating: 765.20 #21
Blue Chip Ratio: 24 #27
Nebraska's 2023 Expected Record: 6.50 - 5.50
Nebraska's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: 0.1 #65
Nebraska's Offense SP+ Rating: 16.0 #123
Nebraska's Defense SP+ Rating: 14.4 #8

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 750.28
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Northern Illinois Scoring
Offense: 17.1 PPG
Offense on Road: 16.3
Defense: 24.3 PPG
Defense on Road: 27.8

Northern Illinois's 2023 Record
Record: 7 - 6
Record vs Spread: 6 - 7 - 0
Over/Under Record: 6 - 7
Record on Road: 3 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 3 - 3 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 4 - 1 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 2 - 1 - 0

Projected Score
Nebraska 27
Northern Illinois 19

Projected Total Points: 46

Nebraska Scoring
Offense: 28.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 36.1
Defense: 24.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 20.9

Nebraska's 2023 Record
Record: 5 - 7
Record vs Spread: 5 - 7 - 0
Over/Under Record: 5 - 7
Record at home: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread at home: 2 - 5 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 1 - 4 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 1 - 3 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2023	09/16	Nebraska	35	Northern Illinois	11	Nebraska -11.5	Nebraska	42.5	Over
2019	09/14	Nebraska	44	Northern Illinois	8	Nebraska -13.5	Nebraska	53.0	Under
2017	09/16	Nebraska	17	Northern Illinois	21	Nebraska -10.5	Northern Illinois	56.5	Under

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Nebraska	2	2	1 Overs
Northern Illinois	1	1	2 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	2 - 1	2 - 1	2 - 1	0 - 0
Road Teams	1 - 2	1 - 2	0 - 0	1 - 2

(#74) NIU at (#53) NEB

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	NIU	NEB
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#74	#53
SP+SP+	#85	#65
Perf GradeGrade	#82	#98
OffenseOff	#78	#125
DefenseDef	#64	#40
Spec TeamsST	#119	#9
TalentTal	#120	#21
Blue ChipsBC%	#75	#27

Northern Illinois Injury Report

Nebraska Injury Report

Northern Illinois on Offense


CategoryCat	NIU Off	NEB Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#78	#40
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#61	#28
SP+SP+	#109	#8
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Northern Illinois Run Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	NEB Def
Run GameRun	#83	#51
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#56	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#15

Northern Illinois Pass Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	NEB Def
Pass GamePass	#87	#33
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#31	#91
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Nebraska on Offense


CategoryCat	NEB Off	NIU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#125	#64
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#121	#48
SP+SP+	#123	#47
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Nebraska Run Game


CategoryCat	NEB Off	NIU Def
Run GameRun	#128	#67
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#50	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#60

Nebraska Pass Game


CategoryCat	NEB Off	NIU Def
Pass GamePass	#134	#75
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#76	#92
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Program Comparison
NEB 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg P4
'23 Profile: Down to Top G5

NIU 5 Year Profile: Improving Below Avg G5
'23 Profile: Up to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Memorial Stadium
Conditions: Clear
Temp: 75° - Wind: 11 mph

Rematch from Week 3
Nebraska -11.5 (42.5)
Nebraska won vs Northern Illinois this year (35-11)

Previous Matchups
Nebraska beat Northern Illinois in 2023 (35-11)

NIU's OC Eric Eidsness (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Rocky Lombardi	189	327	58%	2274	11	7	7.0
Ethan Hampton	19	33	58%	147	2	2	4.5

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Antario Brown	212	1294	10	6.1	80
Gavin Williams (Tr)	95	488	3	5.1	53
Trayvon Rudolph	22	182	1	8.3	36
Rocky Lombardi	72	131	7	1.8	33

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Trayvon Rudolph	51	531	2	10.4	72
Grayson Barnes	23	422	5	18.3	58
Kacper Rutkiewicz	20	313	2	15.7	64
Davis Patterson	16	197	0	12.3	28

View Northern Illinois's Full Roster

NIU's DC Nick Benedetto (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Raishein Thomas	74	7	3	5	1
Jaden Dolphin	63	1	0	0	3
Tyler Jackson	56	2	0	2	0
DaRon Gilbert	52	3	1	2	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
James Ester	44	6	4	3	2
Roy Williams	24	6	4	1	1
George Gumbs	34	8	4	2	0
Devonte O'Malley	33	5	3	0	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PD
Jashon Prophete	33	1	8
Javaughn Byrd	32	2	5
Jacob Finley	33	1	3

NEB's OC Marcus Satterfield (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Heinrich Haarberg	77	157	49%	967	7	7	6.2
Chubba Purdy	31	57	54%	382	2	3	6.7

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Heinrich Haarberg	120	477	5	4.0	72
Anthony Grant	104	413	3	4.0	34
Emmett Johnson	90	411	2	4.6	29
Gabe Ervin	38	196	1	5.2	27

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Billy Kemp (Tr)	35	310	1	8.9	34
Thomas Fidone Jr.	25	260	4	10.4	29
Jaylen Lloyd	6	237	3	39.5	73
Alex Bullock	15	221	1	14.7	34

View Nebraska's Full Roster

NEB's DC Tony White (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Isaac Gifford	86	7	1	0	8
Javin Wright	51	2	1	0	2
Omar Brown	51	3	0	0	3
John Bullock	50	3	2	1	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jimari Butler	34	9	6	1	2
Luke Reimer	48	8	5	5	0
Nash Hutmacher	40	8	5	4	2
Cameron Lenhardt	16	5	3	1	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Tommi Hill	26	1	0	9
Isaac Gifford	86	7	1	8
Malcolm Hartzog	40	2	0	6