Miami vs. Nebraska: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
Not since 1976 has college football seen legendary rivals Miami and Nebraska meet in the regular season, but the fire gets rekindled in a showdown Saturday with postseason aspirations swinging in the balance.
Two teams that have combined for 10 national titles, a handful of which came against one another, look anything but title contenders so far this year, but there is no time like the present against an old foe to get things on the proper trajectory.
In what should be a gritty, defensive-minded and run-first affair, the Cornhuskers will look to extract a semblance of revenge for the last meeting against the Hurricanes—a loss in the 2001 BCS National Championship—and steer the Big Ten ship back on course.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
When History Looms Large
History cannot be ignored in this one, even if most involved have nothing to do with the ghosts of years past.
Miami took down Nebraska in 1983 and 1991 in Orange Bowl triumphs to win titles, while the Cornhuskers capped a perfect 1994 campaign with a win over the Hurricanes for a title of their own. Sporting News' Bill Bender adds some perspective:
Still, as Hurricanes coach Al Golden points out, via Christy Chirinos of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the players are doing their best to keep that past an afterthought:
It is probably for the better, as both teams have plenty of current issues to address.
Miami got off on the wrong foot to start the season in a 31-13 drubbing at the hands of Louisville. Freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya has looked just that through three games, throwing for 693 yards and seven touchdowns to five interceptions.
Conversely, Nebraska sits undefeated and averages in the top 10 in rushing yards per game (324.3) and scores the 11th-most points in the nation with an average of 47, but those numbers came against Florida Atlantic, McNeese State and Fresno State.
Cornhuskers sophomore quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. has not looked much better than his Saturday counterpart, throwing for 773 yards and seven touchdowns to one interception but completing just 53.1 percent of his attempts.
Defensively, both teams have been hailed as strong in that area at one point or another, but the Hurricanes gave up those 31 points to the Teddy Bridgewater-less Cardinals and 20 points to Arkansas State, while Nebraska hardly got past McNeese State at home, 31-24.
All bets are off come Saturday, historic matchup or not.
No. 8
Swept under the rug during all the reminiscing of the glory days between the two schools is a pair of elite running backs who can single-handedly dictate the outcome of the game.
For Miami, it is Duke Johnson. Last year, Johnson rushed 145 times for 920 yards and six scores. To date, his per-carry average has never wavered below 6.3 yards.
Ameer Abdullah is the No. 8 for Nebraska. Last year alone he posted 1,690 yards and nine touchdowns on 281 totes and is well on his way toward a third consecutive season of at least 226 carries, eight scores and 1,100 yards.
So far, the two are neck and neck this year:
| Duke Johnson | 43 | 277 | 6.4 | 55 | 2 |
| Ameer Abdullah | 57 | 396 | 6.9 | 57 | 3 |
Neither is known for seizing the spotlight, though, instead favoring to focus on the team aspect of any matchup, even if it comes against a fellow elite running back.
“As long as we’re doing what we need to do and we’re good in our game plan and being fundamentally sound, I don’t feel like anybody can stop us,” Abdullah said, per Jon Nyatawa of Omaha.com. “Why worry about someone else when your biggest enemy is yourself?”
With a potential spot in the Heisman race up for grabs, as well as a chance to etch their name in the annals of an epic rivalry, expect both men to be at the top of their game Saturday.
When: Saturday, September 20, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Television: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 58
- Spread: Nebraska (-8)
Team Injury Reports
| Stacy Coley | WR | 09/14/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska | Questionable | shoulder |
| Matt Goudis | K | 09/14/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska | Questionable | back |
| Ladarius Gunter | CB | 09/14/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska | Questionable | shoulder |
| Kiy Hester | S | 09/08/2014 | has decided to transfer | Out | personal |
| Rayshawn Jenkins | CB | 08/14/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | back |
| Al-Quadin Muhammad | DE | 09/13/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Kevin Olsen | QB | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Rashawn Scott | WR | 08/15/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | shoulder |
| Walter Tucker | FB | 09/16/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Nebraska | Probable | ankle |
| Ryan Williams | QB | 09/14/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska | Questionable | knee |
| LeRoy Alexander | S | 08/08/2014 | will miss the entire season | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Sam Burtch | WR | 09/16/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Miami-Florida | Probable | undisclosed |
| Charles Jackson | CB | 08/08/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Brandon Reilly | WR | 09/14/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Miami-Florida | Questionable | hamstring |
| Michael Rose | LB | 08/10/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Adam Taylor | RB | 08/23/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | ankle |
| Jamal Turner | WR | 09/07/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | Achilles |
| Corey Whitaker | G | 08/30/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
Injury reports via USA Today.
Prediction
Mistakes will reign supreme Saturday.
Kaaya has been extremely loose with the football, and should he perform in that manner again, it will be impossible for those around him to overcome on the road against a ranked nonconference foe. The same goes for Armstrong, though, whose inefficiency has flirted with plenty of interceptions to date.
Home-field advantage is not much of a factor here, either. In six years under Bo Pelini, the Cornhuskers are just 18-9 at home.
Taking this into account, not to mention the near loss to McNeese State, the Hurricanes can look to force Nebraska into a one-dimensional attack that forces Armstrong to win the game with his arm.
When push comes to shove, there is simply no guarantee he can do just that. The Hurricanes are more athletic on both sides of the football and more prone to big plays. Just one will make the difference.
Prediction: Hurricanes 24, Cornhuskers 23
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
