Nebraska vs. Minnesota: Last Minute Spread Info, Line, BCS Impact and Prediction

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are ready to thrash the Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend when they visit the Twin Cities.

The Cornhuskers enter the game with a 5-1 record, with their only loss on the season coming on the road against the Wisconsin Badgers. This season hasn't been as promising for the Golden Gophers, who have dropped five of their six games this season.

Where: TCF Bank Stadium

When: Saturday, October 22nd at 3:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: ABC, ESPN2

Spread: Nebraska (-25.5)

No one in their right mind would be willing to bet on Minnesota this week. Jerry Kill's team has lost by a combined 86 points in their last two games against Michigan and Purdue.

Those games were on the road, but this team has lost home games to North Dakota State and New Mexico State this season.

Nebraska has struggled in their last two games, but they had an extra week to prepare for this one. They will come out sharp and blow the Gophers out of the water in this one.

Take the Huskers with confidence in this game.

Injury Report for Nebraska:

Player		Injury	Status/Updated	Notes
Jared Crick	DT	Pectoral	out for season - 10/13/11	Crick will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn pectoral muscle. He suffered the injury on September 17th against Washington but ended up playing with the torn muscle in Weeks 5 and 6. The team elected to shut him down for the season during the team's bye week.
Jake Cotton	OL	Knee	out for season - 10/7/11	Cotton will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn MCL and ACL in his knee.

Injury Report for Minnesota:

Player		Injury	Status/Updated	Notes
Leston Simpson	DE	Head	Ques Sat - 10/18/11	Simpson did not play against Purdue in Week 6 due to a head injury and remains questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska.
Harold Legania	DL	Foot	Ques Sat - 10/18/11	Legania is dealing with an undisclosed injury and did not play against Purdue in Week 6. He remains questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska.
Zach Mottla	OL	Head	Ques Sat - 10/18/11	Mottla did not play against Purdue in Week 6 due to a head injury. He is considered questionable for Saturday's game against Nebraska.
Jimmy Gjere	OL	Concussion	Doub Sat - 10/20/11	Gjere is suffering from a concussion and did not play in Week 6. He is not expected to play in Saturday's game against Nebraska.
Troy Stoudermire	CB	Wrist	Doub Sat - 10/20/11	Stoudermire has missed the past two games due to an injured wrist and he is also expected to miss Saturday's game against Nebraska.
Brendan Beal	LB	Knee	Out indefinitely - 10/11/11	Beal is suffering from a knee injury and will be out indefinitely.
Josh Campion	OL	Concussion	out for season - 10/20/11	Campbell will redshirt for the remainder of the season due to concerns over concussion-like symptoms. He will therefore not play in any remaining games.

Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

It's obvious that Minnesota stands no chance of cracking the Top 25 this season, but Nebraska has high hopes for the year.

Bo Pelini's team is still alive in the Legends side of the Big Ten, as they control their own destiny from here on out.

Losing to Minnesota would stick a dagger into the Cornhuskers' BCS and Big Ten title hopes.

Keys to Nebraska Victory:

It's obvious that Taylor Martinez is essential to the Huskers' success in every game they play this year. Martinez has his team's passing attack ranked 102nd in the country, but he has helped anchor a run game, which is ranked 11th.

Martinez doesn't have to carry this team with his arm, they just need him to keep the chains moving.

Minnesota is yielding over 4.5 yards per rush against them, so Martinez should be able to pick up plenty of yards on the ground in this one.

As long as Nebraska's defense can hold up against a poor Golden Gophers offense, they will run away with this game. 

Keys to Minnesota Victory:

The Gophers have been horrible on the defensive end this season. They have really struggled to get off the field, allowing teams to convert on third downs nearly 50 percent of the time.  

If they want to knock off the Cornhuskers, they need to find a way to shut the Nebraska offense down on third downs.

On the offensive side of things, this team needs to put the ball in the end zone. They are going to need QB Marqueis Gray to step up. He has been in and out of the lineup this year, but he is set to be a full participant this weekend.

Gray is multidimensional, and should be able to keep the Minnesota offense on the field a bit longer this game. If they can wear down the Huskers defense, they will at least have a chance to take down Nebraska.

Prediction: Nebraska 41, Minnesota 14