College Football Week 1 Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. UTEP Miners
The Matchup:
The Nebraska Cornhuskers will kick off their 2024 season at home against the UTEP Miners on Saturday, August 31st, at 3:30 PM EST.
Betting Lines:
- Spread: Nebraska -27.5 (Wagerweb Sportsbook)
- Total: 49.5
Nebraska Cornhuskers (2023 Record: 5-7):
The Cornhuskers are eager to break their bowl game drought, having not appeared in the postseason since 2016. Head coach Matt Rhule enters his second year with high expectations, returning 9 starters on offense and 8 on defense. Despite a 5-7 record last season, Nebraska showed promise with five of their losses coming by a touchdown or less.
Key Storylines for Nebraska:
- Rhule’s Impact: Can coach Rhule continue to instill his system and turn the program around in his second year?
- Offensive Improvement: Will the experienced offense find its rhythm early in the season and put up more points than last year’s high of 35?
- Defensive Consistency: Can the defense, which showed flashes of brilliance last season, maintain a high level of play throughout the game?
UTEP Miners (2023 Record: 3-9):
The Miners enter the 2024 season with a new head coach, Scotty Walden, and a roster filled with new faces. They return only 4 starters on offense and 5 on defense. UTEP has struggled to find consistent success, exceeding 6 wins only twice in the last decade.
Key Storylines for UTEP:
- New Era: How will coach Walden’s system impact the team’s performance in his first year?
- Offensive Challenges: Can the inexperienced offense gel quickly and generate enough points to keep up with Nebraska?
- Defensive Disruption: Will the Miners’ defense be able to create turnovers and put pressure on Nebraska’s offense?
Prediction:
Our model, based on last season’s data, predicts a 24-6 Nebraska victory. However, with a new coach and many new players for UTEP, the actual outcome could differ significantly. While Nebraska is expected to win, covering a 27.5-point spread may be a challenge.
Betting Recommendation:
Shop for the best line, as some books have it at 28. Our pick is UTEP +28. The Miners’ new look and the potential for a slow start from Nebraska’s offense could keep the game within the spread.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Nebraska’s Offensive Efficiency: Can the Cornhuskers move the ball effectively and avoid costly turnovers?
- UTEP’s Defensive Resilience: Will the Miners’ defense be able to bend but not break, limiting Nebraska’s scoring opportunities?
- Turnovers: A few key turnovers could swing the momentum of the game and impact the final score significantly.UTEP +28