Nebraska lost 4 of its last 6, Ole Miss 5 of its last 6. Both teams are essentially .500 clubs. However, Mississippi is likely to be a bit more motivated playing NU than NU will be playing Ole Miss. Ole Miss struggles defending the run, while NU struggled against most everything the last month of the season. Mississippi should have an edge in fan support at the game given its proximity. And reports from Lincoln suggest that the players aren’t exactly running through walls getting ready for this one.

However, NU has more talent, and in a game notable for the lack of excitement it will produce outside of Lincoln or Oxford, that should probably be enough. Eli Manning will get his yards, but NU should win. I hope so—one of the two big streaks left—40 consecutive winning seasons—is at stake in this one. Let’s hope the players realize how much it means to former players and the fans.

NU 31 Mississippi 24

Mississippi can't stop the run, Nebraska can run.
Nebraska can't stop the pass, Mississippi can pass.

This is a game that should be fairly highly scoring because neither has a strong defense and can put up points. I look for Nebraska to struggle a bit and Manning will have a good day but Nebraska will win.

Nebraska 35 Mississippi 24