Nebraska-Rutgers preview: Keys to victory, X-factor for pivotal Friday night showdown

Rutgers has lost all five games against Nebraska by an average margin of 18 points. Rutgers has not won a Big Ten game at home in nearly five years. A victory would keep the Scarlet Knights on pace to reach a bowl game for the first time since head coach Greg Schiano returned for his second stint.

Nebraska and Rutgers meet on Friday night. Noah Vedral made his season debut against Ohio State last weekend. Vedrals is a game-time decision. Rutgers is not looking past the Huskers. Rutgers considers every game as a bowl game. The Scarlet Knights are trying to go 1-0 at the end of the week.

Nebraska and Rutgers meet on Friday night.

Nebraska has the worst defense in the Big Ten. Rutgers is not very good on the offensive side of the ball. The Scarlet Knights committed 10 penalties against Ohio State. They have the 14th-highest penalty rate in college football. If the game goes south, the fans will leave the stadium. They are used to losing to Big 10 teams. Nebraska has won 20 consecutive home games to the Scarlet Knight in five years. It's unlikely to be a sell-out. There are no good reasons to come to Rutgers' home game.

Nebraska and Rutgers are going to play a shootout. The defense will have to carry Rutgers to victory. If the game is tied midway through the fourth quarter, it will come down to who can get the final stop.

Rutgers first faced Nebraska in 1920 at the Polo Grounds. The Scarlet Knights were crushed 28-0 on November 2, 1920.