Southern Miss @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Southern Mississippi 20, Nebraska 49

Nebraska survived a scare from Wyoming in its season opener but should be able to celebrate a larger margin of victory when it hosts Southern Mississippi on Saturday. The No. 19 Cornhuskers allowed a stunning 602 yards in a 37-34 victory over Wyoming and strive for a much better performance against the Golden Eagles, who possess the nation’s longest losing streak at 13 consecutive games. Southern Miss lost 22-15 to Texas State in Todd Monken’s debut as coach.

The Golden Eagles outgained FCS school Texas State 400-207 but sabotaged themselves with six turnovers – four fumbles, two interceptions. Nebraska’s yardage allowed was its second-most ever in a victory (610 versus Ball State in 2007) as a young unit took its lumps against Wyoming and allowed eight plays of 20 or more yards. Senior quarterback Taylor Martinez bruised his left shoulder during the contest and is expected to be fully ready by kickoff.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Nebraska -28.

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (0-1): The Eagles were able to move the football through the air in their opener as senior quarterback Allan Bridgford (transfer from California) passed for 377 yards and senior receiver Rickey Bradley Jr. (seven receptions for 193 yards) and freshman receiver Tyre’oune Holmes (12 catches, 96 yards) both had productive showings. The ground game was nonexistent with 23 yards on 24 attempts and it will be hard for Southern Miss to hang with the Cornhuskers if it can’t get the running game established. Defensively, the Golden Eagles recorded 11 tackles for losses against Texas State and allowed only 13 first downs.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (1-0): Martinez tossed three touchdown passes against Wyoming and has accounted for 80 scores (49 passing, 31 rushing) in his career, second in school history behind former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch (90 from 1998-2001). The running game clicked for 375 yards in the opener – junior Ameer Abdullah had 114 for his seventh career 100-yard performance and sophomore Imani Cross rushed for a career-best 105 yards – while junior receiver Kenny Bell racked up seven catches. Sophomore middle linebacker David Santos (career-best 12 tackles) and senior cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste (42-yard interception return) were the top performers during the shaky defensive effort against Wyoming.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Nebraska leads the series 3-1 and Martinez passed for 354 yards and five touchdowns in last season’s 49-20 victory over Southern Miss.

2. Golden Eagles senior MLB Alan Howze had 2.5 tackles for loss against Texas State after totaling just five over his first three seasons.

3. Bo Pelini became the fifth coach in Cornhuskers history to reach 50 wins with the victory over Wyoming.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 55, Southern Miss 17