The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats in a thrilling season opener for college football on Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. The Bearcats ended last season with a 5-7 record, while the Cornhuskers finished at 7-6. Both teams are looking to improve after disappointing finishes last year, with Nebraska losing five of their last six games and Cincinnati ending on a five-game skid.

Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. In their previous meeting, Nebraska triumphed, 41-0, though this rivalry hasn’t seen a matchup since 1906. Currently, Nebraska is favored by 6.5 points, with a total points over-under set at 51.5. Betting odds indicate a -240 money line on Nebraska, while Cincinnati stands as the +195 underdog. Before placing your bets, experts suggest checking out insights from Matt Severance.

Why Nebraska Might Cover:
Sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola returns for Nebraska, having completed 67.1% of his passes last season with impressive statistics. Junior Emmett Johnson, who significantly contributed as a running back, is another player to watch.

Cincinnati’s Key Players:
For the Bearcats, redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby is ready to lead after a solid previous season, showcasing both passing and rushing abilities. Senior Evan Pryor is their top returning running back, proving to be a dynamic threat after his transfer from Ohio State.

How to Make Your Picks

As for the predictions, Severance leans towards the under for total points but identifies an important factor in one side of the spread that could heavily influence betting decisions.