The Nebraska Cornhuskers are being welcomed into the Big 10 with open arms this year, but the competition on the field is going to be hot and heavy from start to finish when they go up against the best and brightest in the conference. An up and coming Penn State Nittany Lions team is waiting on the conference slate this year in what could be one of the best games of the season in conference play.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Picks & Info
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Date: Saturday, November 12th
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn St. Nittany Lions Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Spread: Penn State Nittany Lions +2

The Cornhuskers are definitely in a position to waltz right into the Big 10 and come away with a conference crown. QB Taylor Martinez is hopefully going to take strides in the right direction this year, and the hope is that a year of offseason conditioning can get his arm to match the quality of his legs. RB Rex Burkhead is going to have his work cut out for him in this one against a traditionally stout run defense, but the good news on the other side of the ball is that Head Coach Bo Pelini has the Black Shirts hitting and hitting hard once again. Penn State’s offense probably isn’t good enough to score all that much against Nebraska, and if this is the case, Big Red is justifiably favored to take this late season tussle in November.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Past Games (Since 1995)
2003: Nebraska 18 – Penn State 10
2002: Penn State 40 – Nebraska 7

The last time the Nittany Lions welcomed in the Cornhuskers to Happy Valley, Nebraska was the No. 1 ranked team in America, and Penn State blew it out 40-7. No one is thinking that the result is going to be this lopsided this time around, but an upset of this proportion would rival that 33 point bombing from 2002. QB Matt McGloin had a solid season down the stretch last year, but whether it is he or Robert Bolden getting the call under center for Head Coach Joe Paterno, there is going to be a heck of a lot of work to do. RB Evan Royster needs to be replaced, and he was such a tremendous portion of this Penn State offense over the last few seasons. The defense ranked No. 34 in the land last year, and if that doesn’t pick it up in this one, the Nittany Lions could be in some trouble.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/28/11):
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Nebraska Cornhuskers (-2) @ Penn State Nittany Lions (+2)