Nebraska
Boston College vs. Nebraska: Predictions, odds and how to watch the Pinstripe Bowl
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Sports Seriously
The college football bowl season heads to New York and iconic Yankee Stadium for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl that features the Boston College Eagles taking on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Boston College’s first year under head coach Bill O’Brien did not go as planned, as the Eagles finished with a 7-5 record. But the team is now aiming for a much-needed bowl victory to conclude the season on a positive note. Junior Grayson James took over the offense after starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos was benched and subsequently left the program. Since becoming the starting quarterback, James has achieved a 64% completion rate, throwing for 901 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to make a triumphant return to the bowl game scene, their first appearance since 2016. Despite a challenging season that saw them finish with a 6-6 record, the team has shown significant growth and potential. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola ran the offense and showed some raw talent, completing 66.6% of his passes and throwing for 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Here is everything to know ahead of kickoff for the Pinstripe Bowl:
Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska
USA TODAY: Picks are split
- Scooby Axson: Boston College
- Jordan Mendoza: Nebraska
- Paul Myerberg: Boston College
- Erick Smith: Boston College
- Eddie Timanus: Nebraska
- Dan Wolken: Nebraska
ESPN: Boston College 27, Nebraska 21
Adam Rittenberg writes: “Nebraska is back in a bowl game for the first time since the 2016 Music City Bowl, which means Yankee Stadium will turn red. But the Huskers barely got here, dropping five of their final six games, and recently lost defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton to Florida State. Boston College has had a better overall season under first-year coach Bill O’Brien, whose quarterback switch to Grayson Grames sparked a solid finish. The Eagles go from a bowl win at Fenway Park in 2023 to one at Yankee Stadium.”
Clutch Points: Boston College
Bryan Logan writes: “One of the biggest issues in the stretch run for Nebraska was turnovers. They are 68th in the nation in turnover margin this year. Meanwhile, Boston College is 22nd in the nation. further, Nebraska will have little ground game in this one with Dante Dowdell gone. They are missing two staring defensive players, and three others that played major time. Take Boston College in this one.”
Tickets to the Pinstripe Bowl with StubHub
Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are favorites to defeat the Boston College Eagles, according to the BetMGM college football odds.
Odds as of afternoon of Friday, Dec. 25.
- Spread: Nebraska (-4)
- Moneylines: Nebraska (-190); Boston College (+160)
- Over/under: 46.5
How to watch Boston College vs. Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Stream: Fubo
- Where: Yankee Stadium (New York)
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Nebraska
Nebraska believes in backup QB TJ Lateef, but can the freshman beat UCLA?
Nebraska has no choice but to trust freshman quarterback TJ Lateef this Saturday as the Cornhuskers face the UCLA Bruins. During their loss to USC last week, Nebraska saw quarterback Dylan Raiola break his fibula, ending his season.
Matt Rhule expresses his belief in Lateef but at this point he has no other option
The Cornhuskers’ head coach Matt Rhule said all the right things about Lateef but the odds are stacked against him, with Nebraska likely to be without both of their starting tackles. Both tackles were injured in the Cornhuskers’ loss last week against USC.
Nebraska will adjust their gameplan to fit the dual-threat Lateef
“I think making sure we put together a plan and that he’s comfortable with everything he needs to do. As I said, guys are going to have to do a great job of being strong around him. Even in the game, he came out with a check down in the red zone and he saw zero, he checked it to a tunnel screen,” Rhule said of Lateef. “Jacory (Barney) is wide open and he would’ve walked it in, just dropped the snap. He’s mentally, though, at a really, really high level. He just needs reps. When you’re the backup quarterback, you’re getting reps but not as many. Now, he needs reps. Jalyn (Gramstad) needs reps. Anybody else we use at quarterback will need reps this week.”
Lateef has had success in his limited action
Lateef has seen a bit of action this season in relief duties, throwing for 261 yards and a touchdown on 16-19 passing. On the ground Lateef has picked up 50 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Lateef has fumbled three times, all coming against the Trojans, but Nebraska was able to recover all three.
Dylan Raiola is a gamer
Rhule expressed his belief in Lateef and his admiration for Raiola’s toughness, who was trying to re-enter the game after breaking his leg.
“I believe 100% in TJ (Lateef) and what he’s going to get done and we’re going to put a great game plan together for him. I hate it for Dylan (Raiola). I love Dylan. If anyone says anything about Dylan just know this, the kid had a broken leg and he was warming up and begging me to play. That’s all you need to know about that kid to know who he is.” Rhule said.
UCLA needs to take advantage of the depleted Cornhuskers
Nebraska has the deck stacked against them, now it’s up to UCLA to make them pay.
Nebraska
Lateef joins long line of Nebraska backup QBs forced to step up
Nebraska
Matt Rhule Says Huskers at a ‘Crossroads’ After USC Loss, Heading to UCLA
LINCOLN—Matt Rhule said Nebraska football is “at a crossroads.”
The Huskers are 6-3 after a 21-17 loss to No. 23 USC. In that loss, the Big Red also lost starting quarterback Dylan Raiola for the season. With a true freshman stepping in and a College Football Playoff berth officially off the table, Rhule said this is a pivotal moment for the season and the program.
“We’re sitting at a crossroads right now as a team,” Rhule said at Monday’s press conference. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for us. These next three games are some of the most important time for our team and for our program moving forward.”
Rhule likened the moment to one of his favorite books: “Legacy”. The James Kerr book is about the New Zealand rugby team, more commonly known as the All Blacks. The book looks at the iconic team that had “kind of lost their way” before rebuilding and the rules that they lived by.
“One of them is plant trees that you’ll never see,” Rhule said. “It’s about leaving places better than you found them. I really wanted our seniors to have a chance to continue to battle and fight to be a CFP team.”
Rhule added that Saturday’s effort from players that won’t be here to see how high the program can go and environment from the fans are seeds that will get Nebraska back to a place among the nation’s elite.
“I thought the way they fought, battled, and compete for each other when they had some bad breaks… I think those are the things that you can build off of,” Rhule said. “I thought what everyone did with the blackout will have a profound impact on what we’re trying to get done moving forward.
“I do think it’s important, while we’re disappointed and angry and upset, to also be very, very grateful for that atmosphere, for that crowd, for that opportunity.”
On the injury front, Raiola will have surgery this week for a broken fibula suffered in the USC game.
Offensive tackle Elijah Prichett was also hurt against USC. Rhule expects him to be ready to go at UCLA on Saturday, along with the other banged offensive lineman like Turner Corcoran.
You can watch the full media session from Monday below. Continue scrolling for more coverage.
Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule
Home games are bolded. All times central.
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