“Missouri River Shootout” May Decide Big XII North

2 comments so far August 7, 2006 by Steve Hanway

Previewing Iowa State

The Red River Shootout takes place annually when Texas and Oklahoma face off in Dallas. Over the past seven seasons, one of the two teams has represented the South division in the Big XII championship game every year, so the game often is the biggest conference game for both teams. If there’s one complaint about the contest it is that the game has taken place in early October, with most of the conference schedule still to be played. This year, the two favorites to win the Big XII North will face off in Ames on October 7 in what could be called the “Missouri River Shootout”.

It’s common knowledge that the Missouri River forms the border between Nebraska and Iowa but the term “shootout” may be just as fitting. The Cyclones return 10 of 11 starters to an offense that finished in the top half of the Big XII in scoring. Their starting quarterback, Bret Meyer, is the highest rated returning starter in the conference and his favorite target, 6’5” Todd Blythe had 1,000 yards receiving a year ago and averaged nearly 20 yards per catch. On defense, however, the Cyclones return only four starters, putting them at a disadvantage when they face a veteran Husker offense that should be in midseason form.

Just as the Red River Shootout helped catapult OU safety Roy Williams to the top of NFL draft boards, this match-up would have been Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman’s chance to shine. At 6’2” and sporting a 38 inch vertical leap, Bowman could have been the man to take away the lob passes to Blythe. Containing Blythe would have taken away ISU’s big play weapon (as the Huskers managed to do in 2005), and slowed down the Iowa State offense substantially. Both teams averaged a measly 2.7 yards per carry rushing last season, and while both teams are likely to improve in this area, the game will likely be decided by pass efficiency. So a shootout is probably the right expectation for this game.

Given the game will be in Ames and that the Cyclones bring back so much experience on offense, it will not be an easy game for the Huskers. But if the saying, “defense wins championships” is prophetic, then the Huskers might just have the edge, if only a slight one. The Cyclones still have some playmakers on defense and the Huskers weakness in the secondary plays into Iowa State’s ability to throw the ball. The Husker front seven will have to get pressure on the mobile Meyer for the Huskers to prevail.

This far out the game is too close to call, so I won’t try to predict the winner. But I will say this – bet the over. It’s going to be a shootout.

More 2006 Previews: Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State, USC, Troy, Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Colorado

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