Who Would You Rather Face?
11 comments so far
August 6, 2009 by
Since Nebraska is contending for a Big 12 North championship, it’s reasonable to consider who you’d want to see in the Big 12 championship game. Most everyone thinks it will be either Oklahoma or Texas. Sure Oklahoma State could be a sleeper, but most would say that it’s got to be the Sooners or the Longhorns. If Nebraska does make it to the Big 12 title game, which team would you rather see them face?
The Huskers won’t need to beat OU to get to the title game. So a rematch a month after a home loss could provide some clues on how to pull an upset. It also might provide a fair amount of incentive to erase an earlier embarrassment. The Sooners might have trouble getting excited to face Nebraska, especially if they believe the game will be a walkover. Kind of like Nebraska in 1996 against Texas
On the other hand, if NU actually pulls off an upset in Lincoln, it’s hard to believe that lightning would strike twice in a rematch. Beat OU once in Lincoln? Maybe. Beat the Sooners twice? Very doubtful.
So what about Texas? On the one hand, the dual-threat Colt McCoy is exactly the kind of player that gives Bo Pelini’s defenses fits. Unlike the Sooners, the Longhorns will have a very veteran offensive line (returning four starters from 2008). That makes them an awfully tough matchup. On the other hand, Mack Brown has had a tendency to lose games that he shouldn’t. They should have beaten Texas Tech a year ago. They shouldn’t have lost games to Kansas State or Texas A&M in 2006 and 2007. If there’s one team that you can count on to lose a game it shouldn’t – it’s Texas.
So given the choice of who to face in a Big 12 title game, OU or Texas, “none of the above” would probably be your first choice. Then you’d want OU, provided they didn’t lose in Lincoln once already. If the Huskers did get by the Sooners, then the pick is Texas. Better to try to take a shot at the Longhorns then gave an angry Sooners team a rematch.
Hopefully, who to face is a question worth asking come Thanksgiving.
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Matt Aug 06 09
I would rather see Oklahoma. If we lose to OU in Lincoln, I believe the statistics of college football teams playing twice in the same season shows that they split (someone on a 'Husker board ran the numbers at one point I thought a long time ago...but maybe I'm just on crack.)
And regardless, OU and NU in December for the title game is what should be a standard for this conference. More people I run into outside of the Big XII lament the passing of the annual NU/OU tilt and don't consider the over-hyped (thanks University of Texas Irving Extension Office!) Red River *whatevertheycallitthisyear* to be much of a consolation prize.
caveman99 Aug 06 09
I know it is fun to think about this, but frankly I don't care who the Huskers might face. Anyone they face will be tough and hopefully the Huskers will show that they belong.
The other Matt Aug 06 09
This is an interesting article I personaly like the idea of playing Texas because of the way we have played them the last two times taking them down to the wire then giving the game away. But that was back when Bill Callahan was the coach and he had mentaly weak teams which has all changed with the new coaching staff. So I think they would have a better chance against Texas but thats just me.
bnahusker Aug 06 09
The only part of this that scares me is our own Husker's ability to lose a game that they shouldn't along the way. Let's play the schedule before we worry about the Title Game.
GBR!
Bob
James Moore Aug 06 09
I'd prefer to play the best team in the South and not have anything handed to us. Whoever that may be. To be the best you have to beat the best so I want the best team the South has to offer, but. . .
1) Oklahoma -- I'd ALWAYS prefer to play
Oklahoma in a big, meaningful
game when the chips are
down. . .
2) Texas -- 1996 in St. Louis still tastes bad,
ending our home winning streak, and
1999 in Austin are three reasons
that come to mind. . .
Mike Aug 06 09
OU and Texas are both such terrific teams, I think we're at the point where we'd be honored to take on either one of them for a championship.
I look forward to when our Huskers are back at that level consistently.
Mike Aug 06 09
OU and Texas are both such terrific teams, I think we're at the point where we'd be honored to take on either one of them for a championship.
I look forward to when our Huskers are back at that level consistently.
Alex Aug 06 09
Heck, if we're picking and choosing our opponents in the Big XII title game... why stop there? My dream scenario: we sweep the North, defeat Oklahoma at home, defeat Texas in the title game, and go on to defeat USC in the National Championship. THAT would be the ultimate revenge tour.
My dream aside, I would rather see us have the North in hand before we start dreaming about our hypothetical opponent from the South. It's always fun to speculate, but as Bo says: "that's for the fans." He's focused on Florida Atlantic right now.
Dwayne Aug 06 09
Never Texas, always OU. And I hope it's under the same situation as last season. I can't stand the smell of burnt orange.
Andy Aug 07 09
I agree with "The other Matt". Texas, imo, with its perchant for sticking to the Shotgun would be the easier win. Barry Turner and Piere Allen would be Key in that game. OU would be tough to beat two times in a row in the same year unless we dominated the O-Line and took the Run game. I think a lot of how this year goes will be how the LB's respond to crossing routes and PA. But who wouldn't sign on the dotted line if told their only weakness would be in the middle of the field in front of LB's, and a team that attacked that too often would sure have to pay...
byron Aug 09 09
I want Oklahoma then I want Texas then I want Florida. In the 70's,80's and 90's it was all about who's afraid to play NEBRASKA. Your not going to get that respect until you beat the best.