Missouri Opens a Touchdown Favorite over Nebraska
The stars seem to be aligning for Missouri for finally win a conference championship. The South hasn't looked this vulnerable in six years and the North division would seem theirs for the taking. Yet this is the same Missouri team that last year fell to Iowa State when given two weeks to prepare.
With neither team having a lot of success defensively, nor really frightening opponents with the running game, Saturday's contest becomes a duel between two quarterbacks. Sam Keller has shown his ability to produce even in big games. Chase Daniel has also been productive, but not necessarily in big games. Against OU a year ago he completed just 50% of his passes with three interceptions. In Lincoln, he threw a pair of picks in the loss to NU.
But more than anything, Daniel must contend with history. While the Tigers have managed to win the last two contests in Columbia, Brad Smith is the only Mizzou quarterback since the Carter administration to notch a win over Nebraska. With seemingly every advantage (home field, bye week, night game), the pressure will be on to deliver a victory. And no matter how well he plays, he can't play defense.
Meanwhile, Keller can come in loose and as an underdog. If the Huskers fall behind he won't panic, he didn't in any of Nebraska's four wins this season, all of which had Nebraska trailing in the first half. If the Huskers lose, it will likely be the defense that takes the blame.
The oddsmakers have done Missouri no favors by making them the favorite. The pressure will be on even in the confines of a friendly and pumped up stadium. It won't be easy for Nebraska to pull the upset, but this game won't be easy for anybody.
10/1/2007
The Tigers will be up 20 points at half and win the game by 10. Chase Daniel will throw for 340 yards and Tony Temple will run for 130 yards. Final score: 45-35.
10/1/2007
I totally agree, Steve.
We are right where we want to be. It is Missouri’s game to lose. You can not help but think Pinkel will find a way to lose this game. In our household we call it “the Pinkel Factor”.
I just have a “feeling” about this game. I think the Huskers win. 35-28 - Sam Keller has a HUGE day and Octavian owns the tight ends.
Optimistic in Omaha!
10/1/2007
I live in Missouri. I NEED the Huskers to win. It’s amazing though, people seem to despise Pinkel around here. The sports talk hosts even ask how Pinkel is going to screw this one up. Nebraska 40, Missouri 23. Nebraska with 200 Yards Rushing, 400 Yards Passing. I don’t care how we do it or what the score is as long as we win. Even if it means a ball careening off someone’s leg and into the outstretched arms of a diving receiver in the last seconds of the game to get the W. By the way, what’s up with the 8:15 start time? I’m going to be dead tired the next morning after a night of celebration!
10/1/2007
At what point in Pinkle’s tenure at MU have the Tigers performed well when the expectations were high? Uh…yeah. I’m going to go with never.
So, for them to be favored and have to carry the expectations sets up great for NU.
The same is sort of true for NU under BC. When we’ve tried to meet or exceed expectations, it hasn’t gone so well. But, when NU isn’t supposed to win (Alamo Bowl versus Michigan) NU had dug deep and tried to find a way.
I hope this is how it plays out on Saturday.
10/1/2007
i live in san antonio, tx and i need the Huskers to win, you have no idea how much guff i take from the cow fans, thank you very much k-state! cmon guys since when do we lose to the likes of the mizzou kittys. i played for 2 very successful Nebraska high school football coaches and their words still ring true today “it is that will to win that will make the difference”. YOU CAN DO IT “GO HUSKERS”!!!!!!
10/1/2007
My money is on Sam Keller—great observation, Steve, about his big game performances vs. Chase Daniels. The Blackshirts will give up yards, but come up with just enough big plays to get the win. And I have a feeling we’ll see alot more of Mo Purify than we have to date. Huskers 45-38 in a game not decided until the last play of the game.
10/1/2007
For some reason I think MU will win this game and on the other hand, I don’t think this game will determine the North representative. MU will screw something up down the road. I think MU has a better qb than SC and both tight ends are much better than SC had. WR is probably almost a push. NU may be playing a bit better on defense but even if NU loses, we still have a shot to represent the north. Texas has done the least with about as much as anyone in the country as far as talent and what the heck was up with OU? How does OU lose to Boise State 2 seasons in a row? Oh, that was Colorado. I love to see Stoops squirm like that. I’ll be rooting for our defense to keep getting better as the year move on.
10/1/2007
In an ‘offensive struggle’ Big Red prevails: 31-28.
Glad NE’s the dawg, since that’ll give them a chip on their shoulder.
In the Pinkel Factor we trust….
10/1/2007
i think mizzou is—literally and figuratively—a paper tiger. i look for nebraska to play like a team with a chip on its shoulder and to jump out early…
NU 38 Mizzou 24
mizzou is going to lose several games in conference and our trip to san antonio is going to hinge on a couple of late dates with k state and CU.
10/1/2007
I’m a Big Red fan from central Illinois. I say the Huskers win 45-38. I am actually going to the game and was wondering about tailgating. Does anyone have an idea if there is a spot for the NU fans or isn’t just a free for all in the parking lots?
10/1/2007
Yea,DUANE. I concur. What was up with OU losing to CU? Well, here it is in a nut shell. It is STILL a “big deal” to beat Coach Stoops and his SOONERS, and thats just the way we like it. As a matter of fact, we wouldn’t settle for anything less, unlike some teams. As far Coach Stoops “squirming”? Let’s put it into perspective this way,Coach Stoops is a large part of why Oklahoma’s football program is the most winning 1-A school since WWII. No matter who your school is or who your coach is, I’ll bet you’d love to have him as your coach. As Sooner fans will tell you, we DO NOT take him or his contribution for granted. We’ve had the Gary Gibbs’ and the John Blakes’ etc and we are through with those “one thought, one method” (all wrong) coaches. We’ve moved past that. We (OU) don’t win all of them, just most of them. By the way, what school do you wave a pennant for?
10/1/2007
Mizzou is not has good as the hype. Their defense is actually giving up more yard per game than Nebraska. Plus they havent really faced a good offense. So the game might boil down to offense vs offense. I betting on Keller and Purify over Daniel and Rucker/Coffman combo. Talent should prevail if the Huskers can stay out of their own way and not turn the ball over in game changing moments. Last, lets face it, no one is going to get out coached in this game so GO BIG RED!
10/1/2007
OU7. I’ve been a Husker fan since about 1981. The robbing at Penn State and Don Criqui’s call in the ‘84 Orange Bowl seem like yesterday. Everything seemed to come full circle in the 90’s for me. I’ve seen many a Husker team beat in the closing seconds by your Sooners. From J.C. Watts to Jamelle Holliway to Keith Jackson to Lydell Carr and Patrick Collins. After looking back I could simply say we were never out-coached under Osborne. I wouldn’t have probably thought it then, but Osborne’s teams were pretty fundamentally solid for the talent he had. And that is one reason why it is so difficult seeing the Blackshirts struggle this season. It starts up front on defense and the front four are pretty young. I would love to have Stoops as our coach so indeed I know how fortunate you must feel. His teams are pretty sound and the coaching job he did last year was simply amazing. He’s had a few of his staff leave for other head positions and he still maintains a winning tradition. One thing I will say however is from what I’ve heard Blake recruited much of that team that won the title for Stoops early in his career there.
10/1/2007
OK, Stoops was in his second year when he won the NTL Championship. I can see where you have an argument about whose players he won it with but I would caution anyone not to confuse great recruiting with great coaching. John Blake was not a good fit at all at OU (and only OU).He was hearalded as a great recruiter but could never do anything with them. I can’t just this second tell you his best record at OU but he was certainly not of Wilkinson, Switzer or a Stoops (caliber), at all. Saying that, I also understand that those are Huge “shoes” to fill and almost impossible to live up to. Now, I have sort of made an agreement with the BRN staff that I would be as nice as possible about the Coach Callahan affair and also to be as civil as possible. I feel he is NOT a good fit for NU just as I had mentioned he past OU coaches that have failed at living up to their predecessors. He does things that just make you scratch your head and wonder what he could possibly be thinking. Anyway, he’s the coach NOW and one should support him as long as he holds the job, but personally, I dont see him there in 2 years (and not by his choice). I’ve been wrong plenty before and we’ll see about this one.Losing to CU does not suprise ne at all. CU should never betaken lightly, as NU knows, and I think the combination of that and turnovers (part of the game) was the reason. Hats off to CU. Classy coach and good person with a good game plan.
10/2/2007
OU let up and then commited turnovers. CU played over the top and like KSU will probably lose this week. Actually, we’ll see if CU and KSU are the real deal if they continue to win, but teams like that usually have one or two really good games in them per season and then lose games they ‘shouldn’t’.
I can see why people don’t like COZ, but I still think Callahan is an excellent coach. He’s following one of the best in cfb history and that’s tough. Alot of people just don’t like pass oriented offenses after 40 years of run, run, run.
Whatever…....
10/2/2007
People tend to forget the Solich era. Following one of the best? I like this offense better than the option offense. The option was nice to watch when it worked and the team you played was overmatched, but when someone stopped it, that thing was difficult at best to watch. And I also thing rushing yards isn’t as important in this new offense that many people crave for. It would be nice to run the ball well, but I don’t see it as a necessity like we’d live and die by.
10/2/2007
Nebraska 49 Missouri 35
This is the type of defense that both quarterbacks feed on. Keller performs better in big games. That will be the difference maker. Keller 4 TD passes.
10/2/2007
Dwayne,
I loved TOs offense, just think it’s by and large obsolete as defensive players have gotten better, FASTER.
As far as fans knocking the current running game I think it has been pretty solid both last year and this year. Lucky’s averaging over 100 ypg, and at least 50+ receiving. The WCO treats those short passes to the back as essentially running plays.
We have a good stable of backs. Castille is going to be great. We could use a speed burner, though.
10/2/2007
No love for NU on the sports talk show out of KCMO. The prediction is MU by quite a few. I’m sure it will be a dogfight but not a blowout. Should be lots of points in this one considering both defenses. I plan on being home in my recliner and having my pizza order placed at the end of the first quarter. My wife has plans and I can scream at the TV and not worry about it. Night games are the shizzlenits! NU finds a way to win late,42-38.
10/2/2007
I like that prediction. Sam’s going to have a big day shreding the MU defense that is ranked #102 in the nation. GBR
10/3/2007
Yeah, 810 sports talked to Pinkel yesterday and I was like, “tell us how you really feel!” The interviewer was asking how badly they think they will beat Nebraska, and I was thinking “whatever happened to journalistic integrity and the mere impression of being impartial and objective?”
The interviewer asked if this was the biggest game that MU was looking forward to this year, and Pinkel answered in coachspeak. He basically said you can’t overlook the ever important neutral site game, blah, blah, yes Nebraska is the most important game for them. I find this funny since I think this game ranks third in matter of importance for Husker faithful this year.
10/3/2007
If Puffs can upset the mighty Sooners, then NE can certainly beat the Tiggers.
It looks pretty even on paper, it will depend on who wants it more. I fear that MO will have an advantage in having 2 weeks to prepare/rest. NE will have to create some breaks and win the special teams battle.
So I’ll remain optimistic:
NE 31
MO 27