While We Were Sleeping
The bye week gave us little direct evidence of what may transpire between Nebraska and Missouri, however there were a number of indirect clues about the two teams.
Virginia Tech didn't help Nebraska's confidence by playing a close game at Duke. It's Duke, you're supposed to win by 30. It can't help but take a bit of the luster off of the "near victory" by Nebraska against the Hokies. Then again, isn't a letdown expected after the murderous schedule by Tech to date?
The Hurricanes came off getting throttled in Blacksburg and held off the Sooners by a point in Miami. Of course, beating Oklahoma without quarterback Sam Bradford or tight end Jermaine Gresham is a bit reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons winning a title with Magic Johnson out and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar jogging around at age 42. It didn't stop Miami from crowing. “It’s our time,” said Miami linebacker Jordan Futch. “We are back. We are still The U.”
Alabama continued their winning ways with a convincing victory over Kentucky. So the Hokies only loss still doesn't look bad.
Meanwhile, Arkansas State gave Iowa a scare, coming within a field goal of the thirteenth-ranked Hawkeyes. Nebraska's win over the Red Wolves doesn't look quite so shabby. Florida Atlantic however, fell to 0-4.
Illinois, Missouri's opening week victim, took a bad loss at home to Penn State. Frank Solich's Ohio team beat Bowling Green by a touchdown, the same margin of victory for Missouri over the same team. Furman lost to Elon. At least Nevada had a good game against UNLV.
Net it all out and I'm not sure it really moves the line for the game between the Huskers and Tigers, but it certainly reminds us how unproven this version of Missouri is.
It also would make you hopeful for Nebraska's game against Oklahoma (especially if Bradford and Gresham weren't playing). OU seemed to have problems blocking the Hurricanes. Wait'll they face Ndamukong Suh.
Texas Tech won big over New Mexico (without a great defensive effort). Texas A&M continued to look like Nebraska under Bill Callahan as they got stomped by Arkansas.
Looking at Sagarin's latest predictor ratings, the Huskers would be a 3-point favorite against Missouri and a ten point favorite over Texas Tech. The Oklahoma contest would be a "pick 'em" game.
This week college football comes alive again for NU fans and it looks like a pivotal week, perhaps THE pivotal week for Nebraska in 2009.
10/4/2009
The virginia tech barometer is going to destroy our psych until we get some quality games behind us. VTech is inconsistent - which will be their doom.
i agree that it does take luster off our close loss, and makes me feel that we are a bit premature in our confidence.
Like Bo says, one week at a time, and the past is the past. i think we need to focus on future and not look to the past as well.
10/4/2009
Can anyone explain to me how OU is still in the top 25?
10/4/2009
Robert,
The weight of what they’ve accomplished over the years under Stoops evidently can carry quite a distance right, wrong, or indifferent. OU still has the capability of being conference champs by no stretch of the imagination. OU without Bradford and a new O line is quite different however than one with what they had last season. They will undoubtedly start 3-3 but my guess is they will finish strong as their schedule lightens a bit and that youth matures for them. And by the way, I’m not disagreeing with what you’re saying.
10/4/2009
Iowa’s 3 point win over the Red Wolves tells us that Iowa isn’t as good as people think (nor Penn State for that matter) and the Red Wolves aren’t that bad of football team. I think both Penn State and Iowa are going to lose a few more games. Lets not forget, if Iowa doesn’t block a last second field goal twice, Northern Iowa would have beat them in their season opener.
Miami matched Oklahoma speed for speed and QU’s o-line was dominated. Their rushing game was shut down. OU gave the game away by fumbling on their own 10 yard line. That mistake was the game. And this OU team isn’t good enough this year to spot good team td’s. OU plays Baylor then on to Texas and Kansas. Even with Bradford, they will lose to Texas and Kansas will probably give them a game.
By the way, I thought Miami on offense showed how you beat OU on defense. They ran right at them and also beat them on play action passes connecting many times to their tight ends. I like our chances. Our defense is just as good if not better than Miami’s and I think we have similar if not better weapons on offense.
Mizzou always seems to play a great game against us. On paper, I think we win by two touchdowns, but in reality I think its a nail biter where we win by a touchdown or less.
10/5/2009
Robert,
There is this thing called a ‘pre season poll’.
The higher in the poll that you start the season determines where you fall after losses. If you start the season, say…19th then you will fall off the radar.
BTW the polls are not determined by one person.
After this loss to Miami, it is now official…it is not a BIG thing to lose to OU.
Now, the pressure is on Nebraska if they can beat OU on November 7th.
You certainly wouldn’t want to lose to lowly Okalahoma, do you?
10/5/2009
As for the matchup this Thursday I’d like to see how we do against the deep drop and the wide splits. I’m just not convinced that Missouri will be able to run effectively or for that matter look to restablish the run early. In the past 3 matchups with Missouri, Oklahoma got to Daniel (rather consistently) so if our defensive line is what we think it is we should be able to get to Gabbert. I still worry a little about our secondary and how Mr. Lee will do in only his second hostile road contest. Columbia is not Blacksburg, but this is a prime-time, under the lights, big divisional game. I’d like to see Coach Watson get him out of the pocket early and make some easy reads to get his bearings right. If we handle the drop and splits well then it bodes very well for us against Texas Tech too. The winner of this one gets a HUGE leg up for the North Division Title race. If we come in there and blow the doors off these guys I’ll call this our signature win, because it will echo much louder than an intersectional matchup. A big, decisive win here means, that we are the Big 12 North’s flagship program. In trying to Restore The Order, Thursday will be a good measuring stick. After all would a 15-10 win in Blacksburg be as impressive as say, a 34-14 win to open Big 12 Conference Play?
Bill is right. You run at speed not try to beat it from side-to-side. Miami made mistakes, but overcame them by keeping their cool, and won the game with defense (sack and fumble) and a running game (James and 150 yds). It’s starting to become an intriguing scenario on how their offensive line will hold up against A Boy Named Suh (BRN came up with that title for House of Spears first, kudos guys) and his cohorts. No Gresham, no Broyles, and a WR corps that is trying to find it’s feet gives us potentially fewer questions going into the game. Unfortunately we will get Mr. Bradford and not the mustache so that will be a little different for us. . .
10/5/2009
OU7,
With respect, sympathies all around my friend. It’s not easy to lose a Heisman Trophy winner QB, four NFL offensive lineman, the nation’s best TE, WR’s to graduation & Broyles. Considering the circumstances (two points keep you from being undefeated) you’ve done fairly well for yourselves and there’s still a long way to go. A Big 12 South title and a BCS bowl are certainly within reach, but I don’t think you need me to tell you that. You do need a WR to step up and become a go-to-guy. There’s absolutely no shame in losing to Miami in South Florida, and not a whole lot of programs in the Big 12 have a majority of good memories going down to South Florida for big games. Hope you guys put it to Texas in The Red River Matchup. . .
Being objective, I’m sure that IF we beat you guys that a lot of people would say that we’ve taken a BIG step towards being ‘back’. Bradford or no Bradford, top 5 or not, undefeated or with two losses. It IS still, Oklahoma after all. . .
10/5/2009
James,
I actually re-read my post and what I meant to say was it is officially not a big deal to BEAT Oklahoma, now. I should have read my post better before sending and that’s my bad.
Oklahoma has had plenty of time in the sun and they/we (OU fans) did get one Ntl Championship out of the deal but had many chances for others. Certainly beats the alternative.
Bradford/Gresham were great losses and the’ll be back but the chemistry is just not there and the offensive line is just good (maybe).
This all plays into my rants about playing lesser talent in the pre season schedule. It’s no good measure to your talent. You just can’t get all wound up about playing the Idaho States of the world.