kind of late with this, but here goes
TEXAS -14
Luckily for the Horns, this game is being played in their home state. Considering the national interest, a lot of folks are gonna be rooting against the Horns because they want to see the little guy in the title game. It is really gonna get interesting if Cincy loses -- suddenly there are a lot of TCU and Boise fans hoping the Horns lose.
First of all folks, Nebraska just ain't that good. And I like Nebraska. I'm one of those who thinks that when Nebraska is good, it's good for CFB. Maybe next year. Why are we supposed to believe Nebraska can stay close tonight, let alone have a chance at an outright upset? Is it because of their 5 game win streak? What was their best win during that stretch? A 10-3 win over an Oklahoma team that was incompetent on the road this season? The Huskers should not have scored a single point in that game -- an interception returned inside their 5 yard line set up their only TD, and an OU turnover deep in their own territory set up the FG. Add in the fact that Sooners moved the ball well early in that game but missed 3 FGs -- don't expect Colt Mccoy to fail to take advantage of these opportunities.
Are we supposed to believe in this Nebraska team because they beat KU on the road -- the same KU team that lost its last 7 games for a coach who was most likely a lame duck at that time? Nebraksa trailed in the 4th quarter in that game! Yeah, yeah, the Nebraska offense came to life in that one, but let's not forget that this is the same KU team that my Sooner offense came to life against. Are we supposed to believe in Nebraska because they beat Baylor, KSU and Colorado? Are we supposed to believe in Nebraska because they've won 5 straight against teams that went 6-6, 3-9, 5-7, 7-5, and 4-8 and now find themselves back in the top 25?
Should this 5 game win streak against mediocre teams allow us to forget that this is the same Husker team that was taken behind the woodshed on its home field against Texas Tech and also lost at home to an injury riddled Iowa St. team that limped into Lincoln missing its key offensive playmakers? Should we be impressed still by their win over Mizzou, a game which they trailed 12-0 before an inexplicable barrage of Tiger turnovers in the rain allowed them to score 27 4th quarter points in a 5 minute span?
So let's move to Texas. First, throw out the Horns' 4 non conference games -- not a single one of those is worth going back and looking at. Anybody remember the CU game? CU was driving the football late in the 3rd quarter with a chance to take the lead until a pick 6 opened the flood gates and allowed the Horns to pull away. Despite just a 127 yards of total offense, CU was able to keep that game close through the first 45 minutes. As a matter of fact, since its 3 point win over the Sooners, the only close game the Horns have played came against its in state rival Aggies on Thanksgiving night. Some folks say that the Aggies gave teams a blueprint to beat the Texas offense, but the way I see it, in order to take advantage of any weaknesses the Horns may have on defense, one must first have the personnel and play calling to do so. I don't think Nebraska has either.
I do expect Nebraska to hang tough early -- in fact, this will be a tale of two defenses. The Huskers have been criticized for running a conservative offense at times this season, and I think they will run some things early that might work. But at the end of the day, this Texas team is too well rounded on both sides of the ball, and as the 2nd half wears on I expect Mccoy to take the game over and make a statement. I'm going to leave the total alone this week, but the Texas side is the place to be. The offenses in the Big 12 have been down this year compared to last season, but let's not forget the last time the Huskers defense faced a strong, all around conference offense they gave up 62 points. That was to last year's Sooner team. Now they get this year's Texas team.
Texas wins 34-10. If Nebraska starts turning the ball over -- especially once they're trying to play catch up -- it could be much worse.
TEXAS -14
Luckily for the Horns, this game is being played in their home state. Considering the national interest, a lot of folks are gonna be rooting against the Horns because they want to see the little guy in the title game. It is really gonna get interesting if Cincy loses -- suddenly there are a lot of TCU and Boise fans hoping the Horns lose.
First of all folks, Nebraska just ain't that good. And I like Nebraska. I'm one of those who thinks that when Nebraska is good, it's good for CFB. Maybe next year. Why are we supposed to believe Nebraska can stay close tonight, let alone have a chance at an outright upset? Is it because of their 5 game win streak? What was their best win during that stretch? A 10-3 win over an Oklahoma team that was incompetent on the road this season? The Huskers should not have scored a single point in that game -- an interception returned inside their 5 yard line set up their only TD, and an OU turnover deep in their own territory set up the FG. Add in the fact that Sooners moved the ball well early in that game but missed 3 FGs -- don't expect Colt Mccoy to fail to take advantage of these opportunities.
Are we supposed to believe in this Nebraska team because they beat KU on the road -- the same KU team that lost its last 7 games for a coach who was most likely a lame duck at that time? Nebraksa trailed in the 4th quarter in that game! Yeah, yeah, the Nebraska offense came to life in that one, but let's not forget that this is the same KU team that my Sooner offense came to life against. Are we supposed to believe in Nebraska because they beat Baylor, KSU and Colorado? Are we supposed to believe in Nebraska because they've won 5 straight against teams that went 6-6, 3-9, 5-7, 7-5, and 4-8 and now find themselves back in the top 25?
Should this 5 game win streak against mediocre teams allow us to forget that this is the same Husker team that was taken behind the woodshed on its home field against Texas Tech and also lost at home to an injury riddled Iowa St. team that limped into Lincoln missing its key offensive playmakers? Should we be impressed still by their win over Mizzou, a game which they trailed 12-0 before an inexplicable barrage of Tiger turnovers in the rain allowed them to score 27 4th quarter points in a 5 minute span?
So let's move to Texas. First, throw out the Horns' 4 non conference games -- not a single one of those is worth going back and looking at. Anybody remember the CU game? CU was driving the football late in the 3rd quarter with a chance to take the lead until a pick 6 opened the flood gates and allowed the Horns to pull away. Despite just a 127 yards of total offense, CU was able to keep that game close through the first 45 minutes. As a matter of fact, since its 3 point win over the Sooners, the only close game the Horns have played came against its in state rival Aggies on Thanksgiving night. Some folks say that the Aggies gave teams a blueprint to beat the Texas offense, but the way I see it, in order to take advantage of any weaknesses the Horns may have on defense, one must first have the personnel and play calling to do so. I don't think Nebraska has either.
I do expect Nebraska to hang tough early -- in fact, this will be a tale of two defenses. The Huskers have been criticized for running a conservative offense at times this season, and I think they will run some things early that might work. But at the end of the day, this Texas team is too well rounded on both sides of the ball, and as the 2nd half wears on I expect Mccoy to take the game over and make a statement. I'm going to leave the total alone this week, but the Texas side is the place to be. The offenses in the Big 12 have been down this year compared to last season, but let's not forget the last time the Huskers defense faced a strong, all around conference offense they gave up 62 points. That was to last year's Sooner team. Now they get this year's Texas team.
Texas wins 34-10. If Nebraska starts turning the ball over -- especially once they're trying to play catch up -- it could be much worse.
