STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, November 2, 2006 6:00 pm
If you enjoy sports at all, you have to absolutely adore this game. It’s wonderful theater because, let’s face it, “must-win” games don’t come along every week.
To be sure, Nebraska must win this game to achieve its primary objective — capturing the Big 12 North Division. The Huskers regard winning the division as a major step forward as the program seeks to regain its past prominence on the national scene.
Oh, sure, either Nebraska or Missouri could technically still capture the division even with a loss today. But such a scenario is unlikely considering the winner would hold the tiebreaker in the event of a deadlock in the final standings.
The bottom line for Nebraska: Win today, and the Huskers would need to beat either Texas A&M on the road or Colorado in Lincoln to clinch their first North Division title since 1999. Lose today, and things could get messy.
Formula to beat MU
Texas A&M arguably provided the best example of the formula for beating Missouri. The Aggies favored a formation that had two tight ends and a fullback, and they attacked via the ground. Missouri knew what A&M was going to do — everyone in the stadium knew — yet the Tigers couldn’t stop it, said Aggies coach Dennis Franchione.
In a 25-19 triumph, A&M held the ball for a remarkable 41½ minutes, thereby keeping Missouri’s potent no-huddle, spread offense on the sideline. The Aggies ran the ball 51 times (for 180 yards) and threw it 24 times (for 223 yards). Oklahoma, in last week’s win at Missouri, rushed 52 times (for 231 yards) and threw 19 times (for 127 yards).
Although Nebraska isn’t exactly a juggernaut rushing team — it ranks seventh in league games only — the Huskers have improved enough in the area to replicate A&M and OU’s success.
Another defensive rebound?
Nebraska experienced a disconcerting defensive letdown last week at Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys scored 41 points in the final three quarters and finished with 496 total yards.
The Blackshirts hope they respond today in the manner they did following their meltdown against Kansas (574 total yards) on Sept. 30 in Lincoln. The Husker defense followed with three straight strong performances, which made last week’s collapse all the more perplexing.
Nebraska defenders said on too many occasions last week players were jumping out of their gaps — a no-no in the Huskers’ gap-control defense.
“If we just stayed and took care of our responsibility, it would be a lot easier to contain teams with a lot of speed,” NU linebacker Corey McKeon said.
Another critical area to watch today is the Huskers’ linebacker play, as three of their top five linebackers are playing injured.
What to make of Mizzou
Missouri has played awfully well in defeating Nebraska two of the past three years. But both of those games were in Columbia, Mo. Mizzou hasn’t won in Lincoln since 1978, when Warren Powers was in his first year as the Tigers’ head coach and James Wilder ran all over the then-No. 2 Huskers.
In Missouri’s last visit to Lincoln, a 24-3 loss in 2004, the Tigers had clearly lost interest in their season, as many of their players, especially on offense, put forth poor efforts. Expect a much better showing today from Missouri, which features tough-as-nails sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel.
Problem is, it appears the Tigers are relying too heavily on Daniel. What’s more, Mizzou neither runs the ball well nor stops the run. Such a combination seldom produces league championships.
Consequently, the nod goes to NU, 28-20.