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Nebraska (5-3) at Oklahoma (7-1), 8:00 EST ESPN
Why to watch: For anyone over the age of 25, the matchup gets the blood going. It’s Nebraska vs. Oklahoma. It’s late November for the Big 8 title with the home crowd smuggling in oranges in hopes of being able to throw them onto the field to celebrate a Orange Bowl berth and a conference championship. It’s two wishbone option attacks with two high-powered running games and athletic, brutish defenses that rank among the best in America. Fine, so it’s not 1987 anymore, but this is still a fun matchup between two old rivals. Nebraska has played well over the last three weeks, taking things to another level in an overtime loss to Texas Tech before rolling past Iowa State and Baylor. A win over the Sooners would automatically put the program back on the map and set the tone for the Bo Pelini era. Oklahoma hasn’t been stopped yet this year, being held under 45 points just once (the loss to Texas). With Big 12 title and national championship hopes still alive, the Sooners have to keep winning impressively to stay in the hunt. The need a help, but at the very least they’re putting themselves in a position to play in a BCS game.
Why Nebraska might win: The Oklahoma defense has had issues. Major issues. The Texas game was rough enough, and then Kansas cranked out 491 yards and four touchdowns and Kansas State ripped off 550 yards. In the two games, Todd Reesing and Josh Freeman combined for 843 yards of passing with six touchdowns as the Sooner secondary has gone from bad to worse. To be fair, the Jayhawks and Wildcats had to chuck away to try to keep up the pace, and …
Why Oklahoma might win: … OU came up with its share of decent moments with five interceptions in the last two games. Turnovers haven’t been a problem for Nebraska; takeaways have. The Huskers don’t have quite enough firepower to outblast OU, and the defense isn’t doing much to force mistakes even though it’s been ultra-aggressive under Pelini. The Nebraska offensive line has done a good job so far this year in pass protection, but it’s about to deal with a defensive front that’s getting to everyone’s quarterback. That means …
Who to watch: … Joe Ganz needs to take his game to another level. Lost in the shuffle of Big 12 quarterbacks, Ganz has more than held his own ranking 14th in the nation in pass efficiency and 12th in total offense. He has gotten stronger as the season has gone on with 349 yards against Texas Tech, 328 against Iowa State, and 336 against Baylor. Just as important has been the turnovers; he has only thrown one pick in the last three games after throwing five in the first five. He has to be flawless, efficient, and consistent to not only keep pace with Bradford, but to even try to be better.
What will happen: Ganz and Nebraska will get their licks in, OU will give up over 300 yards through the air, but Bradford will be Bradford, the Sooner offense will be balanced, the running game will control things for a stretch, and the focus will quickly shift to the finishing kick of at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and at Oklahoma State.
CFN Prediction: Oklahoma 45 … Nebraska 27 ... Line: Oklahoma -21.5
Must See Rating: (5 RocknRolla – 1 High School Musical 3: Senior Year) … 4
Nebraska (5-3) at Oklahoma (7-1), 8:00 EST ESPN
Why to watch: For anyone over the age of 25, the matchup gets the blood going. It’s Nebraska vs. Oklahoma. It’s late November for the Big 8 title with the home crowd smuggling in oranges in hopes of being able to throw them onto the field to celebrate a Orange Bowl berth and a conference championship. It’s two wishbone option attacks with two high-powered running games and athletic, brutish defenses that rank among the best in America. Fine, so it’s not 1987 anymore, but this is still a fun matchup between two old rivals. Nebraska has played well over the last three weeks, taking things to another level in an overtime loss to Texas Tech before rolling past Iowa State and Baylor. A win over the Sooners would automatically put the program back on the map and set the tone for the Bo Pelini era. Oklahoma hasn’t been stopped yet this year, being held under 45 points just once (the loss to Texas). With Big 12 title and national championship hopes still alive, the Sooners have to keep winning impressively to stay in the hunt. The need a help, but at the very least they’re putting themselves in a position to play in a BCS game.
Why Nebraska might win: The Oklahoma defense has had issues. Major issues. The Texas game was rough enough, and then Kansas cranked out 491 yards and four touchdowns and Kansas State ripped off 550 yards. In the two games, Todd Reesing and Josh Freeman combined for 843 yards of passing with six touchdowns as the Sooner secondary has gone from bad to worse. To be fair, the Jayhawks and Wildcats had to chuck away to try to keep up the pace, and …
Why Oklahoma might win: … OU came up with its share of decent moments with five interceptions in the last two games. Turnovers haven’t been a problem for Nebraska; takeaways have. The Huskers don’t have quite enough firepower to outblast OU, and the defense isn’t doing much to force mistakes even though it’s been ultra-aggressive under Pelini. The Nebraska offensive line has done a good job so far this year in pass protection, but it’s about to deal with a defensive front that’s getting to everyone’s quarterback. That means …
Who to watch: … Joe Ganz needs to take his game to another level. Lost in the shuffle of Big 12 quarterbacks, Ganz has more than held his own ranking 14th in the nation in pass efficiency and 12th in total offense. He has gotten stronger as the season has gone on with 349 yards against Texas Tech, 328 against Iowa State, and 336 against Baylor. Just as important has been the turnovers; he has only thrown one pick in the last three games after throwing five in the first five. He has to be flawless, efficient, and consistent to not only keep pace with Bradford, but to even try to be better.
What will happen: Ganz and Nebraska will get their licks in, OU will give up over 300 yards through the air, but Bradford will be Bradford, the Sooner offense will be balanced, the running game will control things for a stretch, and the focus will quickly shift to the finishing kick of at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and at Oklahoma State.
CFN Prediction: Oklahoma 45 … Nebraska 27 ... Line: Oklahoma -21.5
Must See Rating: (5 RocknRolla – 1 High School Musical 3: Senior Year) … 4
