HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
Game of the Week
Oklahoma (5-3) at Nebraska (5-3), 8:00 EST, Saturday, November 7, ABC
Why to watch: It just sounds good … Oklahoma vs. Nebraska. For anyone born in the mid-1980s and later, the matchup is nothing more than a decent interdivisional game. For old farts, this is as magical as any possible college football rivalry. There’s no national buzz anymore, when roughly 20 years ago this was the most important date on the college football calendar. Nothing at the moment, Oklahoma vs. Texas, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Florida vs. Tennessee/Georgia/Alabama, has anything on what the Sooners and Huskers had going for decades around Thanksgiving every year. This was always the game for the Big 8 title, it was always huge for the national title chase, and the winner always went to the Orange Bowl, meaning the fans of the winning side would always throw oranges on the field in one of the sport’s best yearly traditions. The two mega-programs were split up when the Big 12 was formed, partly because of geography and partly because many assumed the two would play each other in the Big 12 championship game year after year. Now, it’s just another game on the schedule, and while fans of each program still hold on to its ire for the one another, it’s not the same.
However, while this might not be the super-power matchup of 1987, it’s still big for the Big 12 title discussion. Nebraska has played like a steaming pile of garbage over the last several weeks, but it’s still in the North title hunt with three division games to close things out. Oklahoma needs a miracle to even dream of tying for the South championship, much less win it, but it can position itself for a great bowl, and if everything breaks right, an at-large BCS game by being impressive against a rough schedule. Nebraska might be the easiest game left on the Sooner slate. The Huskers had the North for the taking after a win at Missouri, and then the offense quit playing in ugly losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State at home. A 20-10 win over Baylor last week didn’t answer any questions. For all the problems and all the issues, the season can take a big left turn toward the positive with a win before going to Kansas next week.
Why Oklahoma might win: Nebraska doesn’t have enough offensive punch to keep up the pace if the Sooners get rolling. Nothing has worked for a Husker attack that can’t score against FBS teams with most of its stats coming in Sun Belt battles in September. The passing attack doesn’t have any pop, the running game has struggled ever since Roy Helu got banged up, and the turnovers have been flowing at an alarming rate. After giving the ball away eight times against Iowa State, the Huskers lost the ball twice against Baylor. Over the last four games, Nebraska has turned the ball over 14 times. Oklahoma will give the ball away now and then, but it has been relatively stingy with the ball.
Why Nebraska might win: The Oklahoma running game has been shockingly average. Underappreciated throughout last season, thanks to Sam Bradford and high-octane passing attack, but the NFL caliber tandem of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray have been underwhelming and the offensive line hasn’t established itself. With Landry Jones under center, everyone is sending the house at the OU running game and the passing game is being forced to carry the O. Jones is getting the job done, but Bo Pelini coached defenses usually pick their teeth against one dimensional teams. OU has yet to run for 200 yards this season against an FBS team, was held to 85 yards against Kansas, and has had a world of problems being consistent. Part of the problem has been …
Who to watch: … the inconsistency on the O line. It hasn’t been a bad front line, but it’s nowhere near the killer of last year when it was the best in America. The last thing the line needed was a big injury, and it got one with starting guard Brian Simmons out with a knee injury. The Sooners will try to rely on sophomore Stephen Good to fill in, but freshman Tyler Evans will see more work too. For Nebraska, getting Roy Helu back and healthy means everything. He’s playing through a shoulder injury, and while he’s being extremely tough and is still producing, he’s not getting healthier. If he’s not putting up decent numbers, Nebraska can’t win.
What will happen: Oklahoma hasn’t been thrilling, but it has methodically been able to roll through the schedule with easy wins after the Texas loss. Expect more of the same. Jones will be fine, the defense will keep the Husker offense under wraps, and OU will come up with a solid win on its way to earning the right to call itself the Big 12’s second best team.
CFN Prediction: Oklahoma 27 … Nebraska 20 ... Line: Oklahoma -5.5
Must See Rating: (By The People 5 … The Men Who Stare At Goats 1) … 3.5
Oklahoma (5-3) at Nebraska (5-3), 8:00 EST, Saturday, November 7, ABC
Why to watch: It just sounds good … Oklahoma vs. Nebraska. For anyone born in the mid-1980s and later, the matchup is nothing more than a decent interdivisional game. For old farts, this is as magical as any possible college football rivalry. There’s no national buzz anymore, when roughly 20 years ago this was the most important date on the college football calendar. Nothing at the moment, Oklahoma vs. Texas, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Florida vs. Tennessee/Georgia/Alabama, has anything on what the Sooners and Huskers had going for decades around Thanksgiving every year. This was always the game for the Big 8 title, it was always huge for the national title chase, and the winner always went to the Orange Bowl, meaning the fans of the winning side would always throw oranges on the field in one of the sport’s best yearly traditions. The two mega-programs were split up when the Big 12 was formed, partly because of geography and partly because many assumed the two would play each other in the Big 12 championship game year after year. Now, it’s just another game on the schedule, and while fans of each program still hold on to its ire for the one another, it’s not the same.
However, while this might not be the super-power matchup of 1987, it’s still big for the Big 12 title discussion. Nebraska has played like a steaming pile of garbage over the last several weeks, but it’s still in the North title hunt with three division games to close things out. Oklahoma needs a miracle to even dream of tying for the South championship, much less win it, but it can position itself for a great bowl, and if everything breaks right, an at-large BCS game by being impressive against a rough schedule. Nebraska might be the easiest game left on the Sooner slate. The Huskers had the North for the taking after a win at Missouri, and then the offense quit playing in ugly losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State at home. A 20-10 win over Baylor last week didn’t answer any questions. For all the problems and all the issues, the season can take a big left turn toward the positive with a win before going to Kansas next week.
Why Oklahoma might win: Nebraska doesn’t have enough offensive punch to keep up the pace if the Sooners get rolling. Nothing has worked for a Husker attack that can’t score against FBS teams with most of its stats coming in Sun Belt battles in September. The passing attack doesn’t have any pop, the running game has struggled ever since Roy Helu got banged up, and the turnovers have been flowing at an alarming rate. After giving the ball away eight times against Iowa State, the Huskers lost the ball twice against Baylor. Over the last four games, Nebraska has turned the ball over 14 times. Oklahoma will give the ball away now and then, but it has been relatively stingy with the ball.
Why Nebraska might win: The Oklahoma running game has been shockingly average. Underappreciated throughout last season, thanks to Sam Bradford and high-octane passing attack, but the NFL caliber tandem of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray have been underwhelming and the offensive line hasn’t established itself. With Landry Jones under center, everyone is sending the house at the OU running game and the passing game is being forced to carry the O. Jones is getting the job done, but Bo Pelini coached defenses usually pick their teeth against one dimensional teams. OU has yet to run for 200 yards this season against an FBS team, was held to 85 yards against Kansas, and has had a world of problems being consistent. Part of the problem has been …
Who to watch: … the inconsistency on the O line. It hasn’t been a bad front line, but it’s nowhere near the killer of last year when it was the best in America. The last thing the line needed was a big injury, and it got one with starting guard Brian Simmons out with a knee injury. The Sooners will try to rely on sophomore Stephen Good to fill in, but freshman Tyler Evans will see more work too. For Nebraska, getting Roy Helu back and healthy means everything. He’s playing through a shoulder injury, and while he’s being extremely tough and is still producing, he’s not getting healthier. If he’s not putting up decent numbers, Nebraska can’t win.
What will happen: Oklahoma hasn’t been thrilling, but it has methodically been able to roll through the schedule with easy wins after the Texas loss. Expect more of the same. Jones will be fine, the defense will keep the Husker offense under wraps, and OU will come up with a solid win on its way to earning the right to call itself the Big 12’s second best team.
CFN Prediction: Oklahoma 27 … Nebraska 20 ... Line: Oklahoma -5.5
Must See Rating: (By The People 5 … The Men Who Stare At Goats 1) … 3.5
