knapplc

Without examining schedules we have no context for a discussion. The schedules and how each team fared vs. their competition is the best way of making an educated guess on how our head-to-head game will turn out. It's a flawed method, sure, but it's better than guesswork because it's based on something. I'm working up some stats for a breakdown of the game coming up, probably next week. So far it looks grim for Missouri, I have to tell you. I think most Missouri fans know this as well, judging by the change in tenor of the posts from our Missouri visitors lately. Earlier in the season the conversation was all about how Missouri had trounced us the last couple of years and how not enough had changed on either team to make up the scoring differences. But after the last two weeks, and especially after the Nevada game, the phrases I'm hearing more often are "if we win, here's what we'll have to do." And that's logical based on what we've seen so far from both teams. I will not guarantee a Nebraska win. Missouri has a capable coach, a capable team, and they've shown recently that they can put their foot down when necessary. Nebraska has also shown a tendency to self-inflict wounds, game-losing wounds, and this is a tendency we'd hoped to see eliminated this year. But quite clearly it still exists, or at least it still existed two games ago. I hope you stick around and I hope you enjoy the conversation. ATM it's all we've got.

??? Kissing a hot girl is unmanly? What should he be doing that would be more manly?

If you're referring to me, think again. I have a little more respect for women than that, thanks.

Mr. Maud, you're a nice looking guy as guys go, but you really outkicked your coverage with your girl. She's pretty cute. Looks like a great time was had by all.

They can just send Erin Andrews. I don't want those Gameday buffoons here.

I may have worded it poorly but of course I know who CFN is. The point is you arbitrarily picked them because they buttress your weak point. CFN's ranking is an opinion based on the whim of those casting ballots, nothing more. If a guy has a grudge against USC it's reflected in their rankings. Sagarin's computer holds no bias, which is why it's cited time and again by sportswriters across the country as a reference point. As for whether Nebraska or Missouri has played enough quality to show what they have, clearly the answer is yes. Missouri has struggled against weak opponents while Nebraska dominated theirs. Throw out Furman and throw out VT, and we'll focus on the three patsies each team has played. By CFN's rankings we should have beaten the hell out of these teams - their average rank is 95, while ours is 6th (which is a joke, but this is YOUR preferred ranking system). So we should have taken these three teams to the woodshed, and we did. Handily. Nebraska held all three of their Sunbelt opponents to their lowest point total of the season, an average of two TDs less than they've scored in their other games. By CFN's rankings Missouri should have beaten the hell out of their weak non-con schedule as well. MO's average opponent rank is 74, well below what would be average in a 120-team ranking. Missouri should have beaten all of these teams quite easily, being ranked #16 by CFN, but they didn't. In fact, they struggled with two of them to an embarrassing degree. Missouri was able to put Illinois away, and held them to their season average right at nine points. But Missouri struggled with Nevada and Bowling Green, giving up each team's highest point total of the non-conference schedule, allowing even 0-3 Nevada an extra TD above their average, and struggling to put them away into the fourth quarter. This is a winless team who has been shellacked by Notre Dame and Colorado State, but Missouri couldn't put them away. And bear in mind, to be fair to your school we're not even talking about the Virginia Tech game for Nebraska, because by anyone's ranking system, VT is on a completely different tier than anything Missouri has played so far. It's not even close. And if you didn't see the success Nebraska had against VT, you're blind or drunk on the kool-aid.

Saw that on the ticker while watching some MNF last night. Horrible injury. It's something I never really thought of when I used to lift, but it can happen and it can be life-threatening.

Not only that, but something tells me it's not just the games they play in, but the number of plays they're involved in as well. I think I remember that they're more lenient towards a guy who's a backup rather than a starter, but I can't find a link to a story or a ruling on something like that. Am I out of it here or does anyone else remember something like this?

"I know a guy" is a joke. You're either sheltered or being coy. Neither is humorous. Tell you what. You get your friend of a friend to provide a link to real police reports showing real statistics that this is true, or you shut your piehole about something that's not funny in the least. Domestic violence isn't something you blithely accuse someone of, and it's not a matter of humor. It's a real problem and it pisses me off that someone would trot out crap like that without a shred of evidence. Link or GTFO with this conversation.

This, from the guy who accuses Husker fans of domestic violence (not a laughing matter or a worthy subject for jokes, by the way) after losses, when I personally know a member of the police force in a Nebraska town who has NEVER heard of such things. I would posit that your idea of what is or isn't inflammatory is a bit skewed if you think this is an acceptable accusation to level at people.

.....and kicking the dog and beating the wife. A good buddy of mine lives across the street from an Omaha cop. He states that domestic abuse cases rise at an alarming rate after a Husker loss. I was listening to a postgame show a few years ago after a disheartening Husker loss. A caller said, "I'm so pissed.....I'm so pissed......I could....I could......I need to kill something." Dude, get a life. In St. Louis, after a tough Mizzou loss, the fanbase would say. Well hell....that sucks. When is the first pitch for the Cardinals game? "I know a guy." Really? My mom is a cop, and she has never, ever heard such things after Husker losses. That's a load of *&_) and you know it. Tell you what. Stick to verifiable stats and leave the "I know a guy" comments to Tiger Board. Be better than slinging crap like that.

Really? He had (as of the time I reviewed them) a total of 31 posts. Almost all of them are either conclusory statements or just plain flaming or trolling. Tim, I understand protecting your own, but even the most charitable description of almost all of his posts doesn't even begin to rise to the level of "educated". You, fro, and the majority of MU fans have posted educated opinions. He has not come close. The only thing he has come close to is a ban for violating the Board's rules against flaming/trolling. If he wants to stay and actually engage in constructive debate, we'll welcome him just as we welcome you (and please note that for the most part you and the other MU fans have been welcomed - not simply tolerated). If he simply wants to talk smack, he needs to take it to the Woodshed. Otherwise, he's about worn out his welcome. Thank you, sir. I almost choked when I read the "educated posts" line.

Yes, I am hanging my stats on that game. Because that defense was more stringent than any two defenses the Tigers have faced, combined. And yeah, Lee had a bad game. 11 completions. But you're ignoring Helu running wild all over VT, and if I were you I would, too. I don't give a whoop if you're ranked higher now. We're not talking about where Nebraska or Missouri is ranked, because our respective rankings are irrelevant right now. Sure, you're ranked higher, because you're undefeated. If Nebraska had played your schedule they'd be undefeated, too. Iowa State may be undefeated with that schedule. And who, praytell, is CFN? You just arbitrarily picked CFN because... why? Because they bolster your weak schedule? Weak. But here - let's use your ranking guys, outrageous as they are. They've got VTech ranked 4th. Fourth in the nation, and we went down to their house and were one blown coverage away from beating them. You've played, let me see if I've got this straight... you've played 82nd ranked Bowling Green, 63rd ranked Illinois, 76th ranked Nevada and... and... hey - where is Furman ranked? Can you help me find Furman on CFN's ranking page? Your opponents' average ranking is somewhere between nowhere and I don't give a hoot. Because not one of your four opponents is going to finish anywhere near the top 25, and probably not anywhere near the top 50, and yet here you are, flapping your yap about how good they are. You must be fooling you because you sure ain't fooling me. And yes, Sagarin is the most respected ranking service out there, cited by newswriters galore and featured in USAToday. His bona fides are far, far better than CFN's. By a long shot.

Tell you what. I'll hang my hat on VT. Who you got? Wait, wait. That's not fair. I'll hang my hat on one of the three Sunbelt teams winning their conference and beating any of your opponents in a bowl game. Fair? And laughable with this "outside of VT" comment. Equivocating already? Come now. We are men of honor. Lies do not become us. And CFN? So? Sagarin is the most respected independent ranking out there, and either you know it or you should know it. And check your "almost all of your stats came against those [sunbelt] teams" comment. Go see how we ran against Virginia Tech, a team with a front line you would sell Weatherspoon to get. Yes, absolutely all of our passing stats did. Lee had a terrible game in Blacksburg statistically. But we're not one-dimensional, unlike the Tigers. We can run the ball, and run it well. 3.79 yards per carry by the Tiggers against that level of competition is embarrassing. Bottom line is this - those stats I can spout off mean nada. You guys could still whip our butts. What I'm getting at is, you have nothing to base such an assumption on other than hope and the ghosts of Tiger Teams Past.

My god, have you lost your mind? You expect them to dish out vitriol and nonsense, and be met with what? Abject servitude? Honestly, after reading the comments posted by the Missouri dude who started this latest fracas, what would your "appropriate" response have been? I want to read what you think is better than putting a mirror in their faces. Show us, oh Landlord. Please.

Agreed that's way too high, except when you consider who else is out there. It's too high and it's not too high, when you factor in that every team has glaring weaknesses. Ours seems to be finishing the deal. We learn that, look out. Because we're talented enough to be in the top 15. Maybe inside the top 10, compared to what else is out there.

Umm, you act like we've never played a team that knows how to hit. And furthermore, you seem to forget that Mizzou defenses, for while now, but especially this year, have a reputation for laying the lumber. I find it interesting that so many NU fans seem to think NU is going to be 100% better just because they hit harder and want it more than last year. Perhaps I'm missing something, and if so, I'll be eating crow in a couple of weeks, but I still think NU has a talent gap to make up. Sadly for you, that lumber has been doled out in toothpicks this year against a weaker non-con schedule than the Huskers have faced (Sagarin), and yet the Huskers have allowed 28 points non-con. Missouri allowed twice that. More than twice that. You guys "laid the wood" to Nevada so fiercely that the offensive juggernaut that is the Wolfpack nearly equaled Nebraska's opponents' output all by their lonesome. Further, against a woeful set of defenses (Furman? Really? Give me the Sunbelt title any day over Furman), you've managed... what? 147 points? Epic. Meanwhile, the Huskers have played an actual factual defense and scored on them. Moved the ball really well, in fact. And by the by - when Missouri plays a team that knows how to hit.... yeah. Let's just say, it doesn't work out well for you. Texas - lost by 25. Oklahoma - lost by 41.

Just go to your controls and turn sigs off. I agree that sigs in general are way too big here. Rather than asking anyone to tone down their fun, I just make it so I don't see them.

Here is a complete list for you of major bowl game wins, conference championships and National Titles won by Mizzou football in the last 40 years: 1. ___________________ . Any questions? Crap, my browser isn't working...can't see what's on the line next to #1. Well, allow me to be of service, my good sir. Next to the #1 there is nothing listed. Nothing at all. It's a blank line. And that's because our good friends down south-away haven't won squat by way of major bowl wins, conference titles and/or national titles. In 40 years. And yet the mouths run and run and run from some fans. You'd think they'd take some clue from the classier guys like Fro, but no. It's all good, though. We're well on our way to stealing Fro from those potzers and making him really truly a Husker fan.

You mention Jammal a lot, Junior. He must hold a pretty special place in your heart.

I guess they don't point it out every time, and you don't always see it...but I've heard him mentioned many times on broadcasts for putting down some good blocks to open up a running lane. He's had 2 de-cleaters that I remember already. I'll take a 'pretty good' blocker with home run ability like Gilleylen than a 'really good' blocker that seems to lack fire and burst as a receiver like Paul/Holt. That is, of course, assuming the first few games of the year aren't a fluke. I don't remember any major drops this year...if any at all...that were his fault. Before...I couldn't remember any catches he even made. Now that you mention it, he lit up a guy in the FAU game on Holt's TD reception. I'm not remembering his other major block, but I remember Holt saying after the game that without that block he doesn't score.

Here is a complete list for you of major bowl game wins, conference championships and National Titles won by Mizzou football in the last 40 years: 1. ___________________ . Any questions?

The one sad thing about this ranking... even massaging the numbers like you did, it's still only possible to work ISU up to third. That's funny and sad and not so funny all at the same time.

That is very true. I'm sure if they had that play, and the 87-yard play to do over again, they'd assign at least one guy to attack Taylor rather than have everyone work on contain.

Try it sometime and find out. Here people talk about rankings. There they agonize over them. It's different.