The nation’s college football eyes will be focused on Columbia, Missouri Thursday night as the unbeaten Tigers play host to the once beaten Nebraska Cornhuskers. The winner in this game gets a leg up in the Big 12 north race by taking out one of the top contenders in their conference opener.
For Mizzou this rates as a more important game if for no other reason than the fact the rest of their conference schedule sets up more difficult for them road wise than the Cornhuskers. A loss in this game at home and they have to find a way to beat either Texas or Oklahoma State to probably have a shot at the division title.
There’s been a lot of talk over the last week that the Tigers have to run to win the game. I won’t dispute that, but the Tigers have had success running against Nebraska. Three of the last four years Missouri has rushed for over 195 yards against the Big Red. Derrick Washington and the Tigers have had at least 460 yards in total offense in three of those four contests.
I know, Blaine Gabbert wasn’t the quarterback in any of those games, but as coach Gary Pinkel says, he’s got poise you rarely find in player. He’s averaging 290 yards a game through the air and has thrown 11 TD’s and no interceptions. At 6-5, 240 lbs, he’s also tough as nails to bring down and will run the ball.
Supporters of Nebraska will point out the Huskers outplayed Virginia Tech on the road and only lost by a point. So. It was still a loss. They still haven’t beaten a top 20 team away from Lincoln in 12 years. Cornhusker QB Zac Lee was just 11 of 30 with 2 picks against the Hokies.
Even though Nebraska is allowing just 7 points per game and 115 yards on the ground, the defense broke down when it could least afford it against V-Tech. Until they prove they can do it on the road, you’re not going to get me to back Nebraska. Remember this stat. The Tigers have outscored the Huskers 154 to 81 over the past four seasons.
It may not be as high scoring a game this time around, but I’m taking the Tigers, 27-21.
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