[Husker] NU @ Missouri

[Smith, William]

Generally agreed.  Both teams have a lot to play for.  Whereas it's premature to say either team is "peaking", both are playing better.  With a good game, and maybe an extra break, Mizzo is quite capable of beating us.
 
however, if this offense thinks they are anywhere near "hitting their stride" there are serious problems.  
 
Bill Smith
Towson, MD

________________________________

From: husker-bounces at tssi.com on behalf of Steve Reichenbach
Sent: Wed 10/19/2005 10:11 AM
To: husker at tssi.com
Subject: [Husker] NU @ Missouri



At the beginning of the season, I thought NU would be 6-1 when OU
came to Lincoln including an NU victory at Missouri.  After reading
the LJS, with journalists and perhaps players and coaches looking
forward to a showdown with Colorado for the Big 12 North Championship,
I'm worried about the upcoming game.

I thought Missouri would be in for a rough year after player dissent
last year and the death of a player.  The loss to New Mexico seemed
to confirm that Missouri was in for a rough year and that Pinkel's
days were numbered.  However, from what little I saw of their game
with Texas, I thought Missouri looked like they could have made a
game of it except for mistakes.  They looked pretty talented and had
good success even against Texas.  Since then, Missouri has a Big 12
road win (albeit against Oklahoma State) and beat Iowa State in a
come-from-behind, over-time game in which Missouri made the final
three scores.  That type of game can have a galvanizing effect, as
can playing Nebraska (even if it isn't the same Nebraska).  Missouri
is now 4-2, needs only two wins to become bowl-eligible, and is tied
with NU and CU leading the Big 12 North.

I expect Missouri will be up for this game, seeing it as the key game
for the rest of their season.  A win here and Missouri would have
momentum for what could still be an 8-3 or better record and a Big 12
North Championship.  I don't know that NU will be viewing this game
with the same importance --- as a showdown between two leaders of
the Big 12 North --- especially after reading the LJS this morning
about the planned showdown with Colorado.

Another worrisome aspect of this for me is the perception that the
offense has hit some sort of stride.  The offense is playing better
than it did in the first three games, but against Baylor, NU had one
real TD drive (with the other TD coming on a possession that started
at the 9 yard line).  Taylor said he didn't think he had a good game,
but there still may be some overconfidence in our offense.  The defense
has played great and they'll probably have to continue to do that
against Missouri, which is averaging 36 points per game, because NU's
offense still is struggling to put points on the board (and I'll be
surprised if NU's offense scores 36 against Missouri).

If NU is looking ahead, I am afraid that it could be bad news on
Saturday, because I think Missouri will be thinking their season
is riding on this game.  Pinkel may see (perhaps correctly) that his
job is riding on this game.  I hope NU is ready to play with intensity.

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