[Husker] Huskers picked 2nd in Big XII North

[Steve Reichenbach]

I guess I'm surprised even though MU has won the last two games in
Columbia and Callahan's conference road record is 5-6.

Doesn't NU have better talent and coaches?  Here are the Rivals
recruiting rankings for the last four years.

2004  27  29
2005   5  39
2006  20  47
2007  13  33

Pinkel's teams have lost 5 or more games every year.  Last year, they
lost 5 of their last 7 games.

Missouri does have a week off before the NU game, but last year they
lost to Iowa State after a week off and the year before they were blown
out at home by Texas after a week off.

This game is as big for NU as the USC game, but in the opposite sense.
A win against USC would give Callahan some serious cred.  A loss
against Missouri probably will put Callahan on the hot seat.

The start of this season is crunch time for Callahan.  Assume NU wins
against Nevada, Ball State, and Iowa State, all at home.  If NU wins at
Wake Forest, beats USC in Lincoln, and wins in Columbia, NU probably
will be in the top 5.  If NU wins 2 of the 3, most fans will view that
as a good record against good teams.  Even if NU loses to Wake Forest
and USC, a win in Columbia would put NU in a good position to win the
Big 12 North.  However, if NU takes its second or third loss in
Columbia and Perlman hasn't re-upped Peterson, the heat will be on.


> Not a huge surprise since NU is at MU and NU has won very few 
> important road games. If it was MU at NU I suspect you would see the 
> roles reversed.
> 
> >Media votes 2-to-1 Missouri over Nebraska.
> >
> >http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10082419
> >
> >North order of finish:
> >Mizzou (16 first-place votes), Nebraska (8 first place
> >votes), Kansas State, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa State
> >South order of finish:
> >Texas (16 first place votes), Oklahoma (7), Texas A&M
> >(1), Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor