This Game Scares Me

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Let me start by repeating my sentiment shared in the title of this post: This game scares the dickens out of me.

First off, lets cover what’s at stake on Friday so that we’re all on the same page. Nebraska and Missouri are tied atop the Big 12 North, with the Huskers owning the tiebreaker. If Nebraska beats Colorado, or Missouri loses to Kansas, it will be Nebraska representing the North in the Big 12 Championship Game.

The Big 12 South comes down to the Bedlam Battle on Saturday night between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma St. Cowboys. A win-and-you’re-in game. I would love to hear feedback on who Husker fans would rather face, because it’s an interesting debate, but lets save that for the proper time after business has been handled.

Now, on to the matter at hand. Because of the “loss” to Texas A&M, the game against Colorado stands directly in the way of the Huskers’ goal for the 2010 season.

Sure, a National Championship would have been nice, but what every member of Husker Nation truly wants is to leave the Big 12 in style, with the silver-clad Championship trophy in hand. Lose this game, and that goal is no longer a possibility.

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I love the emphasis Bo Pelini was placing on this game immediately following the loss on Saturday. Make no mistake, this game will not be a walkover. If Nebraska doesn’t bring their A game, there is a good chance this will be their very last Big 12 game.

Why am i so terrified of this game? Lets examine the factors….

• Niles Paul went down to injury this week with a foot injury and is unavailable for the game against Colorado. Despite Paul’s inconsistencies this year, he is one of the few playmakers the Huskers have on the outside, and with Taylor Martinez’s injury, the offense needs all the help it can get right now.
• Colorado is playing for bowl eligibility. I was thinking they’d be coming into the game with little else to play for then spoiling Nebraska’s season, but now they have every reason to show up and play.
• Colorado has been playing much better, winners of their last two games (Iowa St, Kansas St), since firing head coach Dan Hawkins. This game isn’t the ‘gimme’ that it appeared to be three weeks ago.
• Colorado enters the game with the 2nd best run defense in the Big 12. Nebraska’s two losses have come to #1 in the Big 12 (Texas A&M) and #3 in the Big 12 (Texas). Eeks.
• This is a big time rivalry game, not to mention it will be the last installment of it. Rivalries tend to breed upsets, or closer-than-expected games at the least.
• Nebraska’s home woes were much discussed prior to the Missouri game, but hasn’t really been harped upon since then. They may still exist. Bo called out the crowd after the last home game against Kansas, so expect a raucous atmosphere on Friday. The team will need it.
• Nebraska has endured a lot of turmoil throughout this week. Lots of conspiracy talk, rumors of Taylor Martinez quitting, and the chancellor airing his grievances with Bo Pelini. This type of thing can break up a team or bring a team together. This will be the determining factor of how the rest of Nebraska’s season will go.